Bracket racing is continuing to grow…it is great to witness and be a part of it

6/8/05

was browsing through the multitude of resources I use to attempt to stay in touch with bracket racing and Super Class racing across our country. I get about 60 emails a month with different reports from racers and track owners I have met and became friends with. My own racing has been put way behind schedule this year. I have only been out once and then with only one of our dragsters.

To put it mildly it has been a STRUGGLE this spring as everything I touch seems to go backwards. I have missed some great bracket racing and hope to hit it as hard as I can in the next few months.

What I have noticed is that bracket racing in general seems to be stronger than ever. I really thought it might slow down as costs escalated for everyone and traveling is getting more expensive as fuel prices are staying around the $2 per gallon price. I guess it is the desire of the bracket racers to overcome the higher expenses by watching what they spend money on and shopping for parts more thoroughly. Good job guys, the big bucks races are getting great car counts and the local track operators I have spoken with are more than satisfied with attendance so far. Street Drags continue to grow and I see that as a huge positive for local racing and local race tracks.

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Personally, I feel the bracket racers are as dedicated a group as there is in motorsports today. The weekly bracket racer pours hour upon hour into preparing his or her car for what might be a total of a few minutes of action on a weekend. Ever asked yourself why are we so dedicated? It’s not the money, that’s for sure.

Is it the thrill of seeing the win light come on in your lane? Is it the feeling of accomplishment when your car makes a great run and performs like you planned it would? Is it just the FUN of going fast and the overall feeling you get lining up next to another racer and getting a chance to prove yourself?

Does your track have “Challenge Races”? A couple local racers (maybe one and two in points for example) could match up in time trials and do a little match-racing. It’s no big spectator draw but could be fun to watch and be part of. I feel we just need some small changes to add some more fun to time trials and especially to eliminations in general. Races that take 12 hours from start to finish are boring.

Talk about hitting a nerve… Not that we are on this subject but WOW! Did last month’s column about the IHRA enforcement of decal-slapping get people all fired-up. IHRA sent a letter to all sponsors telling them that it was in their best interest, some of the sponsors wrote to us and agreed with IHRA’s methods, other wrote and called and were planning on paying the racers anyway as they had the decals and products like they required.

Personally, I think taking away the winnings because of slapping a decal or two on is a terrible way to treat your customers. Seems IHRA has forgotten who brings the money into the place, the racers. It sure isn’t the crowds at any Pro-Am race I have been to.