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2009 SCHEDULE
Immokalee, FL Feb 5-8
Holly Springs, MS Jun 5-7
Jackson, SC Jul 16-19
Darlington, SC Sep 4-6
Thompson, OH May 1-3
Martin, MI May 22-24
Clay City, KY Jul 3-5
Pittsburgh, PA Aug 13-16
Tulsa, OK Apr 17-19
Baton Rouge, LA May 1-3
Lufkin, TX Jun 18-21
Crandall, TX Aug 21-23
Martin, MI May 22-24
Byron, IL Jun 19-20
Osceola, IN Aug 21-23
Farmington, NC Mar 20-22
Mooresville, NC Mar 27-29
Piedmont, NC May 8-9
Kinston, NC May 22-24
Jacksonville, NC Jun 5-7
Rockingham, NC Jun 19-21
Immokalee, FL Feb. 8
Richmond, VA May 31
Lufkin, TX June 21
Byron, IL June 21
Jackson, SC July 19
Pittsburgh, PA Aug. 16
Rockingham, NC Oct. 22
Competiton review of Top Sportsman and Top Dragster released
| POSTED: 2008-10-14 10:05:00 |  EMAIL TO A FRIEND |
 PRINT VIEW |
The competition department recently reviewed the format changes made to each class for the 2008 season, with respect to how the 32 car format affected each field.
Top Dragster had the second highest number of new participants of any class and only one event with a short field. Top Sportsman had the fifth highest number of new entries, but short fields at four events. While one may think the format change led to shorter fields, looking at the overall car count dynamic in the face of this summer’s soaring travel costs, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster were off less cars per race versus 2007 than Quick Rod, Super Rod and Stock. We realize all racers, regardless of class, were greatly affected by travel costs this year.
Both fields showed significant improvement in the amount of downtime per class. Top Sportsman had a 79% reduction in downtime from 386 minutes in 2007 to only 81 minutes in 2008. Top Dragster had a 47% reduction moving from 425 minutes in 2007 to 225 minutes in 2008.
As for the performances of the classes, below is a chart that tracks the change in the bump spot from 2007 to 2008. For comparison purposes, this chart also includes the 2007 “theoretical” bump spot of each field if they would have been contested with a 32 car format in 2007.
| TOP SPORTSMAN | |||||
| EVENT | TS - 2007 | TS - 2007 | TS - 2008 | ||
| actual | @ 32 bump | ||||
| SAN ANTONIO | 7.95 | 7.95 | 5.41* | 1/8th mile | |
| ROCKINGHAM - SPRING | 8.16 | 7.28 | 7.06 | ||
| MILAN | 7.67 | 7.20 | 7.77* | ||
| MARYLAND | 7.40 | 7.03 | 7.31 | ||
| GRAND BEND | 8.49 | 7.52 | 7.86* | ||
| US 131 | 7.48 | 7.20 | 7.21 | ||
| TULSA | 8.03 | 8.03 | 7.92* | ||
| NEW ENGLAND | 7.42 | 7.15 | 7.82 | ||
| * = less than 32 car field in 2008 | |||||
| TOP DRAGSTER | |||||
| EVENT | TD - 2007 | TD - 2007 | TD - 2008 | ||
| actual | @ 32 bump | ||||
| SAN ANTONIO | 7.83 | 7.59 | 4.68 | 1/8th mile | |
| ROCKINGHAM - SPRING | 7.23 | 6.95 | 6.80 | ||
| MILAN | 7.24 | 7.11 | 6.97 | ||
| MARYLAND | 8.06 | 7.23 | 7.32 | ||
| GRAND BEND | 8.02 | 7.24 | 7.12 | ||
| US 131 | 7.91 | 7.23 | 6.94 | ||
| TULSA | 7.73 | 7.73 | 7.58* | ||
| NEW ENGLAND | 7.66 | 7.34 | 7.07 | ||
| * = less than 32 car field in 2008 | |||||
The majority of the competitors who returned TS/TD survey responses in 2007 commented that we needed to elevate the performance level of the fields for 2008. Based on the actual data from 2008, particularly with Top Dragster, that goal was achieved while reducing the amount of downtime by nearly half. Top Sportsman did not show the amount of performance increase that Top Dragster did, but the short fields in four events greatly impacted the overall performance level of those events.
It is our intention to maintain the 32 car format in both categories for 2009. We will then again review the performance levels, car counts and downtime and make any format adjustments necessary based on two years of data.
IHRA extends a sincere thank you to all the competitors who participated in these categories!
