NHRA News: Professional qualifying format to change in 2008 POWERade Series (1/16/2008)

I think its a needed change myself. I'm just glad they didnt change Fri night qualifying.

You beat me to the announcement!!

I agree, this is a good step. Friday night qualifying is a must have, and now a few teams that hiccup on Friday still have a shot at making the show.

Good deal, glad to see it.

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Huh??? I'll need to read that again later.

That's a great change that needed to happen, plus it's about as fair of a change as can be made.

Dave, I was thinking the same thing. I don't know if I just need to see it in action or what. Maybe my mind is already on Friday afternoon on Wednesday? Sounded good though.

I agree. This is a great move. ESPN2 font guy/girl is coming up with new qualifying graphics as I type....I guess. Cool!

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so, we can still have a bump-a-thon on satursdays... or, if the conditions a poo, 13-16 are open season, because 13 to 16 times from friday are thrown out? and if ya can run better than anyone on friday night's time, you bump into the field accordingly...

Say 16th ran a 4.785, 15th ran 4.783, 14 ran 4.776, 13 ran 4.764 on friday night, saturday, the best 4 are 4.85 to 4.83... and 13 tru 16 can only run high 80's, so they get bumped????

just using flopper as an example...

d'kid

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I don't get it either.
I don't get a lot of things.

Holy crap... trying to decipher that is like trying to think in reverse.....

Please excuse my simplemindedness, but can someone put it in terms of how it is any different to now.

I wonder when we will be advised whether the weather conditions meet the criteria - before or after the final qualifying session(s)? Who determines whether the bump-in rules apply? When do they determine it and what are the criteria for declaring bump-in-season open?

Sounds like a big bag of worms to me and this rule will probably trigger many trips to the tower and a few shouting matches, either by those bumped out or those who were not bumped in.

Up until now, the qualifying rules were clear. Now they are stated in wishy-washy, feel-good language with no firm criteria stated for determining when the final day bump-in procedures apply and when they don't.

My main concern is - when the cars go down the track on Saturday, how will anyone watching know whether the run is good enough to get them into the field or not? How will the announcers know? How will the racers know?

Might not be a problem - if there are 16 or less cars, the rule is moot.

(No typo in the last sentence, "moot" is the correct word, "mute" is incorrect)

I think this was a necessary change given some of dramatic changes in atmosphere conditions that can occur over a weekend. No longer will the Friday night session set the field during the summer like we saw many times this past year.

think I just did... countdown part II....

d'kid

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Okay, on second reading and ignoring some of the wishy-washy language, here's what I think will happen:

After Friday qualifying is completed, the top twelve will keep their times and the rest will have their times erased. Saturday qualifying will requalify those who are not in the top twelve - and anyone can still move into the top twelve if they can run a number good enough to do so.

That would be the simplest way to implement the new procedure, which means it's probably wrong, but I hope not because I've got to translate this into software that matches whatever NHRA implements.

Yes -this is very confusing but I think you got it the most clear.
It seems that "weather conditions" are really dictated by anyone improving.

So if 5 drivers run quicker than the 12th place driver, then he/she would be bumped out of the field.

The only thing I worry about is that this is making an already confusing sport even more confusing. I think they should take the top 4 from each session.