Do you really believe the quota's have been reduced to phase out sportsman racing? There are only 2 things affecting the quotas ...I don't see that happening anytime soon. Charging 400 sportsman racers $400 entry fee is a good payday for NHRA when you only have to spend maybe $20,000 in prize money. Besides they only run about 2 or 3 rounds on Sunday instead of 6 or 7 they use too. Most sportsman classes are run before fans get there and/or after the pro show.
But to your point they have reduced the quotas in each of the classes the pass few years so maybe they are phasing them out.
- 10 years ago you could park 600 race cars at most of the national event facilities. 1 tractor trailer or truck / trailer per team and all fit nicely!! Now the Pros use up 5+ spots per team with the Hospitality areas and technical trailers. Have you been to the sportsman pits lately? What used to be pickup trucks and small Goldrush trailers, has been replaced by 75 feet or more of Stacker Trailer or bigger, plus coaches of large proportions. The little truck and trailer guys are a small breed these days. There are teams with a single Super Stock or .90 entries going around with a Professional 18 wheeler. I get why, but space is an absolute commodity now.
- Many tracks are fighting with the locals and curfews have reduced the available amount of race time at many venues.