FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications Dept., (626) 914-4761


NHRA CLARIFIES ROLE IN

2008 NOPI DRAG RACING SERIES SANCTIONED BY NHRA



GLENDORA, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2007) – Following up on its recent announcement at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NHRA and NOPI have further clarified NHRA’s role, specific to racing operations, at “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events.

“We believe the announcement earlier this month is a logical step for sport compact drag racing,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “We wanted, along with Michael Meyers and his team at NOPI, to clarify NHRA’s position to reassure the racers of our continued involvement in sport compact racing.”

Among the points include:

§ At “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events, the competition will be conducted under NHRA’s rules and procedures with NHRA race and tech officials on-site at those events.

§ NHRA will write the “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” Rulebook with input from NOPI;

§ The NHRA Tech Committee will remain in place to oversee all rules and rule changes at “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events;

§ At minimum, NHRA will have a race official and tech official at each “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” event;

§ NHRA’s race official will have final jurisdiction over all on-track and competition questions and activities;

§ NHRA’s safety guidelines will be in place at “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events;

§ NHRA will calculate and award all championship points at “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events;

§ As in years past, certain classes of racers will be required to be an NHRA Sport Compact member to receive points towards a championship. In addition, certain classes of racers must have a current NHRA license.

Questions regarding NHRA’s role specific to the “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events can be sent via e-mail to Gary Raasch, at graasch@nhra.com. As announced, NOPI will continue to run events at non-NHRA member tracks. Those events will not be under the supervision and guidance of NHRA and competitors will not earn championship points at those events. Questions regarding NOPI should be sent via email to Glenn Woods at glennw@nopi.com.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members nationwide and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

The NOPI Drag Racing Series is the hottest and most innovative new generation drag racing series in the U.S. today. The country's top drag racers come together for 10 races each year, eight sanctioned by NHRA and two unsanctioned. At each NOPI Drag Racing Series event, youth cultured fans can spend the entire day and most of the evening at the track enjoying incredible drag racing action, car shows, swimsuit competitions, burnout contests and concerts with some of the hottest names in entertainment.





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Modified by bergenholtzracing at 9:20 AM 11/21/2007

 

No, it's not funny.

All sanctioning bodies require you to buy a membership. Since NHRA is the Sanctioning body of the NOPI DRAG Racing Series, it is only logical.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rota92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I find it funny how they still have NHRA Sport Compact memberships lol

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Race at NOPI, sanctioned by NHRA- Pay nopi entrance fee and pay NHRA membership fee.....

haha Have to love it.....

Thank you sir for the update though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2fastGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Race at NOPI, sanctioned by NHRA- Pay nopi entrance fee and pay NHRA membership fee.....
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nopi had a membership fee in the past also. What is the difference? Is a $19.95 membership fee going to keep you guys from racing?....seriously. Some things are not even worth talking about, and this is one of them!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nopi had a membership fee in the past also. What is the difference? Is a $19.95 membership fee going to keep you guys from racing?....seriously. Some things are not even worth talking about, and this is one of them!</TD></TR></TABLE>there isnt one as long as we are getting Wally's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nopi had a membership fee in the past also. What is the difference? Is a $19.95 membership fee going to keep you guys from racing?....seriously. Some things are not even worth talking about, and this is one of them!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Some how i missed the part where in my post I was complaining about paying the fee... never said that at all. I could care less about 20 bucks for NOPI or the 35-40 that NHRA charged.

I was merely commenting on the paying the different companies for different things for the same race. Just like Rota92 said ....

 

It is no different then paying Nopi a membership fee, then paying the Nopi entry. Nopi is now sanctioned by NHRA, so you are paying the same body. Pay attention!

 

So - NOPI is basically NHRA SC's sponsor for next year - instead of SONY XPLOD

No scam or anything, just another way to generate a crowd

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is no different then paying Nopi a membership fee, then paying the Nopi entry. Nopi is now sanctioned by NHRA, so you are paying the same body. Pay attention!</TD></TR></TABLE>

You just made my point sir. Same Race , Different names, but all for same race/event/company in the end.

I was merely poking fun at the point that there were in fact different names for the same thing. I could care less about who i am paying. We would all agree that after spending all the money we do on our cars, paying a miniscule fee to gain points is nothin. Again...... Thats all. . .

Not arguing and apologize if i said it in a way that was taken wrong, guess i should have made myself a little more clear

 

I'm so confused Back on topic.

This year could be the best in SC

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm so confused Back on topic.

This year could be the best in SC </TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn i think i am now too.

For good ol fashion racing this year- no matter where...

 

 

So when can we expect some rules?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boner_Ben &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So when can we expect some rules?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I know being confused about this situation is the general consensus, but I am just confused about how this move was beneficial to the NHRA. It seems that there is no change besides the fact that there is only 1 big league now instead of 2. And the 2 weren't in competition with one another. I thought pretty much everyone competed in both events, and just raced as much as possible.

Either way I'm glad to read some news on the situation and can't wait to see the new rulebook and get prepared for next year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mikey3000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know being confused about this situation is the general consensus, but I am just confused about how this move was beneficial to the NHRA. It seems that there is no change besides the fact that there is only 1 big league now instead of 2. And the 2 weren't in competition with one another. I thought pretty much everyone competed in both events, and just raced as much as possible.

Either way I'm glad to read some news on the situation and can't wait to see the new rulebook and get prepared for next year. </TD></TR></TABLE>

They were in direct competition with one another. Few teams had the resources to run both series. There is a limited amount of dollars and a limited number of cars in SC drag racing right now, and this will allow people to focus on one major body. It will be good for everyone

 

NHRA will calculate and award all championship points at “NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA” events;

§ As in years past, certain classes of racers will be required to be an NHRA Sport Compact member to receive points towards a championship. In addition, certain classes of racers must have a current NHRA license.


if its sanctioned by nhra, and nhra calculates and awards points, and i pay for nhra membership, we still don't get a wally if we win? has it been definetly confirmed by nhra that no wally's will be awarded to sport compact guys?

 

thats right, Nopi rents the track for like 10k
they collect the entrance fee for spectators,racers and vendors
Since its still a "NHRA" event theres a membership fee
and some royalty is paid to NHRA or vise versa


This is exactly what I think the arrangement is.......... ready?
NHRA is the venue and Nopi is the promoter

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by misfertech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats right, Nopi rents the track for like 10k
they collect the entrance fee for spectators,racers and vendors
Since its still a "NHRA" event theres a membership fee
and some royalty is paid to NHRA or vise versa


This is exactly what I think the arrangement is.......... ready?
NHRA is the venue and Nopi is the promoter </TD></TR></TABLE>

I was looking at it more like NOPI is the event promoter, and the NHRA is the race promoter. But I suppose it could be looked at either way

 

huh?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bergenholtzracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">huh?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Once again, Ron dazzle's us with his brilliance!

 

Could I get a NHRA license at the gate? I know if I were a somewhat local guy who decided to put my car in a class and I got to the gate and payed $35 to race and had to have $40-60 for an NHRA license that is required to race ( and not be able to race if its not attainable at the gate) and maybe $20 to join NDRA. I would probably be really disgusted and probably just pay to watch the race.
Now it may not really seem like a big deal that maybe just 1 guy does it a race, but how do we expect the scene to grow if the smaller guys are turned off and dont race. This person could be a potential racer in future events. I know that when we got to a race we bring just enough money to get in, food and whatnot for the weekend, if I needed $40-80 more at the gate I may not have enough. Keep in mind this could be a younger person that doesnt have a lot of money to throw around racing yet. I know the hardcore guys are going to pay the fees and memberships and all that, but the hardcore racer doesnt make the scene any bigger, its the new comers that do. Maybe cut the new comers a break in price? Maybe I am wrong?

 

If it was like NDRA events in the past if you won they took it from your payout for the membership. Either way you will need the membership to race and I dont see why you could not join at the track.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Everyone was saying that NHRA was the one that was hanging us out to dry and all that but it almost looks like NOPI is the one wanting out...They now will be doing everything NHRA oriented (with the exception of the non-NHRA tracks)...does anyone else see that or am I missing something?

One other thing...if everything is through NHRA rules and the way NHRA wants them...then their better be some damn wallys handed out! Just my 2cents!