Why am I not in Pomona??
Ever since the beginning of the year, I’ve received this question. Whether it’s from new fans or old ones, it never fails that I get asked why I don’t attend every race. I hope this blog helps those who don’t fully understand how the Sportsman points system works in NHRA, and why racers don’t visit every race on the NHRA schedules.
According to the NHRA rulebook in Section 3 page 2-4:
“Contestants in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series categories (Super Street is division only) compete for NHRA Sportsman championship titles on the basis of total points earned at NHRA national, regional, and divisional events.”
“Each Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver is eligible to compete for points at five regional and 10 national events. When a driver has competed in those five regionals and 10 national events, or the season ends at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, his or her best three regional and best seven national finishes will constitute the driver’s NHRA Sportsman championship points total.”
“Once a driver has competed for points at a maximum number of national, regional, and/or divisional events, the driver may compete at additional events but will not receive additional NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points.”
“Non-qualifiers in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp, Super Stock, and Stock will receive 10 points regardless of whether an event is postponed and rescheduled.”
“Each Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver may compete for home-region NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points at up to seven regional events and will be credited with points earned for their best five finishes including up to two out-of-region races.”
*Your best 5 out of 7 regional events counts towards the regional championship. This is separate from the national championship. I placed first in regional and third in national in 2018.
In 2018 I competed in 10 nationals and 7 regionals, the maximum as stated above. Here is my points breakdown and how I finished third in the national standings:
(Home division/region = HD, out of home division/region = OD, national event = NA. The races in red means that they did not count towards the total points.)
Belle Rose, LA, 43 HD
Gainesville, FL, 10 OD
Gainesville, FL 31 NA
Dallas, TX, 64 HD
Charlotte, NC, 85 NA
Atlanta, GA, 64 NA
Topeka, KS 31 NA
Chicago, IL 31 NA
Tulsa, OK, 85 HD
Norwalk, OH 85 NA
Topeka, KS, 43 HD
Brainerd, MN, 42 NA
Indianapolis, IN, 31 NA
Reading, PA 31 NA
Earlville, IA, 85 HD
Charlotte, NC, 85 NA
St. Louis, MO, 32 OD
My best 3 out of my first 5 regional races were #1, #4, #9
My best 7 out of 10 national races were #3, #5, #6, #7, #10, #12, #16
As you can see, I finished the year with 615 total points, and placed 3rd behind Shawn Cowie who had 700 total points. With these numbers, we’re able to look at where we struggled and how that hurt us in the end. For example, the 10 points I received for not qualifying at Gainesville Regional made a big impact in the beginning of the year. It only left me with 4 races to win, which I was only able to get 1 win within my first 5 (#9). My second regional win, #15, does not count towards the national points series because it was my 6th regional race. If I had won 3 races within those first 5, I would have ended up with 678 total points, which would not beat Cowie’s 700.
There are many reasons why we run two cars with multiple drivers at each event, but one of the reasons is to help block points for each other. With our team being able to race at Pomona this weekend with Julie and Matt driving, they have the opportunity to get as many points as possible without having to race against our other teammates, and can knockout some of the hard hitters like Shawn Cowie and Joey Severance in eliminations (if they get the chance to race) so those guys can’t get the maximum number of points.
Our goal at the end of the year is to have all of our drivers compete at as many races as they can so we can all place towards the top. Unfortunately, there is no prize money for the end of the year if you place 3rd or below, so our main focus this year is to have at least one of our drivers finish first or second in national points. #TheChampionshipAwaits
To see the full schedule for the Randy Meyer Racing Team, and who will be driving at which event, visit our website. There are 16 national events that Top Alcohol competes in, and we will attend 15 nationals with multiple drivers this year (the race we are skipping is Seattle). My 10 include: Gainesville, Houston, Charlotte, Chicago, Topeka, Norwalk, Brainerd, Indianapolis, Reading, and Charlotte. Dallas is my backup national event I can race at if I chose not to attend one of those listed or if one gets cancelled.
So, to answer your question, I am not in Pomona because I chose to race at a different event where I know I can finish well and maximize points to win the championship.
Megan Meyer is the driver of the NGK Spark Plugs/Lucas Oil/WELD Racing A/Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Follow Megan on Facebook and Instagram.