This is an age old discussion and there will never be a resolution. Personally I grew up in the 50's and all I knew was 1/4 mi racing. It wasn't until 1990 that I was introduced to 1/8th tracks. I knew I wasn't going to like it but surprise I did. It doesn't matter to me. The one thing that is definitely true is that many 1/4mi tracks are now running 1/8mi brackets because that's what the local racers voted on. It's the old adage "TO EACH HIS OWN"!!!!

Honestly I grew up on 1/4 mile racing as I loved watching Stock and Super Stock cars of the 60's and 70's and everything I also read about in the magazines was 1/4 mile. And I guess that why I love the Nostalgia Super Stock racing of today. But I also understand that just about all the street cars and most race cars were N/A back then. Today cars are so much faster because of power adders (super and turbochargers and NOS) and that's because the technology of today has them working so good that car manufactors will even warranty them on their cars.

I am an older guy I guess (will be 62 in 2 weeks) and I don't care for power adder cars as I like the N/A cars I grew up with and hey that's just me. Its fine that most of the younger crowd want to go as fast as they can and like the power adder cars. Lets face it if you want to run with the big dogs you have to run a power adder. And because the cars of today are much faster may be one reason many like the 1/8 mile better. I don't and never will but I don't even follow any of the power adder classes as I have no interest in them.

Maybe the answer is let power adder cars run 1/8 mile and N/A cars run the 1/4 mile ? It seems to most who like the 1/4 mile better are older guys like me who grew up on it and like the NSS cars which all ran the 1/4 mile back in the day at all National events. Probably wont happen but I hope they keep the 1/4 mile for all the NSS events. I just don't want to see all tracks go to 1/8 mile as I can live with both so a person can run what they prefer. Ron

Now go back and reread all the posts so far. Most of the guys that race week after week could really care less whether it’s a 1/8 or 1/4 mile track. The occasional racer that races 3-5 times a year or the rest n tuners prefer 1/4 mile. Heck even in Pa the second track I ever went to (nu-be) was 1/8 mile in the 1970’s and near by Merser was even shorter than 1/8. Competition drives me and I even get a little crazy on go carts and slick tracks in Ocean City.

If/when you start going fast, you may rethink this............ And to answer the original q, some small tire stuff in the last few years are flying and NO WAY in hell would they be stable at over 200 mph in the 1/4..........

You forget Dom, i owned a car that runs what your does forever. Hence my screen name on here i have never changed. And i have a much faster motor to install this upcoming offseason than what is in my car currently. Unfortunately most weeks i work 7 days and extra time to fart with stuff is a luxury i seldom have these days. So when i do get out, i like full track racing more than if i could take time off whenever i wanted to( which i used to be able to do... lol)

I find the T&T guys and the guys who race three times a year have issues with 1/8th mile.......The folks who actually spend money at the track don't give a S...

I miss the speed and the chase of the 1/4. I chase a lot of cars 20-30 mph slower than me. I enjoy figuring out the closing rate. My car is easier to dial 1/8. I've raced both. I find 1/8 a little boring, even running 5.80's. Especially if the shut down s long when your at 1/4 track with no quick turnoff racing 1/8. If I owned a 4 second 1/8 car that would probably be good though.
Doug

When I started drag racing, it was on a 1000 ft track, Motion Raceway in Illinois, and had the time of my life. Skip forward several years and I raced 1/8th and quarter mile tracks, loved them all. As a driver of a slow door car, I preferred 1/8 mile as the faster cars were not as hard to judge at the stripe as on the quarter mile. From a spectator's viewpoint, I prefer really close finishes, regardless of track length. It is all fun.

Danny

Thats not fair Eric. I know you know me. I used to race points at 2 different tracks with my blue Duster. Raced 10.0 index points series for years at Mid Mich Motorplex. And no box points at US131. You helped me about 5 rounds-in with a charging problem at Norwalk few years back one night. You and 440 Jim..... lol
Back then i had the time to do it. Now a days i dont. Would love to be independently wealthy and be able to be at a track all the time.
But spending most all my spare money racing back then is a good reason i cant now. I own a successful business now and can afford to race all i want, but am saving for a nice retirement, zero, zilch has changed with me. Liked 1/4 back when i raced constantly( and won a few races) and like 1/4 now when i cant get out as much.
Trust me, ask anybody who knows me, i get just as pissed now when i lose as i ever have.
I hang out with 5 or 6 guys with Mopar race cars here locally. All are like me, little older, love to race every chance they can, but life’s priorities dont allow it. All of us will be at Norwalk, and i sponsor a race. And every one of us like 1/4 mile WAY better.
There are plenty of competetive guys who feel the exact same way.
Oh, and i spend plenty of money at the track spectating. Bracket races here start at 8 on Saturday mornings. I dont get out of work till 2, and Saturday is a busy day for us( own a car dealership)..... but often times am up at the track after work watching...... one of the pitiful few who do.

I wasn't saying I'm fast just saying I have friends in the 4's in the 1/8 and it's a handful as we can imagine but even my lowly 6.15 @ 112+ felt ok...........

THEY are serious bracket racers and the tracks that they frequent. All the big money events are run 1/8 mile. Local tracks here often run Super Pro on the 1/8 and everyone else 1/4. PDRA is 1/8. No lack of excitement there. I've always run 1/4 mile NHRA stuff. Some of what we did was on the 1/8. Kind of hard to run both with one car and jump back and forth. So, 1/8 has become the standard it seems.

Frankly, I'm glad there's choices. More tracks, more racers spending money and paying bills, more options for every level of racer. A number of things I'd like to be involved in, and plenty of stuff I have no interest in, but I'm glad that someone is and they're participating. Why are we complaining about having options? You should be glad - and hoping some of these kids put down their phone and take an interest in some of them.

Yea, those 1/8 mile guys do it because they are slow....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0oZQjvNI_Q

Don...I'm busting balls but it does have a ring of truth. I don't deny the passion of every racer....but...the tides are rolling toward 1/8th mile...rather than protest why not embrace it like John (Pittsburgracer) ? Personally my car will run either with no issues but if I have a choice I would rather not beat on it if I can. And as stated previously all the big money stuff is 1/8th anyway.

I hear ya about the big money stuff. But even the majority of weekly points racers arent in the league of guys who win that stuff.
That Matt Daddis( sp) guy was at the 50/125/50 race at 131 little while back. They raced for 6 k on Wed, 20k on Thursday, then the big money over the weekend. I watched a lot of it. Even a guy of his caliber, dont think he made it past 4 rounds any day, and less most of the time. Results are posted on 131 website
So the fact they run those “ business” type races on 1/8 means nothing to me. At my best years ago, i was never in that class. Guys with multiple entry’s yada, yada. That is guys shellout out several thousand bucks because they think they can beat guys like Folk and those others. Those weekends i am out on my boat after work taking a nice refreshing dip.... lol

a car that goes 180-200 in the 1/8 is at least 6 figures.

my on the issue

The bottom line is:

I will race 1/8 or 1/4 bracket races as long as they pay green money. I prefer 1/4. This assumes I ever finish my car.

I would not pay to watch an 1/8 mile bracket race.

1/8 and 1/4 mile heads up races are some of the most exciting racing available. I go to as many as I can, and watch the rest on the internet when available.

I won't post my perspective on this, cuz it'll just cause some people to say my opinion isn't worth sh!t for not being an active racer any longer. But I'll still follow the post as it evolves to see what people say on the topic... even if certain comments have left me a bit .

Don just to clarify one of the locals won the 125K on Saturday and another lost at 3 cars. We had locals in deep on friday and sunday also.
The race was well supported by the locals.

Al

I can't stand 1/8 mile, it's like you are just getting started and it is over. 1 reason is too many people are watching street outlaws.