After reviewing feedback from racers, sponsors and others within the industry, NHRA has expanded the number of eligible races for the newly created National Class Performer Awards to 11 for Stock and Super Stock Class Eliminations.

The three NHRA SPORTSnationals events have been added to the list of races that are eligible for bonus points to determine the 2011 NHRA National Class Performer Awards in Super Stock and Stock class-eliminations. Eight of the 11 races are non-contingency paying class-eliminations events. In addition, the points structure for the bonus program will be modeled after the Lucas Oil Series national championship points format.

Racers competing for the National Class Performer Awards will earn points by claiming their best three results from their first five starts in the 11-race class-eliminations series. Of the three events claimed, only one SPORTSnationals event can be used in the racer’s claimed total. Point calculations for the combo classes will not include ‘little’ points. 

In January, NHRA announced the new program which will feature a 12-race class-eliminations schedule for Super Stock and Stock that will offer double contingency payouts at four of those events. A new bonus-points program was instituted for the eight non-paying class-eliminations events, that now includes the three NHRA SPORTSnationals events, and season-ending contingency payouts will be awarded to two National Class Performers (stick and automatic divisions) in each category. Finally, to enhance competition in class eliminations, new stick and automatic combo classes will be created in Super Stock and Stock to group those classes that are represented by only one car.