Yes, it does suck.....LOORRS is the big show, and the best of the best race in that series.
BUT....let's take a step back and look at things realistically. First of all, just the fact that LOORRS kept the UTV class when they began in 2009 was a great thing. Alot of us wondered what would happen to us after CORR folded. LOORRS took in the class, and gave us a place to race for the past 3 years. And....look what has happened over that time? Reduced car counts.
4 Unlimiteds last year. 10 SR1s, on a good weekend. Where were all of the racers? Where was everyone that said they would be there, and would be racing? There was a solid core of us who showed up and committed to each and every round - but there were a lot more who came and raced and didn't stick it out - or said they would, and didn't - for whatever the reasons. (before anyone gets defensive - I never said they weren't good reasons.....just that it happened)
LOORRS made a great leap of faith when they added the SR1 class. This shows they are open minded and willing to have the UTVs in the series. This year, they continued to pay out EVERY racer in the Unlimited class, because their payouts go to 5th place. With only 4 racers, you know they lost money with that class. I have known other series that won't even DO a payount with only 4 racers. With the SR1 entries, MAYBE they broke even, or only lost a little with the UTVs....but if they are
losing money having a class, and if our track record shows a history of decreasing numbers - what are they supposed to do?
My guess is (and this is just a guess - I didn't talk to anyone), they talked to the racers and heard from everyone who said they WOULD race, and they looked at the history of this class over the past 3 years, and had to make a business decision. It's not really fair to say anything negative about LOORRS for this.....this is because of our lack of numbers.
I don't like this decision, but I'm not going to say anything negative about LOORRS because of it. They made a huge effort to have us be a part of the big show for the past three years - and I appreciate the hell out of that. Look at what doors have opened up for so many of the UTV drivers - Chad George in a truck, Austin Kimbrell in a truck, Jacob Person in a truck, RJ Anderson in a truck (or two haha), and whoever else is going to move up in 2012 because there WAS a UTV class.
Plus, with the Regionals in AZ, CA, UT and now LV, it's not like they are kicking us out in the cold. We have a good, fun, affordable series to race in, still. It's pretty much up to us - again - to participate and race in the regionals and get our numbers up. LOORRS is a HUGE commitment, both financially and time-wise. For you newbies with new cars being built (or just finished - woot!), maybe take this year as a less expensive "practice run" for what LOORRS will require.
So....no. You won't hear me badmouth LOORRS for this. Instead I thank them for what they have done for us over the past three years, and I appreciate that they are willing to see how 2012 goes regarding the 2013 season.