If there’s anything in the sport of drag racing that’s growing at a more rapid pace than small tire drag radial cars, it’s index racing. Nearly every series, organization and race track in the country runs some form of index-style racing. And for good reason. It’s affordable, it’s simple, virtually anyone can make their cars run one of the several indexes, and it’s fun.

Last season, the NHRA’s “Unleashed” series included a wide array of classes ranging from 8.50 down to 13.00, borrowing from the huge racer interest and turnout at heads-up events around the south. The Unleashed series has been rumored to be undergoing some significant changes for 2011, none of which have been made official to date.

However, the NHRA did announce this week that the Southeast Division 2 Lucas Oil Series events this year will contest three select index categories to the race program. These will include 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0 indexes and all three will race for a coveted Wally trophy and collect points toward a Division 2 Championship title. The rules for this classes will mirror those in the Unleashed program, which are outlined on the series website at www.nhraunleashed.com.

Before the announcement from the Southeast division was even made official, the news was already being met with heated criticism from competitors in the traditional NHRA sportsman categories over the addition of three more eliminators at events that already have a chocked daily schedule. On the flip side of the coin however, racers with cars that fit these classes are praising the idea and voicing their interest in competing in the series they wouldn’t normally have a home in.

In bringing index racing to the Southeast division events, the NHRA provides more opportunities to reach out to index-style racers in the south and develop index programs at member tracks. And with the 10.0-12.0 elapsed time range in place, could easily encompass many of the late model, street driven muscle cars on the roads.

Street cars competing in the NHRA. Kind of sounds like the NHRA of 60 years ago, doesn’t it?