343.16

[twostep]

Carl, I made that comment as a Sarcastic statement.
Yes it was a monumental moment, but many times my Sarcastic side comes out.

So did I, Harry. It's all good, buddy.

 

[Professional Fan]

Fans certainly enjoyed the 343. Crowds around her pit were way bigger than usual. Kind of like the crowds around John's pit when he was racing.

 

[Jack]

The 343 wss obviously awesome. However then losing in round 1, not so much.

 

[Ugly Duckling race team]

After seeing the force cars running 340's and the car turn out decreasing I am sure 1/8 mile and 8 car fields will be the new norm in the near future

 

[Cliff]

So they go to (gasp) 1/8 mile. Wanna take a bet as to how soon they run 310, 320, 330? 2.8 ET, then 2.7, 2.6, 2.5.....

 

[8sec71]

Clay ran 2.89 to the 1/8th 7 years ago on his 3.62 pass at only 322. Britt “only” went 2.94 on her 343mph rip. Both with Grubby turning the knobs. Imagine if they put both ends together on the same pass. 3.50’s are out there.

 

[Nunz]

After seeing the force cars running 340's and the car turn out decreasing I am sure 1/8 mile and 8 car fields will be the new norm in the near future

I don't think so. There have always been cycles in field sizes. FCs are pretty solid right now. In TF, we are suddenly down 2 Torrence cars, a Scrappers car (which was supposed to be a 2 car deal), and the Shawn's crash took him out for a bit. Cutting to 8 car fields isn't the way to grow the class. Neither is going to 1/8 mile, IMO.

 

[twostep]

I don't think so. There have always been cycles in field sizes. FCs are pretty solid right now. In TF, we are suddenly down 2 Torrence cars, a Scrappers car (which was supposed to be a 2 car deal), and the Shawn's crash took him out for a bit. Cutting to 8 car fields isn't the way to grow the class. Neither is going to 1/8 mile, IMO.

I'd be a lot more concerned about more and more tracks closing due to financial considerations before I'd worry about implementing 1/8 mile racing which wouldn't solve anything to begin with - other than to guarantee NHRA would lose a major part of their national event fan base.