Like it or not, the Countdown program “works” in the sense that it definitely increases drag racing’s media coverage.
What you must understand here is that this is a marketing and promotional effort, not a move on the part of NHRA to deny anyone an opportunity to run for a championship.
The way some of you are whining about those who fail to make the Countdown demonstrates to me that you don’t understand the concept itself.
What you’re suggesting is the same as saying that NASCAR’s Chase program is also bogus because only 12 drivers are eligible for the championship. But, it’s EXACTLY that concept, the concept of first having to prove yourself by making the Chase, or in our case, making the Countdown, and THEN having to prove you’re good enough for the championship.
Steve Bullard’s defense of the Countdown is spot-on. Go back and read it again.
Brian Hirsch – baloney! It’s not the sponsor’s fault his guy didn’t make the Countdown. It’s the racer’s. If he or she wasn’t good enough, that’s the breaks of the game
What you guys are suggesting is akin to local youth sports programs that no longer “allow” winners and losers for fear of some poor kid getting his feelings hurt, or suffering from low self-esteem. Those are the very kids who are going to grow into adulthood unable to deal with the very real harsh realities of being adults. Disappointments are going to come your way, so learn to deal with it. If you can deal with a crushing loss on the soccer pitch when you’re 10, losing your first job at 26 is going to be easier to handle because you’ve successfully dealt with disappointments in the past.
There are going to come national events when you’re not going to qualify. Just ask multi-time, iconic Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson, who takes it like a man, and comes back fighting harder than ever.
There are going to come times when you don’t qualify for the Countdown. Just ask P/SM racer Steve Johnson how that feels. If he were truly unhinged by it he would have gone back to Alabama to whine, but he’s still out there trying.
Re-read Mr. Bullard’s second post: “If you go rounds, you’re on the tube.” What could be easier to understand?
Regarding interviews or the lack thereof, please don’t be so naïve as to think that it’s all about winning rounds. There’s a lot more to it, and like it or not, if the show’s director doesn’t like a certain driver, the only way he or she is going to get on camera is after winning the whole race. There are deserving and interesting drivers out there who ONLY get on screen when they win. It might not be “right,” but it’s reality.
Mr. Keenan, if Service Central is so thin-skinned as to be ready to bolt because Gray didn’t make the Countdown, then they either need to give Gray more resources to win, or go elsewhere. (Please. I know Mr. Gray has extremely deep pockets.)
The way you guys are placing so much emphasis on the sponsors, why don’t we just say, Anyone with a major sponsorship, even if it’s all flash and no real deal, makes the Countdown. Anyone who’s racing on their own, well, tough luck!
Mike Larson is also correct: “…the Countdown enhances sponsor exposure.” And before you say, “What about the sponsored car that doesn’t make the Countdown? Win races during the Countdown and you’ll get plenty of exposure.
Mr. Keech, no one needs to “declare” anything. You either earn enough points to make the Countdown of you don’t. What could be simpler?
Mike Miller, I also follow F-1 and know a lot of journalists worldwide who follow the whole tour, and strongly disagree with your analysis. Vettel’s domination has been a turnoff, not a positive. Secondly, one of F-1’s biggest problems is that, over the years, individual teams have sometimes been so dominant that it backfires.
Lance Peltier is also correct: The fight for the last spots in the Countdown produced lots of publicity for those teams, just like it was supposed to.
One more point: In my OPINION there is only one major flaw with the Countdown program, and here’s where NHRA and NASCAR are unfortunately different. The Chasers in NASCAR know that finishing 11th brings with it a million dollar bonus. Not only does drag racing lack ANY million dollar winners, thereby continuing to make us look like a third-rate endeavor, there’s absolutely NO bonus for fighting your way up to 11th from, say, 17th at the start of the Countdown races.
If there was a significant financial prize for finishing 11th it would provide the media with many more story lines. In Pro Stock (and I’m not going to bother figuring out who the drivers in this spot are – you do it!), with the championship decided, if there were a real battle between three other drivers for finishing 11th, that’s the aspect of Pro Stock that the media would be writing about.
Now, someone figure out where the money comes from to 1). Produce the million dollar winners, and 2). Come up with a really decent prize for finishing 11th, maybe something like $250,000. Yeah, that’s more than it currently pays to finish second, but that’s not the point here. The point is that there should be a significant bonus for 11th, and obviously, much bigger payouts for even making the Countdown and finishing in the Top 10.
Jon Asher
Senior Editor
CopetitionPlus.com
