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Better get ready for another four wide
- Thread starter Bobby Bennett
- Start date
SoCal Racer
Nitro Member
4-wide during the countdown to the chase to the playoffs for a championship - or whatever they call it - is just about the dumbest idea ever. 4-wide isn't really racing; it's an exhibition. Wins are far more often luck than skill. Has no place when points and a championship are on the line. Drag racing has always been man vs. man, NOT man against man - and a couple other guys (or gals) thrown in to mix it up.
Not a fan, and it's terrible on NHRA.tv anyway. Add it to my growing list of must-miss TV.
Not a fan, and it's terrible on NHRA.tv anyway. Add it to my growing list of must-miss TV.
65 Goatboy
Nitro Member
Clay Millican's youtube videos are excellent but it's just one car not the whole race.
NHRA ANNOUNCES FIRST FOUR-WIDE RACE IN COUNTDOWN | Competition Plus
For the first time in NHRA history, the Countdown to the Championship will feature a four-wide race. The NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals will take place Sept.
competitionplus.com
Marchboom
Nitro Member
That's exactly what it is...an exhibition. An exhibition that is used for one reason. To bring in more money for the track and the NHRA. Who cares what the racers want.
And its terrible on commercial TV too. Way too hard to follow whats going on after the green light comes on...for me anyway.
And then there is the safety issue. Some drivers might "stay in it" longer than is necessary because they don't know what is happening with the other cars. I thought the NHRA was interested in safety?
And did I mention that 4-wide SUCKS!?
HoodooVoodooAngus
Nitro Member
Wow. What a bunch of Negative Nancys. Try living in Northern Canada where it's a $3000 dollar trip to even see an NHRA big show event between flights/fuel/lodging. There's worse things in life. Every racer has the same challenge so there's no "leg-up" on anyone else. And yes, stick and ball sports have a countdown, it's called the playoffs. Most hockey fans don't even get geared up until playoff time. Drag racing is a great sport but unfortunately, they have to try new things because old drag racing fans are dying and they aren't getting replaced by new fans. There's very little urgency in the real world for 2 idiot teenagers to race each other in a souped up Tesla like when we were younger and would race whatever sh!tbox we had on a back country 2 lane. Drag racers have been using gimmicks for years. How do you think back-up girls came about? Jet cars? Wheelstanders? You name it. If drag racing as a whole never tried anything new, we'd be cheering on 9 second top fuel runs as they smoke their M&H Dragmasters and cheated death on Dead Man's Curve....
I hope NHRA monitors this site so they will get an idea of why 4 wide races are so unpoplar. Problably not.
Oh they monitor and are aware.
It's a balance between those hardcore fans among us, many that go to multiple races a season, watch most of the events on TV and really just have racing fuel in our veins vs and the fans that are casual at best or they see that there is a car thing in town this weekend and decide to go. I think we've all sat in the stands near a local genius who can't get one fact right but spouts off their knowledge to whoever is with them, it does make for fun entertainment. If it's more of a spectacle and show then maybe it attracts that level fan. Will they latch on and become a longtime fan or not is the question. Do the changes like this push away the die hard? Do they gain more new fans to make up for less or lowering of events of veteran fans. Just some of the questions that I am sure they look at. Do they keep attracting an aging fan base or try new things to bring in the next generation.
All things they must consider.
Other leagues have done the same, some work, others have failed and have had to change back or alter their course. The better sports league, learn to pivot quickly when something doesn't work and figure out ways to keep growing. NHL went through this some time ago and made some poor choices then changed. The NBA is facing some issues now and trying to figure out a way to improve their sport.
4-wide is fine for an exhibition event but not for an actual race, I was hopeful about it, but wasn't impressed in person or on TV. It appears it is here to stay though.
robinjackson
Nitro Member
Thinly populated stands are a poor advertisement for the sport on TV.
What's the obvious way to try filling the Z-Max stands in September? Answer: try the April trick.
What's the obvious way to try filling the Z-Max stands in September? Answer: try the April trick.
NHRA Peach State Showcase of Speed event set for South Georgia Motorsports Park
NHRA officials have announced the creation of a special two-day exhibition showcase race, a new event featuring big-name NHRA stars racing at an NHRA member track. The first showcase event, the NHRA Peach State Showcase of Speed, will take place Oct. 24-25, 2025, at South Georgia Motorsports...
As someone else has mentioned, NHRA should use 4 wide races that fall into this catorgory and don't include it towards championship points for the winners, just a decent payout.
drag racer
Nitro Member
He who has the gold, makes the rules. Bruton Smith's Family Speedway Corp. has two of the finest facilities in the world that have invested in 4 lanes and they want 4-wide, and they got it. I will admit being a hard-core purist, I did not care for 4-wide when it came about, but years later, I have changed my view. If there are 4 raceable lanes, they should all be used for all classes. The fall Vegas race might as well also go 4-wide to round it out. We all bitch to some degree that NHRA is behind the times and not trying new things, well, here is one, and we all still bitch. 
mike
Nitro Member
Give yourself a pat on the back for the stupidest comment of the year.
Gone Dead Train
Nitro Member
4 wide drag racing is nothing new.He who has the gold, makes the rules. Bruton Smith's Family Speedway Corp. has two of the finest facilities in the world that have invested in 4 lanes and they want 4-wide, and they got it. I will admit being a hard-core purist, I did not care for 4-wide when it came about, but years later, I have changed my view. If there are 4 raceable lanes, they should all be used for all classes. The fall Vegas race might as well also go 4-wide to round it out. We all bitch to some degree that NHRA is behind the times and not trying new things, well, here is one, and we all still bitch.
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stitcherbob
Nitro Member
Ok, ok, ok….. how about four wide where every round is a Fueler vs a Funny car vs a Pro Stock vs a Pro Mod? Handicap start, winner takes all
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