Franchises in motorsports, including NHRA (7 Viewers)

[Mike]

NASCAR, F1. Indy Car and even High Limit sprints have franchises.

What are the odds NHRA decides to sell a dozen to 14 per Pro class at some point where the owners with skin in the game get auto qualifying with the remaining 2-4 spots to the quickest non-Franchise cars?

24 nitro franchises at $1 million a pop, or even half a mil, would be a decent cash infusion, in addition to smaller fees for PS/PSB.

I'm not saying I would be for this, just throwing the idea out that will at some point be a discussion.

 

[mick]

i have been saying this for years. nhra and racers to have equal skin in the game, but i'm not sure if there is enough
money circulating in our sport to make it financially viable?
if there would be a way to do it, it would also guarantee full fields at all events.

 

[Just Paul]

auto qualifying

Pass

 

[BOO BOO]

Sounds like a different version of the countdown

 

[ironpony]

With the amount of teams that show up it is almost auto qualifying at most events anymore. Also the same top teams always qualify so why pay a premium to do so. When is the last time a top team didn't get into the field ??

 

[SS140]

Really bad idea that shouldn't even be discussed.

How would you like to be a low-budget team who runs one or two races a year, makes the field at #16...only to get bumped out by someone who blew the tires off on all four qualifiers because they 'bought' a spot in the show?

 

[Mike]

Another drama post.

 

[you]

With the amount of teams that show up it is almost auto qualifying at most events anymore. Also the same top teams always qualify so why pay a premium to do so. When is the last time a top team didn't get into the field ??

Not saying I don’t agree with your first point. But, for the second point, I would venture to say just a couple of weeks ago with Schumacher at Indy.

 

[mick]

the end goal would be revenue sharing and guaranteed money. i think you could figure out how to have a charter system
in place, and still have qualifying spots available. IMO i don't think there's enough money circulating. you'd have to get
at least $30-40k per team just to show up, to make the exercise worthwhile.

 

[mgty3whlr]

I think the focus should be getting Household brand names into the sport instead of just automotive brands.

 

[ironpony]

I think the focus should be getting Household brand names into the sport instead of just automotive brands.

The market is too small for the investment, the TV time is short and the return is not there.

 

[mgty3whlr]

The market is too small for the investment, the TV time is short and the return is not there.

If NHRA is trying to expand their market reach, Do you think new viewers want to see just all automotive advertisements?

 

[Cliff]

Many years ago.... heh AHRA had 16 car fields in T/F & F/C. 8 of those cars were paid by AHRA to be part of the show, other 8 spots open to other racers. The paid drivers included Garlits & Prudhomme, so the fans would always see the top runners of the day. Just throwing this out, don't think it would happen today.

 

[T.Smith]

There's not enough TV revenue for that.

Also, be careful what you wish for. Drag Racing is one of the last frontiers in major auto racing where a privateer can put a team together and still win races, and a championship. A small team can also build their program and be competitive.

Whether or not fields are short at some races, we still have the uniqueness of race teams having to earn their way into the field. You go to franchisees and you probably put some smaller teams out of business.