Jon Asher Article (1 Viewer)

[Nunz]

Great article over at Complus by Asher, talking about the escalating costs of the Pro classes. He's dead on. What was kind of surprising was that he felt the current budgets required to be competitive in these classes are still a good ROI for sponsors, but that continued escalation of these budgets will eventually cripple the sport. My thinking is, while we all like to think we have the best bang for the buck in motorsports, why is the pool of sponsors so shallow? As costs go up, it will only get worse.

 

[Toejam]

I had NO idea Pro stock was That expensive, Great piece!

 

[Under_Pressure]

Sorry, but that article goes against everything racing is about. The one and only point of drag racing is to get from here to there in the shortest amount of time possible. Period. It's not close competition, it's not keeping it cheap enough for anyone who feels like it to compete. I just don't see all the gloom & doom people like Asher talk about. We've got more than full fields in all classes- what more do you want? Racing, especially drag racing, should be an engineering contest. You want artificial, spec car racing, go watch NASCAR. And by the way, how are their ridiculously restrictive rules working to keep things cheap? Not allowing progress like OHC, 3 plug heads, multispeed blowers, screw blowers in nitro classes, etc. shows that drag racing has lost its way. It should be run what you brung, & hope you brung enough. That's real racing. Unfortunately, some people have to always stand in the way of progress, and that's sad.

 

[none]

For many years I felt Jon Asher was the best reporter out there, The last few years he just seems like a bitter old man who hates, hates, hates. Best of luck with your retirement Jon!!!! Don't let the door hit you in the a**.

 

[willy]

For many years I felt Jon Asher was the best reporter out there, The last few years he just seems like a bitter old man who hates, hates, hates. Best of luck with your retirement Jon!!!! Don't let the door hit you in the a**.

Was that really necessary, Paul?

Get a grip..

 

[HEMI6point1]

Get a grip..

My sentiments exactly.

 

[MoparBilly]

For many years I felt Jon Asher was the best reporter out there, The last few years he just seems like a bitter old man who hates, hates, hates. Best of luck with your retirement Jon!!!! Don't let the door hit you in the a**.

Quote of the day! Now there is a man with insight, and wit!! What a spindoctor, do you mind dancing around the obvious a little longer?? Good thing you were subtle in your approach, otherwise Mr. Sherwood will really get riled up.

 

[na]

I think Asher is right on! Face it, he has more insight and knowledge of the "inner workings" of this organization than the majority of us bench racers.

 

[Chad]

I have no idea about the Pro Stockers but I do know that the costs of a competitive class car (Stk, SS, comp) have gotten outrageous over the last 5 or 6 years. And we have no sponsor money to speak of.

 

[rocketman]

I know guys that run blown cars on a budget for under 20 grand. We ran in the 6 second range last year and kept our budget under $20,000

It's an expensive sport in all classes for sure. It takes being smart with the money and being sensable on what you can and can't do financially. Does your tow rig have to cost $120,000? We have a very nice 43 foot trailer I bought for 12 grand. Hand out cards, you can get them from Jim Young for 35 bucks for 100. There are lots of places to save. The only place I don't cut corners is on the engine and transmission. Even then I don't have the absolute best.

Does every part have to be polished? Does the helmet have to be painted? I rattle can my chassis and the car still looks great. Web sites? Cheep. I know it's not Top Fuel but you can see what I'm getting at.

 

[Toejam]

For many years I felt Jon Asher was the best reporter out there, The last few years he just seems like a bitter old man who hates, hates, hates. Best of luck with your retirement Jon!!!! Don't let the door hit you in the a**.

You sure your not referring to Jeff Burk?

Chris, I think if you looked over the past 5-6 years, the number of PS'ers has dropped a bunch!

 

[Turtle]

I think he is spot on. And also I think drag racing is becoming more of a tuners & money game that the drivers. Sure, the drivers are all very talented, but over the years more and more of the 'driving' part has been taken away from the sport.
Just my 2c

 

[Bobby Bennett]

Pro Stock then and Pro Stock now

2000 - 46 entries

Order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the 44th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals :

Psn-Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type------------------------------ET---Speed

1 2 Warren Johnson, Duluth GA, Pont Firebird 6.977 197.62
2 3 Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville GA, Chevy Camaro 6.989 196.50
3 1 Jim Yates, Alexandria VA, Pont Firebird 6.990 196.03
4 25 Jeg Coughlin, Columbus OH, Olds Cutlass 6.993 196.46
5 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, Chevy Camaro 7.005 194.84
6 219 Terry Adams, Millers Creek NC, Olds Cutlass 7.009 195.69
7 262 Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg VA, Ford Probe 7.013 196.03
8 1525 John Nobile, Melville NY, Olds Cutlass 7.018 196.80
9 207 Mike Thomas, Knoxville TN, Pont Firebird 7.018 195.90
10 44 Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow OK, Pont Firebird 7.021 196.07
11 7 George Marnell, Las Vegas NV, Pont Firebird 7.025 194.88
12 244 Mark Osborne, Abingdon VA, Pont Firebird 7.026 195.69
13 5 Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis IN, Pont Firebird 7.028 195.73
14 28 Mark Thomas, Cincinnati OH, Pont Firebird 7.030 195.14
15 19 Richie Stevens, New Orleans LA, Pont Firebird 7.038 195.99
16 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, Pont Firebird 7.040 195.82

--------- Not Qualified ---------

17 398 Darrell Alderman, Morehead KY, Dodge Avenger 7.056 195.39
18 20 Shawn Collins, Glen Allen VA, Pont Firebird 7.058 196.54
19 233 Greg Anderson, Jacksonville NC, Pont Firebird 7.063 194.84
20 4 Bruce Allen, Arlington TX, Pont Firebird 7.064 195.65
21 312 Bob Glidden, Whiteland IN, Pont Firebird 7.065 195.52
22 224 Tom Hammonds, Highlands Ranch CO, Chevy Camaro 7.068 195.39
23 368 Ray Franks, New Carlisle OH, Pont Firebird 7.069 195.86
24 6 Tom Martino, Farmingdale NJ, Pont Firebird 7.069 195.22
25 270 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, Dodge Avenger 7.070 194.59
26 55 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, Pont Firebird 7.073 195.05
27 11 Scott Geoffrion, SJ Capistrano CA, Dodge Avenger 7.075 194.76
28 14 Jamie Yates, Alexandria VA, Pont Firebird 7.076 194.67
29 12 Dester Cambron, Philpot KY, Chevy Beretta 7.086 194.88
30 150 Kenny Delco, Centereach NY, Pont Firebird 7.087 193.96
31 387 Mark Pawuk, Akron OH, Pont Firebird 7.095 196.67
32 8 Troy Coughlin, Columbus OH, Olds Cutlass 7.098 195.95
33 255 Danny Coffman, Russellville KY, Olds Cutlass 7.133 194.21
34 124 Frank Iaconio, Flanders NJ, Olds Cutlass 7.135 194.93
35 402 Taylor Lastor, Austin TX, Pont Firebird 7.153 188.40
36 200 Vince Khoury, Harrison Twp. MI, Pont Firebird 7.157 191.32
37 291 Wayne Hutton, Portland TN, Pont Firebird 7.167 190.59
38 279 Joel Bayless, Clinton TX, Olds Cutlass 7.176 192.59
39 412 Arturo Delgado, McAllen TX, Pont Firebird 7.196 193.54
40 533 David Janes, Kirksville MO, Pont Firebird 7.221 189.99
41 376 Kevin Lawrence, Palos Hills IL, Pont Firebird 7.404 186.14
42 117 Bill Shorts, Erie PA, Chevy Lumina 7.500 184.23
43 329 Gary Wiggins, Gilbertsville KY, Pont Firebird 7.539 175.02
44 355 Bob Kropfield, Cincinati OH, Pont Firebird 8.974 103.10
45 351 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, Pont Firebird 9.130 104.11
46 22 Larry Nance, Akron OH, Dodge Avenger 13.540 94.70

2006 31 entries
Order after 4 rounds of qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

1 1 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '06 GTO 6.662@ 206.95& 206.95
2 2 Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '06 Cobalt 6.672 206.83 206.83
3 3 Jason Line, Mooresville NC, '06 GTO 6.676 206.64 206.64
4 55 V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '06 Stratus 6.682 206.32 206.32
5 44 Mike Edwards, Coweta OK, '06 GTO 6.683 206.73 206.73
6 3351 Dave Howard, Braidwood IL, '06 Cobalt 6.686 205.76 206.07
7 93 Allen Johnson, Greeneville TN, '06 Stratus 6.690 205.29 205.57
8 7 Greg Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '06 GTO 6.693 206.35 206.35
9 357 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '06 Stratus 6.694 206.20 206.20
10 186 Tom Martino, Farmingdale NJ, '06 GTO 6.698 206.10 206.10
11 5 Dave Connolly, Elyria OH, '06 Cobalt 6.702 205.13 205.13
12 9 Ron Krisher, Warren OH, '06 Cobalt 6.705 205.66 205.66
13 136 Bob Benza, Briarcliff Manor NY, '06 Cobalt 6.707 205.29 205.29
14 4 Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill GA, '06 GTO 6.710 205.79 205.79
15 30 Steve Schmidt, Indianapolis IN, '06 Cobalt 6.716 205.19 205.26
16 1186 Dave Northrop, Perkasie PA, '05 Stratus 6.717 205.29 205.29

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 387 Mark Pawuk, Akron OH, '06 GTO 6.718 205.38 205.38
18 10 Jim Yates, Occoquan VA, '06 GTO 6.718 203.92 204.94
19 430 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '05 Stratus 6.723 204.60 204.60
20 8 Richie Stevens, New Orleans LA, '06 Stratus 6.726 204.94 204.94
21 712 Bob Panella, Stockton CA, '06 Stratus 6.727 205.22 205.22
22 203 Tommy Lee, Mooresville NC, '06 Cobalt 6.729 204.66 205.63
23 202 Tommy Brown, Gloucester VA, '06 GTO 6.732 204.60 204.60
24 107 Kenny Koretsky, Richboro PA, '06 Stratus 6.733 204.14 204.79
25 103 Max Naylor, New Buffalo PA, '06 Stratus 6.736 204.51 204.51
26 701 Ben Watson, Concord CA, '06 GTO 6.755 202.79 202.79
27 376 Kevin Lawrence, Palos Hills IL, '02 Cavalier 6.763 203.46 203.46
28 5681 Pat Herold, Maplewood MN, '05 Cavalier 6.768 203.16 203.16
29 772 Tony Rizzo, Tucson AZ, '06 Cobalt 6.780 202.33 202.33
30 295 Barry Grant, Dahlonega GA, '06 GTO 6.800 203.71 203.71
31 359 Larry Peternel, Bristol WI, '02 Camaro 15.970 42.76 42.76

 

[ProStockJunkie]

We've got more than full fields in all classes- what more do you want?

More then full classes? Over the past couple of decades, pro classes have gone from well over 30 cars entered for the 16 car fields, to one or two cars over the 16 car fields in some cases. If you think it's because all of those other people have lost interest in drag racing, you're wrong. They simply CANNOT AFFORD to do it any longer.

In my opinion, drag racing has lost its very essence with the continuing demise of the "independent racer."

But then, only someone who has been around long enough to have seen those days, understands the prohibitive costs involved with our sport. Asher has seen it all.

Another good article!

 

[Toejam]

I remember talking to a Former FC Hitter from the 70's at Dallas back in like '04. He was Stunned that we still see 16 car fields in TF/FC with the Costs like they are now! Everyone knows the Fuel classes take a S#@tpile of Ca$h to run. I had NO idea Prostock costed $1.5 mil a year to compete, call me Naive but you don't see the Pro stocker's eating parts like the Fuel cars. I'm curious what it cost to run when they (PS) first got in the 6's??

 

[Nunz]

Rich, I agree with you, and I think you have a great program. The cool thing about drag racing is that you really can make it happen if you are smart with your dollars, look for deals on equipment, etc. Unfortunately, that pretty much only applies to sportsman racing now. It wasn't that long ago that you could take Rich's approach and apply it to a pro car, and maybe go out and win. Asher's article is really about the pro classes. Yes, we haven't had a problem having full fields, but the depth and diversity are not there like maybe 10 years ago. How many surprise winners will we really see? I am by no means a doom & gloomer, I just feel the pro classes are on a slipperier slope than ever. What happens when Kalitta or Knoll or Black decide they have had their fill and don't want to play anymore? I don't have the answers, just throwing questions out there. On a side note, I think one of the coolest trends going right now is the growing popularity of real fast bracket racing, like Top Dragster, Top Comp, Top Sportsman, etc. I think Rich is a great example, he's running a blown, 6 second dragster, I imagine having a great time and not spending zillions.

 

[Toejam]

Quote of the day! Now there is a man with insight, and wit!! What a spindoctor, do you mind dancing around the obvious a little longer?? Good thing you were subtle in your approach, otherwise Mr. Sherwood will really get riled up.

That will ruin my day for sure!

 

[DragFan2]

You sure your not referring to Jeff Burk?

Chris, I think if you looked over the past 5-6 years, the number of PS'ers has dropped a bunch!

Asher is telling it like it is. Some people don't want to hear the truth and if you re-read his article, he is not talking about limiting innovation. He is just trying to point out that expensive pieces and parts, primarily in Pro Stock, are providing miniscule gains for exhorbitant cost. This allows one or more teams to stay ahead of the rest by just enough cushion to almost guarantee victories as long as they are cutting decent lights. If limiting the amount of money spent on exotic parts keeps several more teams out there, then I agree with that. I read a quote from retired Pro Stock owner/racer George Marnell that went something like this, "I don't mind spending a million dollars (his own?) on racing and having fun, but I'm not having any fun". So he got out, and so did Mark Pawuk, and if something doesn't happen soon, then so will Jim Yates. A level playing field is all that anyone asks for, but that is a hard thing to create. I'm sure if the internet and message boards had been around back in Bob Glidden's time, the same stuff was being said, and cheating or bending the rules may have been rampant, but I think Bob G. just out-worked everyone. He had to, since he was almost always the only Ford out there and everyone knows it is usually harder & more expensive to get a Ford motor to run as good or better than most GM motors.

Anyway, Joe, you as well as Bobby Bennett are correct, the car count in Pro Stock has dropped significantly in the last 5-6 years. Maybe in just the last 2-3 years. The average (other than INDY) is in the low 20's now, and used to by in the high 20's or low 30's at many races back in 2000 or earlier. Last year and this year at Pomona & Phoenix the car counts were almost identical in all 3 Pro classes, so that's a good thing. Still precarious though. If 3-4 low budget teams decided to throw in the towel soon, then filling a 16 car field will barely happen and probably won't at some races. Pretty soon it will be just the mega-millionaires out there racing, at least at the professional level. Regular millionaires will have to get out as they won't spend their own money just to show up and hope to qualify 15th or 16th.

Just my .02c

 

[Rollout96]

Sorry, but that article goes against everything racing is about. The one and only point of drag racing is to get from here to there in the shortest amount of time possible. Period.

I understand your sentiment, however, the pro classes are about ADVERTISING and ROI. Period. It sucks (in a way) but the traveling NHRA circus (which I enjoy) is no longer what it once was as far as "engineer it and race to the stripe".

JMO

 

[Ken]

Two or three years ago during a rainy day at E-Town, A couple of us fans were keping dry at Kenny Koretsky's trailer. We asked him how much it cost to run a competive pro stock car. He did'nt hesitate, just held up 2 fingers and said "two million". That's alot of money just for the chance to qualify.

Maybe Pro Stock has run it's course and needs an overhaul. I'd like to see it more along the lines of the A/SM cars in comp. eliminator. Yup, they're expensive to build, but if NHRA sticks to it's own rules, maybe running them won't need a millionaire's budget. Just one idea - maybe you folks have others.

Right now, Pro Stock cars are just non-supercharged funny cars. And still not as entertaining as the Pro Mod cars.