In that the article alludes to it being Glendora who made this call, I'd suspect it comes down to ESPN looking for more money. I do think the online model for Friday and Saturday is the way to go to appease the hardcore fan. However, I still believe that the television package, with a separate qualifying show, is too ambitious and is one of the biggest drawbacks of NHRA's trying to keep up with the NASCAR model. I think for the casual fan that it is so desired to try and draw in, when they find out that what they're watching aren't actual races, they probably just turn the channel. For so many who complain about all the repetitive features between both shows, they could incorporate more thorough qualifying highlights before the first round of each class. This could also help quell the negativity of the hardcore fanbase in regards to the qualifying shows schedule being screwed with all the time.
For those that remember waiting anxiously to watch the races on Wide World of Sports or during the Diamond P era, this would still be light years better than those days.
