NHRA Nationals At The Rock, Sept 25-27 (6 Viewers)

[mick]

i agree ken. the 'new' tracks did draw well. it's crazy to think 4 were introduced this year, and 2 to start countdown.
sure wish nhra would publish daily spectator counts. wishful thinking
also agree that shuttles for daytrippers seem to work well at tracks that already use them.

 

[65 Goatboy]

I thought The Rock was a big success. Sunday the racing was about as good as it gets. Saw Brads last race and trophy presentation, his wife says no to Super Gas? so he's going for Factory Stock Show down for the record of 8! .TV showed two jumpers, Ida in the booth Saturday and Sunday was great exposure for her and she does a good job. Rob Wendland got his first round win and in the booth on crew chief corner picking E3 winners, Maddie Gordon went into the stands twice but I only saw the second one. She literally ran 3/4 of the way down the concrete bleachers jumping up and down getting the crowd to do the wave. TF: Schumacher losing to Leah 3.776 to 3.775, D. Wilk #13 holeshotting Beckman 3.93 to 3.91, #15 Clay taking out #2 Stewart in E1, Shawn Reed and Will Smith both going to the semi's and Maddie almost beating Kalitta. FC: Vandergriff 3.86 low of the event in E1 and then in E2 going 3.90 to Prock's 3.91 and losing by .0002, Lee and John Schaefer uncorking a 3.88 329 in the semi's and then racing Hagan in the final at the same track they raced each other at a really long time ago when Hagan got his first FC win in IHRA? Don't remember everything that was said. Watched almost all the sportsmen and all of pro eliminations on .TV and Stevie Jackson was in the booth for PM finals. The Rock and Michigan were two of the better races all year with the fall weather. Jason Galvin said The Rock was like watching a race from back in the 70's and so was Michigan. Really like the old school look and feel without the big towers and suites. Nhra is really going in the right direction with the 4 new tracks and they all were sell outs and all will back next year.

 

[J. S.]

.....Really like the old school look and feel without the big towers and suites. Nhra is really going in the right direction with the 4 new tracks and they all were sell outs and all will back next year.

NHRA is going to these smaller tracks because they do not have any other options. So many tracks have closed in recent years. I too like the feel of these smaller, "old school" tracks, but overall I don't think it's a good look for our sport. Years ago, one reason we had trouble attracting the big corporate sponsors was that their big wigs would show up at the track and there were no suites or even nice restrooms. This was not good for corporate entertainment. I recall it was a big reason Billy Meyer built the Motorplex. That track made drag racing look really big-time like NASCAR or maybe even the NFL. Now things have regressed and we can't fill those big stadium tracks like Charlotte and Las Vegas. And with tracks like Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and Englishtown closing, we don't have many options for moving those events elsewhere, hence these small tracks have been added to the schedule. And we're probably lucky to have them.

 

[Dennis]

overall I don't think it's a good look for our sport. Years ago, one reason we had trouble attracting the big corporate sponsors was that their big wigs would show up at the track and there were no suites or even nice restrooms. This was not good for corporate entertainment.

Times change, look at the mini-city of hospitality areas in the pits. Sponsors are now partners, focused more on B2B - you can fit more people in one of the hospitality areas than you can in a corporate suite.

I like the smaller tracks, personally, as someone who grew up at New England Dragway. All of the "new" tracks have a multi-track component to them and aside from being somewhat sterile, there are no "quirks" that you would find at the smaller tracks. There are no seats closer to the track than Rockingham, for example. The small bleachers on the tower side at NED are pretty close too. Just my two cents, but there's something "homey" about these old tracks compared to, say, Vegas.

 

[65 Goatboy]

NHRA is going to these smaller tracks because they do not have any other options. So many tracks have closed in recent years. I too like the feel of these smaller, "old school" tracks, but overall I don't think it's a good look for our sport. Years ago, one reason we had trouble attracting the big corporate sponsors was that their big wigs would show up at the track and there were no suites or even nice restrooms. This was not good for corporate entertainment. I recall it was a big reason Billy Meyer built the Motorplex. That track made drag racing look really big-time like NASCAR or maybe even the NFL. Now things have regressed and we can't fill those big stadium tracks like Charlotte and Las Vegas. And with tracks like Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and Englishtown closing, we don't have many options for moving those events elsewhere, hence these small tracks have been added to the schedule. And we're probably lucky to have them.

Was only thinking from a spectator stand point but you are right about big corporate sponsorship. But are those days gone for good? Look at the names on the pro cars now, biggest one I can think of is Scag but most have companies that I've never heard of.

 

[Litefoot]

NHRA is going to these smaller tracks because they do not have any other options. So many tracks have closed in recent years. I too like the feel of these smaller, "old school" tracks, but overall I don't think it's a good look for our sport. Years ago, one reason we had trouble attracting the big corporate sponsors was that their big wigs would show up at the track and there were no suites or even nice restrooms. This was not good for corporate entertainment. I recall it was a big reason Billy Meyer built the Motorplex. That track made drag racing look really big-time like NASCAR or maybe even the NFL. Now things have regressed and we can't fill those big stadium tracks like Charlotte and Las Vegas. And with tracks like Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and Englishtown closing, we don't have many options for moving those events elsewhere, hence these small tracks have been added to the schedule. And we're probably lucky to have them.

I believe that one of the problems that NHRA has is the lack of TV coverage return on investment possibilities for corporate involvement, sold out races are great for the track putting on race but the real money to grow and support more racers comes TV viewers numbers that buy the corporate products, NASCAR was just a bunch of good ol’ boys racing until TV corporation money brought them to everybody, the challenge is for NHRA to find a way to present a show that fills the stands and shows the potential for corporate ROI on Tv as well, keep in mind that the more corporate money grows, so does their control over over our sport and our favorite drivers

 

[mick]

double D at the rock starting tomorrow, then vegas national, then vegas doube D, then pomona.
6 races left to decide remaining sportsman titles. jimmy hidalgo jr. left texas with points lead in STK and SS!

 

[none]

Vegas is not a double.

Alan

 

[mick]

Vegas is not a double.

Alan

thank you. it's a regional and a divisional, but not a double divisional, correct?

 

[Billy]

thank you. it's a regional and a divisional, but not a double divisional, correct?

Correct - but because it gets such a large field of cars, Sportsman start qualifying on Thursday.
This has a schedule in it:

Lucas Oil Regional Race: Vegas 78

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