NHRA stop and think (2 Viewers)

[Rich]

You are on to something there.
A regular no break schedule would really help get a set tv time however with travel and the need for rain dates, it would be rough making the drivers, team, nhra staff and such go 23 straight weekends in a row

I'm not saying that it wouldn't be a logistics nightmare for the teams at the beginning. But NASCAR does it so it can certanly be done. What I would like to see, though, is a few breaks in the schedule which could be filled with some special LODRS events just for television. For example, maybe something similar to the Jegs All-Star format could be created for the more popular (ie television friendly) classes such as a special schedule of four or five races, which would then be shown on television on those weekends when the Powerade teams were off. With sponsorship, this really wouldn't be hard to do - previous year's LODRS points would determine which teams would be eligible to race the four or five race schedule. Another idea would to treat the Top Fuel Shootout, Skoal Funny Car Showdown, King Demon Crown, and Ringers Glove Battle as an all-star type event and race them all on the same weekend as a separate event.

 

[PJ]

We would need much larger sponsorship dollars in order to make that happen. Teams would need to add to their crew almost to the point of having 2 crews, one to work at the track while the other drives ahead, preps and test the car for th next event.

I believe Nascar drivers use several cars throughout a season depending on the track and such.

Although I think the idea has merit I just don't see enough teams having the $$$ to make it work.

 

[Rajunz]

.......................Should we reward teams a few extra points when they can't run a in the
4.4's so they don't fall two far behind?

Sorry guys, there are only a hand full of teams out there that can afford to run 4.40's and not take a severe hit in their racing budget. Face it, this sport has outgrown it's ability to support itself, therefore the teams that won the championships last year will continue to be the teams that will keep winning it. What's the point in the same teams (Shoe'$, Force'$, Black'$ Hine$') winning every year. Why even contest it? At least with a playoff system other teams will be in the contest, which means more Sponsor$ will be in the contest. In the long run, this will be a good thing for the sport.

 

[PJ]

Sorry guys, there are only a hand full of teams out there that can afford to run 4.40's and not take a severe hit in their racing budget. Face it, this sport has outgrown it's ability to support itself, therefore the teams that won the championships last year will continue to be the teams that will keep winning it. What's the point in the same teams (Shoe'$, Force'$, Black'$ Hine$') winning every year. Why even contest it? At least with a playoff system other teams will be in the contest, which means more Sponsor$ will be in the contest. In the long run, this will be a good thing for the sport.

So since some can't keep up we'll change the rules for them. I like that cuz I used to rock at basketball but those damn 7 foot centers just are not fair so lets change the rules so that I can play. Makes perfect sense

We could just adopt the old pro stock weight break rules instead use $$$ the more money you have the smaller engine you are allowed to compete with. $ per horsepower. Puts a whole new spin on cubic dollars

 

[Sue]

Great post, PJ. But I think the sad reality is.... the gavel has fallen, and the decision sure as heck won't be reversed. Granted, they might change it in a few years or so, after they see how it all shakes out; but for now..... it is what it is. They better hope a few people "who might not ordinarily have a shot" actually win a championship within a year or 2. Otherwise the credibility of the system goes out the window in my opinion.

I like the avatar you have choosen. Very nice!

 

[Rajunz]

So since some can't keep up we'll change the rules for them. I like that cuz I used to rock at basketball but those damn 7 foot centers just are not fair so lets change the rules so that I can play. Makes perfect sense

We could just adopt the old pro stock weight break rules instead use $$$ the more money you have the smaller engine you are allowed to compete with. $ per horsepower. Puts a whole new spin on cubic dollars

Don't you roll your eyes at me when I'm talking to you!

Better yet, just put a Salery Cap on the Teams.........................

There are alot of great ball players coming out in the drafts every year. There are only half a dozen great drag teams now days, and by great I mean the ones with the riches, not the talent. Last year was a fluke, the norm is Team Shoe, Team Force and Team Black all but coast to the championships after Labor Day.............

 

[NHRADeuce]

I hate to keep bringing this up, but maybe the majority of fans are on the countdown bandwagon. Look at the numbers, there is simply not a huge number of people complaining about the new system other than a few sports writers and some vocal opponents on the various drag racing web sites. PJ's petition has been up for months and only has 1500 signatures. That's about 3 minutes worth of visitors on NHRA.com on a race Sunday. It's about 2% of current NHRA members. It's just not a very significant number by any measure. One could make a very valid point that NHRA covers the countdown because that's what NHRA.com visitors want.

 

[PJ]

I hate to keep bringing this up, but maybe the majority of fans are on the countdown bandwagon. Look at the numbers, there is simply not a huge number of people complaining about the new system other than a few sports writers and some vocal opponents on the various drag racing web sites. PJ's petition has been up for months and only has 1500 signatures. That's about 3 minutes worth of visitors on NHRA.com on a race Sunday. It's about 2% of current NHRA members. It's just not a very significant number by any measure. One could make a very valid point that NHRA covers the countdown because that's what NHRA.com visitors want.

There's a very simple way to find out. If nhra had the stones to put up a survey asking people if they want the countdown or not. Mention it during the tv braodcast even. After all if they want the customers money shouldn't they listen to what we want?
Of course I would prefer an independant source to oversee the results. Not saying that they would but it would very easy to come back and say hey look at this 90% of people love this and then not have to prove it.

I would argue that my inability to get the word out has been the issue on the petition. The petition did receive 2 mentions on major websites however they were during the off season and 1 was the week between Christmas and New Years. Neither of those times frames are going to draw enough people as during the off season only us die hards are in race mode.

I've contaced several race sites, sports sites, magazines, newspapers and tv stations in towns that National events are held, espn (tv and web), Mike Dunn, Tom Compton and the Nhra board. I have only ever heard back from 3.
I guarantee if I was better able to get the word out the numbers on the petition would be much, much higher.

I'v had people offer to even take petitions to the track and have people sign there. I haven't taken anyone up on that yet but maybe I should.

 

[none]

PJ,
Perhaps what you should have done is typed another letter praising NHRA for trying another system and posted it also. That way the letter that received the most signatures could have been forwarded to NHRA. Perhaps the "silent majority" would come forward and sign up.

 

[kingcobrafan]

How about the championship races that are wrapped up before the last race of the year? B-O-R-I-N-G!

At least they're L-E-G-I-T-I-M-A-T-E!

 

[PJ]

WOW I'm glad I was able to only catch bits and pieces of the qualifying show. I couldn't handle too much of it.

There was more flip flopping then at a political convention.
I wish drivers had the stones to actually speak their mind. If they like the system fine, then say so. If they don't like then fine say that too. Something is either right or wrong, good or bad for the sport.

I was gonna lose it if I heard one more driver say how if they were in first place then they wouldn't like it however since right now they can't find the finish line with a strong tail wind then they like it because they feel they deserve to still be the champ even though they suck right now. (ok maybe I paraphrased a little ) I never knew championships or even being a contender was an entitlement.


Wouldn't it be down right funny if shoe, Force and Anderson still end up winning the championships again this year but under the old system they would not have. So much for opening it up to new contenders. We already know we're not going to have as close of a finsih as we did last year.

 

[kingcobrafan]

There was more flip flopping then at a political convention.
I wish drivers had the stones to actually speak their mind. If they like the system fine, then say so. If they don't like then fine say that too. Something is either right or wrong, good or bad for the sport.

I was gonna lose it if I heard one more driver say how if they were in first place then they wouldn't like it however since right now they can't find the finish line with a strong tail wind then they like it because they feel they deserve to still be the champ even though they suck right now. (ok maybe I paraphrased a little ) I never knew championships or even being a contender was an entitlement.

The tap-dancing wore a hole in the pavement. Connie Kalitta was the only one to remotely speak his mind.

 

[PJ]

sorry Bob can't help it, wrong is wrong