indidad- The Guy- Uncle Steve
Nitro Member
x2! I agree, even though it will likely never happen.
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Overheard on the Daytona 500
- Thread starter clwill
- Start date
x2! I agree, even though it will likely never happen.
Be honest....
That's because they aren't even in the same universe when comparing the drivers talent difference between NHRA and Nascar, and the world knows it.
To do so is a total joke.
Sorry, but just about anybody who wants to, or can afford to drive or buy a ride in a Fuel car, or has a daddy who can buy one can compete if they want within a few short days. Not to trivialize too much, but a few lessons from one of dad's staff, a right foot that works and less than four seconds of effort, you too can be a Force girl.. Point and shoot, and someone who can master a reaction time can win because the real talent for winning is in the preperation of the car. Besides the reaction time, the driver carries little to no responsibility.
People have basically walked off the street and competed in Top Fuel without any experience at all.
Not remotely the same skill set as the talent levels required in any form of Nascar.
I love Drag Racing, but you asked the question and that's why..
I know the firing line will be long and the personal insults are coming, but it's the truth. To compare Danica Patrick's accomplishments to a Force girl makes me want to puke.
Flame suit on...
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There's a lot of truth to that George. A lot of people don't want to admit it, but from a pure driving perspective, these forms of racing are world's apart. Doesn't mean drag racing is easy, by any means, but the mechanical aspect is a much larger part of the winning equation. It's always been that way, but now, the fuel cars only run 1000ft., they are glued to the track, there's automatic chute and shut-offs when things blow, and, there's no shifting. Oh, and even throttle stops on the burnouts. When I was a kid, fuel drivers were like gladiators. Not sure they're looked at that way anymore. Again, I'm not saying it's easy, but, comparing the different disciplines is really apples and oranges.
mw6789
Nitro Member
DING DING DING DING DING----WE HAVE A WINNER!!!! This hits the nail squarely on the head. As long at ten times more of the afore mentioned fat beer drinkers in wife beaters are watching NASCAR instead of NHRA, how can you expect the national media to mention a drag racer in the same sentence with a NASCAR driver?? Even though Shirley Muldowney was taking names and kicking tails YEARS before Danica was even born, you would think she never existed with all the Danica hype. You can blame NHRA---you can blame too many classes---you can blame that the sport doesnt "fit" the TV mold---you can even blame Obama (sorry, just couldn't resist), but the fact remains that comparing NASCAR to NHRA is just comparing apples to oranges.
stitcherbob
Nitro Member
Dave
Nitro Member
As not only a fan, but an attendee of both series, I don't follow where you guys are coming from. I have seen just as many belligerent intoxicated fans in the stands at NHRA races and in the pits as well. The WHOOOO NITRO! type. The ones who scream and yell at anything. The ones who swear like a sailor no matter their surroundings. The ones who drunkenly bet on qualifying "races." The ones who have no inherent knowledge of the sport other than ITS LOUD and ITS FAST. Do you think NASCAR fans are a bunch of morons but NHRA fans are all educated, follow qualifying ladders, know all the driver bios and stats, and have wholesome family fun? Please. I could trash the hell out of the NHRA after one day in the stands, just like you choose to pick out the worst of the NASCAR attendees. The fact is that most are a loyal bunch who purchase anything to reflect who they represent as they are in the stands rooting for their favorite driver. Some have renewed their seats more than 30 years running even through all the sports changes. Some are paying extra $ to have scanners to listen to their favorite driver communication and are more aware of what's going on with their favorite than anyone watching on tv. I just don't get the double standards. Is it jealousy or stupidity?
So is comparing Shirley to Danica. More like peaches to sour grapes though.
Shirley would be a better comparison. Times gone by though.
Shirley was a thousand times more talented and tough than any of the current NHRA drivers.
ANY of them.
Shirley, like her or not, was so far beyond what the NHRA calls a "driver" today. The drivers of that era are probably humiliated by the calibre of driver representing the sport now.
She was a pioneer, an owner responsible for funding, transportation, reservations, hiring, firing, as were those of her day. A risk taker who paid the bills from her earnings, and not daddie's hand-me-down assets. She was a business woman, courageous beyond scope for sitting behind a time bomb, and a driver of a car that was more than a preset program that simply needs someone to hit "enter" when the light goes green.
Don't take anything away from Danica. She shares the same courage as Shirley, and she does it going 200 MPH door handle to door handle for three hours straight while this sport's weekly headline for courage include a spoiled brat who brought beer to a party and was "fired", while a team owner insults everyone's intelligence for re-selling the seat back to the brat..
The whole thing is an embarrassment to this form of motorsports.
And you wonder why nobody cares?.
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Professor Dave
Nitro Member
Let's get back to the original point-Fox needs to hire people who know about professional sports in general and motorsports in specifics-they ought to know that not only do women compete with men in drag racing on a regular basis, they have been doing so and winning for almost 50 years. And on the day where Danica comes in 8th, Erica wins. NASCAR is very far behind every other sport in terms of diversity and they know it is hurting their image. That is why they are making a big deal of Danica.
clwill
Nitro Member
Wow, this thread went places I didn't imagine...
On the original point, I find it amazing that someone could make the statement without at least Marty Reid (also in the booth), who is no stranger to NHRA and its history of diversity, challenging it. Maybe he did so in private.
I also find it interesting that two sports, established at roughly the same time, with roughly the same sort of appeal (loud fast cars and a somewhat rebel image), have taken such divergent paths. And this has lead to very different results. One has had broad national exposure with media coverage and sponsorships that rival the stick and ball sports, and the other has ... well ... not.
I think some of the keyboard studs on here need to take a Frank Hawley class and try to drive something down the strip at more than 150mph. Once you get past that hurdle, let me know when you get your first Wally. People who have been in the sport for decades are still waiting for theirs. The skill it takes to do this sport at the highest level is, while very different, is no less than what it takes to compete in NASCAR. A fat checkbook can get you into either sport, but by no means guarantees you will be credible.
The determination and focus Erica showed yesterday was no less than what Danica showed. Hours of intense preparation for seconds of execution at the correct moments. Danica was third just a couple of laps before the finish but failed to execute properly and ended up eighth. Erica spent hours (from about 11:30am to about 4pm) doing the same and came out on top. Except if Danica had made a poor pit stop or some other loss of focus, she had hours to make up for it. Erica would have been on the trailer.
Finally, while I understand the rivalry and sour grapes of people here toward NASCAR, you need to learn to appreciate both. For every joke you make about constantly turning left, they have one about <4 second races.
On the original point, I find it amazing that someone could make the statement without at least Marty Reid (also in the booth), who is no stranger to NHRA and its history of diversity, challenging it. Maybe he did so in private.
I also find it interesting that two sports, established at roughly the same time, with roughly the same sort of appeal (loud fast cars and a somewhat rebel image), have taken such divergent paths. And this has lead to very different results. One has had broad national exposure with media coverage and sponsorships that rival the stick and ball sports, and the other has ... well ... not.
I think some of the keyboard studs on here need to take a Frank Hawley class and try to drive something down the strip at more than 150mph. Once you get past that hurdle, let me know when you get your first Wally. People who have been in the sport for decades are still waiting for theirs. The skill it takes to do this sport at the highest level is, while very different, is no less than what it takes to compete in NASCAR. A fat checkbook can get you into either sport, but by no means guarantees you will be credible.
The determination and focus Erica showed yesterday was no less than what Danica showed. Hours of intense preparation for seconds of execution at the correct moments. Danica was third just a couple of laps before the finish but failed to execute properly and ended up eighth. Erica spent hours (from about 11:30am to about 4pm) doing the same and came out on top. Except if Danica had made a poor pit stop or some other loss of focus, she had hours to make up for it. Erica would have been on the trailer.
Finally, while I understand the rivalry and sour grapes of people here toward NASCAR, you need to learn to appreciate both. For every joke you make about constantly turning left, they have one about <4 second races.
stitcherbob
Nitro Member
The recent car swaps between Formula One drivers and NASCAR drivers (Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon swapped with Louis Hamilton and Juan Pablo Montoya so far) showcased the differences in their sports, but with some surprising results ( Jeff was close to running qualifying times in his first outing in the F1 car). We need that same swap between NASCAR and NHRA..... lets see Danica try to let the clutch out of Erica's Pro Stock car and keep it straight down the 1/4 without peeing herself 
You can get comfortable in a Cup car after a few hundred miles, but drag racing is a violent sport at the beginning, in the middle and at the finish line.... and beyond the turn off too....just ask Melanie Troxel about that (or Bruce Allen when his P/S car dieseled on it's own oil and wouldn't shut down!)
@ 13:44
2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals Qualifying - YouTube
You can get comfortable in a Cup car after a few hundred miles, but drag racing is a violent sport at the beginning, in the middle and at the finish line.... and beyond the turn off too....just ask Melanie Troxel about that (or Bruce Allen when his P/S car dieseled on it's own oil and wouldn't shut down!)
@ 13:44
2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals Qualifying - YouTube
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Yet Doug Herbert has a show on MRN.
There was a drag racing mention I think during the Nationwide race when I think Trevor Bayne or Kyle Busch or someone blew up on the backstretch and fire was coming out beneath the car and Jeff Strigle and Alex Hayden compared it to a Nitro Funny Car except the Body didn't come flying off.
The recent car swaps between Formula One drivers and NASCAR drivers (Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon swapped with Louis Hamilton and Juan Pablo Montoya so far) showcased the differences in their sports, but with some surprising results ( Jeff was close to running qualifying times in his first outing in the F1 car). We need that same swap between NASCAR and NHRA..... lets see Danica try to let the clutch out of Erica's Pro Stock car and keep it straight down the 1/4 without peeing herself
You can get comfortable in a Cup car after a few hundred miles, but drag racing is a violent sport at the beginning, in the middle and at the finish line.... and beyond the turn off too....just ask Melanie Troxel about that (or Bruce Allen when his P/S car dieseled on it's own oil and wouldn't shut down!)
@ 13:44
2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals Qualifying - YouTube
It would be just as bad as Jay Leno in Mark Pawuk's Pro Stock.
I Remember on Joe's Show someone wrote in about Fox not showing the Tony Schumacher/Antron Brown burnouts on pit road pre-race from the Coca-Cola 600 and saying ESPN would be falling over themselves for "Ricky Bobby's" saying "Jeepers! Those cars are fast!"
Professor Dave
Nitro Member
One of my friends reminded me that women also compete with men in horse racing as jockeys, trainers, and owners. Remember that it was a woman who is was the owner of Secretariat, as good a race horse as there has ever been. As I said, Fox Sports needs to hire some people who know about sports.
Larry jr.
Nitro Member
Yes that is a very nice car and its an honor to be behind the gas bottle when its starts. And on the Butterflys for the car show Cackles' we are doing with Dave.
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Huge
Nitro Member
Are you guys bringing it up to the March Meet?
Larry jr.
Nitro Member
We are planning to, I'll post something for sure later this week .
StockersRock
Nitro Member
I was really making two separate points.
When I say I "chuckled", that never meant I was upset. Just not surprised.
And my point about MRN not mentioning the accident was just that. NASCAR
does not own ESPN or FOX, so of course they showed the accident and mentioned it, etc. They do, however, own MRN, and that was what was quite striking about there being no mention of the accident, or even an update on the patients conditions. Falls right in line with the YouTube pulls.
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
DW just gave EE and Courtney Force a shout out on the NASCAR pre race show. They were talking about Danica and women drivers and DW was on top of it.
