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Scrappers Parked (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Nunz
- Start date
no when super street is run at a national event it is super street come on downfixed
Always wondered why when Raceway Park was still on the circuit here in Houston, they didn’t race on back to back weekends in Houston then Dallas, the races were months apart.
Chili
Nitro Member
For the touring racers it makes the most sense. However it is hard on the independent nitro racers. They ran Phoenix, Pomona and Vegas 3 out of 4 weekends. Really difficult for racers like Rupert and Densham to run three races so close together. Also hurts the attendance with three races drawing from the same region. Most fans can attend one or maybe two races but hard to do three so close together.
That WOULD solve the attendance issue. Problem is, do the math, and it's an astronomical amount of money, when you do it for both fuel classes, over 20 events. But you are correct, I believe more effort should be put into finding more money than slowing them down, which will ending up costing money. I also think the focus should be on increases at the bottom, meaning non-qualifying and round money. The closer racers can get to at least breaking even on travel and crew costs, the more you will see show up. The more races that smaller teams attend, means more laps, and that means more cars than can make good, clean, competitive runs. And the more track time for these teams, the better the chances to start attracting marketing partners, and that's how the whole deal grows.
HoodooVoodooAngus
Nitro Member
I agree. Just honestly curious, where does the money come from?
Chili
Nitro Member
A typical NASCAR race purse is over 10 Million. So if NHRA could secure a sponsor for half of what NASCAR gets it would work. Unfortunately it’s very tough to find a series sponsor to dish out $100 million total for the entire season.
While I love both Nitro classes, I do think NHRA could pay more by only having one of the classes. With only one class the payouts could essentially be doubled. Of course how many of us would boycott the races if they took away one of the nitro classes? I think most of us would not be behind the decision. Now if we were getting 32 car fields with 40 plus cars trying to qualify, I think we would still be getting our moneys worth. But a larger field would then increase the payouts putting us back to the current situation. With automotive manufacturers being less involved in NHRA, we could eventually see funny car go away and Top Fuel being the surviving class.
ironpony
Nitro Member
With the current car counts, combine the two classes and take something away from TF, timing, fuel, RPM or give FC some. Hey they try to equalize every other class. They did such a good job in PS that Ford and MOPAR walked off. Oh and just to be fair let's not forget the PSB scandal.
ironpony
Nitro Member
That is the reason in an earlier post I said it has to be limited to one of each for the weekend or receive a points penalty. I got booed very quickly.
Holding a race at Houston and Ennis that close together would hurt attendance at both tracks. They're only 3 hours apart.
Also a much different time back then when a large segment of folks were of the gear head persuasion and performance car's were a big part of culture. That has changed and it ain't ever going back to the good old days level of interest.
Might save money but if people wanted to watch the stands would be packed during TAD. This is another example of changing everything. Do away with the downforce
I'm not on board with that at all, for obvious safety reasons. Less glue on the track would make more sense than that, and even that has its problems. Ask any Pro Stock racer who to this day aren't happy with the reduced amount of traction compound from 1000 feet on in order to reduce tire chunking on the fuel cars. PS cars are really skittish through the traps as it is.
No sense comparing NHRA to NASCAR. Stock car racing has an infinitely broader fan appeal; they run 36 races per season and I would imagine the average attendance per race is at least 5X what it is at an NHRA event. Lots more sponsors out there willing to front a Cup car than a fuel dragster. That's why they can afford to pay the winners of some of those races over a million bucks. BUT - I still believe NHRA can do better. What they pay now won't even make payroll and transportation costs for the fuel teams, let alone pay for the parts needed to keep them running. Perhaps something along the lines of a 25% purse increase would help considerably and something the NHRA could afford.
Nick Rienstra
Nitro Member
See my post #66 above:
Mike, drag racing fans like us do not fill many stands anyway. There aren’t that many of us anymore. To fill the grandstands has much less to do with the product on track as it does the marketing of those events and how they relate to the current trends. Isn’t the Cletus and cars event going this weekend in Indy? Combining that with the NHRA regional is genius I think. Plus A/fuel is there.
For me it’s about keeping Fuel racing alive, affordable and everywhere around the country for many more decades. With the right marketing and partnerships the stands could be full as well.
sammi
Nitro Member
NHRA does not have the $$$ to raise purses and entry bonuses. A quick read through their tax return and its easy to see NHRA is a well run company and no one is getting rich. What really hurts NHRA financials are lack of attendance. Since NHRA can't attract a big budget beer company or can't be able to access ciggy money, it has to be attendance. Sadly, when you look around at an event, all you see is us gray beards. A very rapidly shrinking demographic.
It feels odd to compliment NHRA (except Phil, whom I full throatedly compliment often) but they have given zillions of kids a free day at a National event for a long time in hopes they will come back a little later in life. They haven't come back appreciable numbers. Sadly, NHRA was exciting in the era of three channels on TV and one phone per house. Today, things are vastly different and kids can get excitement in many many other ways.
It feels odd to compliment NHRA (except Phil, whom I full throatedly compliment often) but they have given zillions of kids a free day at a National event for a long time in hopes they will come back a little later in life. They haven't come back appreciable numbers. Sadly, NHRA was exciting in the era of three channels on TV and one phone per house. Today, things are vastly different and kids can get excitement in many many other ways.
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Out of curiosity, do many of today's kids follow and attend NASCAR races? I've never really paid attention.
ch streetcars
Nitro Member
My friends that go to NASCAR races, say its mainly grey beards also, they just have more of them.
Funnycarfanatic
Nitro Member
As a life long NHRA fan and I'm 40 it's getting scary. The sport needs to market its dynamic personalities better. I do have hope, I go to several events a year and I'm seeing a strong push in the early teens attending. The short hauls and excitement is a huge marketing factor. Well that's my pennies worth of free advice
