Shenanigans

[fatcat]

So lets say just for the hell of it you find yourself at a "circus clown" race, where they run 4 cars at a time. You don't have a real good handle on some rule changes they made, and for now, you're sort of a second tier car. You find in the next round you are up against 2 rocket ship cars and a very close friend, who's struggling a little more than you are. So, in a brief conversation with your close friend an idea pops up. How about your struggling friend leaving on the stage light and fouling out by tons. At that point, one of the 3 cars still at the line is fully aware of whats happened and the other two are not. If either of the two falter for an instant, your second tier car may very well go to the next round, nah, never happen.

 

[MM]

 

[Jimbo]

Just my opinion but I am not a fan of 4 wide racing for a number of reasons.

I also realize many other racers love 4 wide racing.

Jim Hill
http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com

 

[Nunz]

It's once a year. And when I watched qualifying on TV Saturday, it looked like a big crowd on both sides of the track, especially left side. I'd like to catch it in person at least once. So if we have something unique once a year that pulls a strong crowd, I don't see anything bad about it.

 

[santed66]

Personally I don't care for it. Too much going on for me to watch. However, I was at a BBQ yesterday and the race was on. Had 5-6 people ask me about it or tell me how cool it was.

 

[Butch]

I don't like it. I suppose that a fan not knowing what to look for in a run loves it.
Remember in this area the normal car race has 40 cars in it. So I imagine 4 cars
is a treat. Myself it's getting dam near impossible to see the behavior of 2 cars in
3.90 seconds.

 

[.]

 

[PJ]

I was intrigued when they first brought it out, even drove from Michigan to check it out. The sound and feel was great, but watching it sucked. Thought maybe on TV it would work better...nope. Usually don't even bother to watch/record this race anymore.

With the new coverage team I thought I would try it again and watched some of yesterday. I gave up and turned it off. Nothing better than watching one car pull way out, cross the finish line then we get a static camera focused on the finish line to watch a blur go by . No idea what happened to get them there, no view of the battle or anything else. You have to add up the rest of the races this year to beat the number of red lights seen yesterday. 20 runs by the fuel classes weren't full pulls( I was generous and didn't even count backpedal) when the average for the previous races is just under 10. It's just ugly racing.

For one race a year I'm fine with it, just not gonna spend my money on it or waste my time watching it.

 

[Nick Name]

I thought the new guy at NHRA would pull the plug on this, but I guess the track operator has too many tracks that NHRA needs.


I originally saw four wide at York PA in 1962 with Super Stock cars.

 

[P-Dogg]

I'm not a fan of the 4 wide, either.

 

[.]

So lets say just for the hell of it you find yourself at a "circus clown" race, where they run 4 cars at a time. You don't have a real good handle on some rule changes they made, and for now, you're sort of a second tier car. You find in the next round you are up against 2 rocket ship cars and a very close friend, who's struggling a little more than you are. So, in a brief conversation with your close friend an idea pops up. How about your struggling friend leaving on the stage light and fouling out by tons. At that point, one of the 3 cars still at the line is fully aware of whats happened and the other two are not. If either of the two falter for an instant, your second tier car may very well go to the next round, nah, never happen.

Pro stock, round 2?

 

[JB3]

I thought the new guy at NHRA would pull the plug on this, but I guess the track operator has too many tracks that NHRA needs.


I originally saw four wide at York PA in 1962 with Super Stock cars.

John Force was sure rambling on about how great it is and Bruton should build another. Of course this was when he was happy after a round win. Probably after a loss or getting goofed up, maybe not so much.

 

[Nunz]

Why would they scrap it? I think it drew a great crowd over the weekend. I wouldn't want a steady diet of it, but one out of 24 events is fine, IMO.

 

[SoCal Racer]

But that begs the question did they come specifically because it was a 4-wide race, or just because the Big Show was in town? It would probably be a safe bet that the crowd would be the same size if it was 2-wide racing.

I have to agree with PJ - it's just ugly racing. I don't even bother to watch it.

 

[.]

I don't care for 4-wide either. Too much shit going on all at once. Even watching staging is a pain in the ass.

 

[mick]

that was good to hear it was a sellout (sunday?, or other day/s too?)......there's a LOT of seats there, and the spectator side
yesterday was not full. was there a local promotion by zmax raceway to give away or discount tickets?
pretty sure any promotion to fill seats at free or discounted prices was not done by nhra?
anyone? i did hear that rite yesterday that it was a sellout?....i think wilk even mentioned it during trophy presentation?

i don't mind the 4-wides one bit.....it is a unique challenge in a 24 races series.

 

[Rajunz]

But that begs the question did they come specifically because it was a 4-wide race, or just because the Big Show was in town? It would probably be a safe bet that the crowd would be the same size if it was 2-wide racing.

I have to agree with PJ - it's just ugly racing. I don't even bother to watch it.

Saturday was a sellout. Sunday was a pretty full crowd. The fall race in Charlotte doesn't sell out any days, so that should answer the question.

 

[murdock]

Unfortunately, for those of us that don't care for 4 wide racing, I think it's here to stay. The crowd that was packed into ZMax on Saturday told the story. Whether it was just because the big show was in town or the people really like 4 wide, who's to say. But whatever sells out a track is what the promoter is looking for. Why did I go, because the big show was in town. So I swallow my 4 wide medicine and watch.

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

Denver has thin air. Zmax has four wide. Its fun to watch a different dynamic and how the teams meet the challenge.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

I love the 4 wide. The sensory overload is beyond words, ya have to be there once. As far as do the people like it, well the 4 wide sells out - the two wide doesn't...nuff said.
I like the different format, (2 advance ) although I would like to see the auto feature shut off for this race. They do things different at Denver and no one freaks.
Drag racing just doesn't work well on tv period. Folks didn't like ESPN, & they still complain about Fox.

I'm surprised Vegas hasn't gone to one 4 wide race yet, the track is already set up for it. I can see it now......... "FOUR WIDE WEST ".