Short Fields in Both Classes?

[rocketman]

So far not a full field in either Top Fuel or Funny Car? I talked to several past fuel racers today and they don't see things getting better any time soon.

 

[Mooseman]

I would be in america and running an nhra funny car in a second if I could afford it even if I had to sleep on peoples floors and only have enough spare money to buy food and clothes. But unfortunatly I can't afford but I will be there oneday.

 

[Toejam]

Been there done that Rich, bad economy not a Popular track, etc... I'll be you see full fields at Chicago and Indy!

 

[Ted]

One or two cars always seem to show up by Sunday but it takes the excitement out of qualifying when the fiel is short. Pro Stock is looking good.

 

[NYNitro86]

I remember last years Supernationals @ Englishtown had one of the worst turnouts that I've ever seen, lets just say if there are more cars entered in Top Alcohol Dragster where you don't usually get a full field, than there are in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock Motorcycle AND Pro Mod, it's a disaster. Fortunately while looking at the Englishtown entries with a little over a month before the event it has a better outlook;

12 TF
Tony Schumacher
Larry Dixon
Antron Brown
Cory Mc Clenathan
Brandon Bernstein
Doug Kalitta
Morgan Lucas
David Grubnic
Shawn Langdon
Steve Torrence
Doug Foley
Terry Mc Millen

I can see Rit Pustari being added closer to it as well as one of the Lagana's (Bobby or Dom) because Nitrojam isn't running that weekend, maybe Haddock's car as well plus I could see a couple more to make a 16 car field with one bumped out.

14 FC
Robert Hight
Ashley Force Hood
Tim Wilkerson
Jack Beckman
Tony Pedregon
Del Worsham
Bob Tasca III
John Force
Ron Capps
Cruz Pedregon
Paul Lee
Jeff Arend
Melanie Troxel
Matt Hagan

I can also see Jim Head and maybe a couple more to fill this field out and have one on the outside looking in

Pro Stock has 27 but PS has never had a problem with fields although I can see more signing up

PSM has 15
Hector Arana
Ed Krawiec
Andrew Hines
Matt Smith
Douglas Horne
Karen Stoffer
Shawn Gann
Craig Treble
Bailey Whitaker
Angie Smith
Junior Pippin
James Underdahl
Mike Berry
David Hope
Steve Johnson

I can see Joe DeSantis, LE Tonglet and others joining this list.

Finally the Pro Mods which I predicted was going to be big 24 so far including the Pro Mod debut of "Popeye Pat"

Danny Rowe
Ed Hoover
Rickie Smith
Pat Musi
Jay Payne
Chip King
Roger Burgess
Ricky Stivers
Khalid Al-Balooshi
Brad Personett
Melanie Troxel
Burton Auxier
Raymond Commisso
Tony Pontieri
Mike Janis
Mike Castellana
Tommy Gray
Joe Baker
Von Smith
Scott Ray
Troy Coughlin
Mike Knowles
Ken Lang
Dennis Radford

I know more is going to be added including some local guys (Still hoping for Jim Halsey to show up again we do have 2 of the Defending Shakedown Champions here (Pontieri won Blown Pro Mod and Janis won Outlaw 1/8 Mile).


But it all depends now.

 

[Raconteur]

Pretty interesting to see the Pro T/F and Pro F/C ranks continue to dwindle.

And then we see Pro Mod, Pro Street, 10.5 Outlaw and Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car counts continuing to grow and grow and grow...

 

[megadeth]

Pretty interesting to see the Pro T/F and Pro F/C ranks continue to dwindle.

And then we see Pro Mod, Pro Street, 10.5 Outlaw and Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car counts continuing to grow and grow and grow...

Don't you have anything good to say about Drag Racing?

 

[Just Paul]

I know of at least 1 FC that did not run, and pretty sure 1 TF that didn't run.

I bet there are 16 in each by the end of today.

 

[BF]

Why would a "low budget" team run on Friday if there's a chance their time will be thrown out? Sounds like a waste of parts and money when they can just wait until Saturday, especially if there are only 16 or 17 cars.

 

[Huge]

The NHRA entry list shows 17-Top fuel and 16-Funny Cars. I think we will see some good racing on sunday. You can bet I will be in a sports bar on Sunday watching it.

 

[Toejam]

The NHRA entry list shows 17-Top fuel and 16-Funny Cars. I think we will see some good racing on sunday. You can bet I will be in a sports bar on Sunday watching it.

Your not at the track there Eugene?

 

[mick]

9 regulars in tf
13 regulars in fc
anyone racing for a loss if first round loser is just an addict.

 

[Huge]

Your not at the track there Eugene?

I'm in California Joe. I'm leaving Wednesday to pick up a body at Kalittas shop in Michigan ,and then headed to Atlanta. C-ya later.

 

[big guy]

There is a full field in both TF & FC tomorrow.

 

[Raconteur]

Don't you have anything good to say about Drag Racing?

I just did, call me when you get it.

 

[MoparBilly]

Darr,
How did Bob draw a negative conclusion from your positive statement??

Mike,
"Just an addict"?? Like that's a bad thing?

 

[Raconteur]

Darr,
How did Bob draw a negative conclusion from your positive statement??

Billy,

You got me on that one, one thing we can all count on; drag racing is changing.

As more racers give up on or are pushed out of the NHRA Big show, they will still look for a place to race. I see it as very positive that there are "splinter" organizations like PSCA, AHRA, West Coast Hot Rods, Outlaw Pro Mods, Bug In's, Pony Car Wars, the Hot Rod Heritage Series and the whole nostalgia movement where a racer can still burn nitro.

 

[Toejam]

Billy,

You got me on that one, one thing we can all count on; drag racing is changing.

As more racers give up on or are pushed out of the NHRA Big show, they will still look for a place to race. I see it as very positive that there are "splinter" organizations like PSCA, AHRA, West Coast Hot Rods, Outlaw Pro Mods, Bug In's, Pony Car Wars, the Hot Rod Heritage Series and the whole nostalgia movement where a racer can still burn nitro.

I was hearing that very thing back around 92-93! Fuel racing at Natl. events is dying Fast! I remember before last season everyone was predicting Top Fuel Dragster Dead even saying we'd be lucky to see Full Fields at most races! Didn't happen....Same old...

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

If you want to see more cars all you gotta do is dump the 16 car restriction.
After all they are supposed to be "NATIONAL" events , right???

 

[Ramos]

Hard to go to all races without a full time sponsor. NHRA dont pay enough so you need backing from somewhere. With crew working for free and all costs including airfare,transporter to event, hotel rooms, food, parts,tires,fuel, and rental cars, are team averages $9,000 -$10,000 a pass without hurting the motor. YouR doing 4 qualifying passes and your already $40,000 in the hole and get 10,ooo back for qualifying. Thats why we just go where sponsors pay for us to go. Very hard if your not rich if ya no what i mean. That happened to us at chicago last year, was our home track, went with no sponsor on car to make two passes on sat and ended up costing us a bunch and a DNQ because we sheared a input shaft in half and cashed a motor. Only what 7 full time cars out there in top fuel i think. Sucks but its hard, you can only mortgage so much.