Yes, Millican is there. So is Terry Totten.Is Clay Millican there? Didn't run Q1. The announcer mentioned that Billy Torrance wasn't there.
Seems like I read somewhere that they did take payroll cuts about the same time NHRA laid off some of the corporate office staff. Covid19 has taken a sever toll on everything tourism related as most venues are not made for profitable social distancing. (It really should be called "anti-social distancing" as we are treating each other like lepers so we don't catch their Covid19 cooties.)Did management ever take a cut during this covid catastrophy like the racers have to?
The old school AA/FA's are, especially with modern power - but those built on a FC chassis should be safe enough. One (Hartman?) has already (safely) been in the 4s at over 300. They don't have quite the charisma and excitement of, say, the Winged Express but they'd still be a welcome addition in my opinion.They are missing one of today's most exciting nostalgic classes AA/Fuel Altered. I was told by one of the best known owners that NHRA would not run them at NHRA major events because they were too dangerous.
I wonder why only 7 pro mods? Is there another race somewhere or am I missing something. I know the rules have run some off but there are still a lot of cars out there. I don’t think they have run this race in previous years.The old school AA/FA's are, especially with modern power - but those built on a FC chassis should be safe enough. One (Hartman?) has already (safely) been in the 4s at over 300. They don't have quite the charisma and excitement of, say, the Winged Express but they'd still be a welcome addition in my opinion.
Good grief - THREE alcohol funny cars at this race. 2/3 of the field gets to the final. That's a dying class; we all know why and I hate it. I always enjoy watching them.
And only 7 Pro Mods....
I love watching the alcohol funny cars in person, especially if I can get close to the starting line.The old school AA/FA's are, especially with modern power - but those built on a FC chassis should be safe enough. One (Hartman?) has already (safely) been in the 4s at over 300. They don't have quite the charisma and excitement of, say, the Winged Express but they'd still be a welcome addition in my opinion.
Good grief - THREE alcohol funny cars at this race. 2/3 of the field gets to the final. That's a dying class; we all know why and I hate it. I always enjoy watching them.
And only 7 Pro Mods....
I notice a lot more fans in stands when mountan PS and PRO MOD ranyou are right jay, drag racing is very healthy. if i could take the time off work, i'd rather go to BIR this week on wed/thurs for divisional than the 1 day that i'll go
to nationals this coming weekend........haddock has backed out leaving 14 and 15 fuel fields as of today. will be cool to see PM's and MMPS's at BIR.
will they even run alcohol FC with 3 entries?
Well the pro charger combination killed the rest of the combinations. Nitrous is non existent outside of Chad Green. Not one turbo car has made a pass at an NHRA National event this year. So the bulk of the field switched to the new pro charger combination. It became the top combo fairly quickly. NHRA started tinkering with the overdrive rules and then the gear ratio of the rear end. So now NHRA has pissed off the pro charger guys as well. The travel and money have played a big part of it. Once you get out of the Midwest and south there aren’t a lot of NHRA legal pro mods. Making them travel to Denver or Brainerd costs more than Charlotte or Norwalk. Pissed off teams and increased costs equals short fields. Of course money is a huge factor as well. From what I understand, the only ones who get money is the finalists. So towing your middle of the pack car for 26 hours from the east coast to Denver nets you nothing in return. Even if they were getting a couple thousand qualifying money more teams would show up. NHRA did what they could to increase car counts by allowing the pro charger combo ultimately killed the participation with it. Plenty of other factors to blame as well. COVID made it harder to get sponsors for 2021 and it also caused travel to be more expensive this year. Some of the Canadian teams have been stuck up north as well. I think NHRA is kind of at a crossroads to save the class. I do think the new to Brainerd rule changes helped bring parity to the class. If they allow the rules to remain the same for the rest of the year more teams will come out to race. It also helps that the long distance races outside of the final in Vegas have been run. To save the class they may need to go to a 1/8th mile class. Outside of NHRA, there is not a single 1/4 race series. Doing so would open it up to other racers that don’t want to run 1/4 mile. They may need to allow the screw blowers as well. Personally I would hate to see it go 1/8 mile but if it was that or nothing, then bring it on.I wonder why only 7 pro mods? Is there another race somewhere or am I missing something. I know the rules have run some off but there are still a lot of cars out there. I don’t think they have run this race in previous years.
I was looking back at qualifying list for Norwalk the last 3 contested National events. Number have went down every year.
2018-29
2019-24
2021-17
That's 2 Bada$$ categories. Funny, In Pro Mod, When Stevie Jackson came in, Everyone was..... Stevie Who. I love his smack talking. I wish they would do it in Top fuel and Funny car these days but, They have to be P/C.I notice a lot more fans in stands when mountan PS and PRO MOD ran
More posts like this and you won't need to worry where MARCUS LEMONIS is. Geez, you call out the guy that is paying the bills and you can't even get his name right?The major reason for the short fields in the so called "CAMPING WORLD SERIES" is NHRA. The only thing they are concerned about is their bottom line. As long as they are lining their pockets with $$$'s I don't see any changes. Where is Lionis like he said he would be their for the racers?
TAFC for sure. I think the pro mods in the Mid West series are not all NHRA legal. I believe most of the blown cars have a screw blower which is not legal in NHRA. Also most of them lack the safety updates required last year by NHRA. I wish all the pro mod series (NHRA, PDRA, MWDRS etc.) all has the same rules and safety requirements. That way we could easily see more local guys show up in NHRA. NHRA is the lone remaining 1/4 mile series and some safety updates they required prior to 2020 costs upwards of $20k to become legal. With no round or qualifying money, it gives the pro mod racers no reason to race in the series.Thornton and Marshall Take Provisional No. 1 Spots at Mid-West Drag Racing Series Great Bend Nationals | Drag Illustrated
Under the lights at the historic SRCA Drag Strip, California-based doorslammer standout Ed Thorton put the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Services Pro Mod division on notice with a smooth-as-silk 3.733-second eighth-mile blast at a stunning 214.66 mph to...dragillustrated.com
This could be a reason for short fields in TA/FC & Pro Mod.
Jim ... it has been proven over time that big $$ to win races do not draw any better than NHRA sanctioned events. Whether it's Sportsman, Pro Mod, or Alcohol classes ... racers are set in there ways and committed to what they have always done. The concept seems to only work in bracket racing, and it works really well there.Great Bend... 16 Pro Mods showed up to race. I think Chris is right 90% of the Mid West Pro Mods are
not NHRA legal. Alky Floppers (SAD) only 6 cars showed up for $10,000 to win for a 16 car field.
Bellemeur beat Chris Marshall in the funny car final, great race 3.658 to a 3.659. Only $15.00 to get in
Saturday, the fans in Great Bend did not get the memo about the race. Check out the stands in the
Pro Mod final video. I believe this around 10PM Sat night. All they needed was some Kansas tumble weeds
blowing down the track