The NHRA and the IHRA

[65 Goatboy]

Still remember when I heard Nhra was paying ESPN to broadcast their races. WTF is wrong with this picture I said to nobody in particular.

 

[Nunz]

Except for one race,

The 2024 Indy 500, broadcast across NBC and Peacock, averaged 5.344 million viewers

Well I'm not talking about the 500, those numbers are not surprising. There's no sporting event on earth that draws the spectators that the Indy 500 does. I'm curious about the other Indycar races throughout the season.

 

[Dennis]

I bit my tongue on the whole IHRA thing from the start. There's enough negativity in this world and I felt like I didn't need to add to it. But since we're discussing it...

From my "just an average fan" point of view it seemed off from the beginning. Right from the start there was all this talk about them advertising at a football game, big lofty plans, yada yada. Even as someone who follows drag racing, I couldn't find any information on events, drivers, anything really. If I'm at a football game, not a racing fan, see this media blitz and go check out the web site I'd say "WTF am I supposed to do with this information?" And then close the site in 10 seconds. They launched media to talk about how exciting the new series would be but then forgot to talk about specifically how exciting the new series would be.

Even today, the website is a snoozefest. For as much flack as we like to dish upon the NHRA, their website is pretty solid. I can go to nhra.com and the top banner is events. Is there one near me? Hey cool. TV schedule? Cool, I can check it out. Pictures and videos of racers and cars? Cool! It's almost like they're trying to get me into drag racing and maybe go to an event!

Go to the IHRA's website and this is what you're presented with:

Is anything on this landing page interesting to anyone? Does anyone care about the IHRA purchasing a drag strip that nobody has heard of? Does anything here give any information about how I can spend my time and money at IHRA? Here we are in May and I still have no idea what IHRA is or what they're supposed to be. Or even what they plan to put on for the big show. I'm just getting Evan Knoll vibes (minus the fraud, obviously). Money being thrown about but no real plan and I question whether it's sustainable in the long run.

Bring me back to the Bader days when the IHRA had a solid product. Sure they weren't on par with NHRA from an exposure standpoint but they put on a great show and at the end of the event I felt like I got the best bang for my buck. And the IHRA was led by someone who cared about the fan experience.

 

[BOO BOO]

IHRA schedule 5 event $50,000 ( same as NHRA) to winners in TF and FC. 50k to pro mod winner (32 car field) Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Jim]

Except for one race,

The 2024 Indy 500, broadcast across NBC and Peacock, averaged 5.344 million viewers

I wonder how the Indy 500 will do this year on Fox.

 

[Chili]

IHRA schedule 5 event $50,000 ( same as NHRA) to winners in TF and FC. 50k to pro mod winner (32 car field) Will be interesting to see what happens.

Wonder if Pro Mod will be 1/8 mile?

 

[Butch]

IHRA schedule 5 event $50,000 ( same as NHRA) to winners in TF and FC. 50k to pro mod winner (32 car field) Will be interesting to see what happens.

I'd be somewhat concerned about getting paid, after all the resent changes within the organization.

 

[mick]

this will be an interesting year. anyone know who's putting up the purse money for these 5 races?
and as harry commented; much less being able to provide any kind of certainty?
race 1) nat. trail: a week prior to seattle
race 2) milan: same dates as sonoma
race 3) nat. trail: between indy and reading
race 4) dragway 42: same dates as st. louis
race 5) galot: between vegas2 and pomona

 

[Cliff]

IHRA Announces Its 2025 Outlaw Nitro Series

The IHRA is ready to do some nitro racing. Here's the 2025 IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series.

www.dragzine.com

This has already been mentioned. Just thot I'd post it as FYI.

 

[Nitro Fiend]

Is it too soon to declare that my state of Ohio is the Drag Racing capital of the world ? 4 out of 5 of the IHRA events are within a 130 mile radius from where I live plus Norwalk is in there as well.

 

[Jimmy]

I agree 100% with you. These were really poor moves on the management’s part. I hope they do well, we need them desperately. IHRA, take your time. An alternative is needed!

I don't believe that any "new or improved" drag racing sanctioning body can seriously compete with NHRA, mainly due to a lack of money, lack of quality drag strip facilities, lack of professional (TF, FC, PS, PSM) racer's support, lack of quality TV coverage, lack of leadership, lack of sponsorship from Corporate America. Wishful thinking imo.

 

[Butch]

I think some of you aren't getting the message, we need another option as a stepping stone to the NHRA not a competitor.

 

[Cliff]

Harry, I have always thought that NHRA does, kinda sorta have a stepping stone to the Pro ranks, with the Divisionals. I know that a number of drivers have gone from Top Alky to nitro, so that would be one example. Or from Comp to Pro/S. Anyhoo, maybe the idea of one sanctioning body for Sportsmen & another for Pros. I think that has been on this forum before, but just wanted to throw it out.

 

[Butch]

Cliff, I'm talking about the kid who ran a Jr. Dragster and now has something that is competitive at their local track. Now they want to run a national meet where in NHRA they have more $$ and technical knowledge in just the racecar then this kid has ever seen in his life. The chance of going a couple rounds is very slim. Now if they have an alternative lesser professional sportsman sanctioning body it may be a good fit something a step or two above the local track.
Remember not all people have been born with a SILVER CONNECTING ROD in their mouth.

 

[yoda]

Harry, I have always thought that NHRA does, kinda sorta have a stepping stone to the Pro ranks, with the Divisionals. I know that a number of drivers have gone from Top Alky to nitro, so that would be one example. Or from Comp to Pro/S. Anyhoo, maybe the idea of one sanctioning body for Sportsmen & another for Pros. I think that has been on this forum before, but just wanted to throw it out.

Too much money would come off the Nhra's plate to hand over Sportsman racing to another sanctioning body.

 

[GumbyWVU]

I don't believe that any "new or improved" drag racing sanctioning body can seriously compete with NHRA, mainly due to a lack of money, lack of quality drag strip facilities, lack of professional (TF, FC, PS, PSM) racer's support, lack of quality TV coverage, lack of leadership, lack of sponsorship from Corporate America. Wishful thinking imo.

I would add insurance concerns and property tax concerns to that list as well.

 

[Jim]

Still remember when I heard Nhra was paying ESPN to broadcast their races. WTF is wrong with this picture I said to nobody in particular.

That setup is not uncommon. An organization buys a block of time from a TV network and then sells the advertising itself.

 

[Jim]

race 3) nat. trail: between indy and reading

That could be a good weekend. Go to Indy, stop at National Trail along the way, then on to Reading.