Toyota Leaving NHRA after 2025 Season

[T.Smith]

Someone on another platform suggested that F/C go back to all Nostalgia-style bodies for a year or so, and get the fan base back up with some cool looking older body styles.

With some reasonable requirements (rake percentage; template requirements), that could be pretty cool.

I can't imagine it's enough people to even move the needle.

 

[mick]

OEM's come and go, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to all forms of motorsports. At least them leaving isn't going to bankrupt your racing series.

Change of leadership always invokes changes elsewhere. All of them probably have their vision of how they want something to run.

yeah, i think you're pretty much rite on with these comments ....... if they feel they had a successful run with nhra, maybe good odds they will want to play again someday.
watched the mighty mack utube follow up on this too, and i agree again that some monies could be earmarked for F1 as well.

 

[stitcherbob]

NHRA is going to have to abandon the “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” attitude to survive. Let any body style race in the classes that need a car body. If they can’t figure out the parity with aerodynamics, then we will see a renaissance of the Fuel Altered

 

[Rat]

So many people say "it is just a body and a sticker" and I feel exactly the same about almost every car I see on the road. Take any badge off and switch it with the suv 2 spots away, *clap* Iiiidentical. (My Cousin Vinny)

 

[Dragracer]

Is there anything in the rules that stipulate what bodies can and cannot be used. Both Cadillac and Corvette are deeply involved in other racing organizations. How about a Cadillac Blackwing or Corvette Stingray in Funny Car?

 

[Rat]

I would think it is all about factory dollars and making sure the tech brass give the ok.

 

[Bubba]

I wonder if NHRA ever considered allowing foreign makes in Stock Eliminator. I think seeing a Supra or a GR86 in Stock would be pretty cool.

 

[T.Smith]

Is there anything in the rules that stipulate what bodies can and cannot be used. Both Cadillac and Corvette are deeply involved in other racing organizations. How about a Cadillac Blackwing or Corvette Stingray in Funny Car?

I believe there's a cut off by certain year for funny car bodies and pro stock bodies. Also I think the manufacturers do have some say so on what car you can replicate for a body. Corvette in recent times hasn't been offered up, because they are marketed as sports cars for sports car racing.

 

[Nunz]

I believe there's a cut off by certain year for funny car bodies and pro stock bodies. Also I think the manufacturers do have some say so on what car you can replicate for a body. Corvette in recent times hasn't been offered up, because they are marketed as sports cars for sports car racing.

I always thought the C7 Vette would be a great FC body, they make badass Pro Mod type cars. Back in the day, the C4 Vette body was popular in both nitro and alky FC classes.

 

[Rat]

Last thing this class needs is to become like pro stock and the "car" representation. First it was, "they run the other color Camaro." Some Elite cars are the exact same color and I think it is a cool idea to have your fans identify a driver by their sponsors, but that is not the point for the casual fan. Having 14 Camaros in a field if there even is a bump is the biggest and easiest flaw with the class. FC needs to still have the variety because of the viewer draw.

I worry about the ROI and I think of Toyota. I would think it is an obvious acceptance that any manufacture in/coming in to the sport know the 90% give or take are not going to buy a brand new car. Possibly there is more of a responsibility as race fans to create a digital impact for them? Instagram about an appointment at the dealer or work we did to our our cars?

 

[indidad- The Guy- Uncle Steve]

Why? Because the return on the money they spend is not what Toyota wants.

How many people buy a RAV/4 because they saw the Toyota name on a carbon fiber Funny Car body that looks nothing like the real thing?

Here's 1 of two Camrys. Also 3 Ravs, and a Lexus for me and my wife. The desire to buy started when I fell in love with the carbon fiber version of the Camry. However, that's because I was lucky to be more involved than most. Back in the days of working in Brownsburg, I made a few trips to Roush in Detroit to bring back Camry bodies. But I also loved the original Celicas of Toliver, Scelzi, etc. I like the Toyota brand and have loved the quality, design and performance in all of mine. Sad to see Toyota go, and it's a shame that NHRA can't do more to attract support from all of the manufacturers.

 

[ironpony]

So at some point you have to capture the attention of spectators, get them excited about the cars themselves. The cars need to at least slightly resemble what ie out there.
My example would be the Dodge Challenger, was it the fastest? no was it the best handling? no but it was the best looking nostalgic design and people related to it and bought it. They actually wanted the "HEMI" they wanted the feeling of owning a muscle car.
You get some of that styling/mentality back on the track OEMs would sell them like hot cakes. Would they be slower because of aero? yes but people could relate to them.
Think back to why you bought the cars you bought when you were younger. One reason was hey if I buy what he has I can do the same thing.

 

[Butch]

My feeling is that Toyota unlike the big three, didn't have a V8 RWD car to at least mimic a FC body and I say that may have had some influence
on dropping sponsorship.
Lexus does have the I500 that I'm considering just because it's V8 RWD and hauls ass.

 

[GumbyWVU]

So at some point you have to capture the attention of spectators, get them excited about the cars themselves. The cars need to at least slightly resemble what ie out there.
My example would be the Dodge Challenger, was it the fastest? no was it the best handling? no but it was the best looking nostalgic design and people related to it and bought it. They actually wanted the "HEMI" they wanted the feeling of owning a muscle car.
You get some of that styling/mentality back on the track OEMs would sell them like hot cakes. Would they be slower because of aero? yes but people could relate to them.
Think back to why you bought the cars you bought when you were younger. One reason was hey if I buy what he has I can do the same thing.

Spot on post! And further to your point, look how the GTO basically flopped in 2004-2007.

 

[GumbyWVU]

So with Toyota leaving, and with Chevy doing away with cars and shifting to SUV/Crossovers/Trucks, and presumably Ford doing the same, what exactly will be pro-stock in the coming years? Will Stellantis (Mopar) even be in business?

In another thread about changes to the sportsman classes I suggested having a truck class, only to be inferred I was in a time machine. However, just what sedans/coupes are going to be left?

 

[4onthefl4]

NHRA is going to have to abandon the “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” attitude to survive. Let any body style race in the classes that need a car body. If they can’t figure out the parity with aerodynamics, then we will see a renaissance of the Fuel Altered

I sure miss the days of Pro Stock when it was Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge. I have seen a lot of money change hands in the stands when someone either won or lost betting on thier favorite brand.

 

[GumbyWVU]

I sure miss the days of Pro Stock when it was Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge. I have seen a lot of money change hands in the stands when someone either won or lost betting on thier favorite brand.

I do too, and I'd throw in back also when Olds, Buick, and Pontiac, and Plymouth were also in that mix as well.

Modern politics aside, I always said that was my idea of "diversity", lol.

 

[indidad- The Guy- Uncle Steve]

So with Toyota leaving, and with Chevy doing away with cars and shifting to SUV/Crossovers/Trucks, and presumably Ford doing the same, what exactly will be pro-stock in the coming years? Will Stellantis (Mopar) even be in business?

In another thread about changes to the sportsman classes I suggested having a truck class, only to be inferred I was in a time machine. However, just what sedans/coupes are going to be left?

Yeah, maybe NHRA shot themselves in the foot when they crapped on PST.

 

[Butch]

I sure miss the days of Pro Stock when it was Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge. I have seen a lot of money change hands in the stands when someone either won or lost betting on thier favorite brand.

I miss the days when Pro STOCK started out as a Body in White from one of the big three. To me that was Pro Stock, today I'd call them Pro Mod. and I don't know what to call todays Pro Mod. LOL