Unfilled fields

[None]

With this type of story seeming to be the norm, rather than the exception, NHRA and PRO better get their collective heads together to do something positive. I think that till the economy works through its own problems, NHRA should do everything in its power to lower expense (including unwarranted pay raises) and use these funds to add to the bottom of the payout to guarantee 16 car fields.
These underfunded teams must have a chance to break even as an incentive to continue or the results will go from unfilled fields to unfilled bleachers.

Your ideas?

Ron Pellegrini

 

[freddy]

Ron, I couldn't agree more.

As an example, the current race and championship payout structures reward the top team only. Look at the championship fund in TF/FC: No. 1 gets $500,000; No. 5 gets $25,000; No. 10 gets $15,000. In most cases, that would mean running 24 events to collect $15,000 for No. 10??

From an economic view, the rich get richer, etc. Who needs the money the most to be able to compete: the top team or teams 8-16, who typically receive fewer sponsor dollars?

It would be nice to say that NHRA drag racing has a million dollar winner - it might attract added media attention. But we're a long ways away from that happening.

For 2009 (at least), one of the key objectives for NHRA should be to attract enough quality teams to have full (16 car) fields at each event. IMHO, this could prove to be a daunting task unless changes to the payout structure are made at once. NHRA and its racers need to remember that they are all in the motorsports entertainment business. Are bye runs entertaining?

Fred Simmonds

 

[ramblerjay]

a great topic of discussion. the suits at nhra should be banging their heads against the wall trying to devise a plan to get 16 in each class at each event. what's more is the fact that you may only have 5 or 6 cars in each nitro class making passes during certain qualifying sessions. if that's the case, say goodbye to the folks buying 3 day passes.

 

[tomcat]

I was thinking the very same thing last nite, good timing for this post. I think now will be the time for the management at NHRA to show that they deserve the pay they are drawing. Here are a few of my random thoughts on this.
1. NHRA can't afford to have 4 or 5 bye runs on Sunday if the fields are not full, the Sunday ticket prices don't justify that type of racing and the fans won't stand for it. Should they consider running first round of TF on Saturday night as a draw for the Saturday ticket so that they have at least 8 cars to run on Sunday?
2. If they did this, couldn't they promote the Pro-Mod class and run them on Sunday to help fill the void left by the shortened TF show? If not Pro-Mod, I would bet that Nostalgia TF or FC would be a popular choice with the fans and racers based on the activity those classes are having now. Run their first round on Saturday also and then the rest of their show on Sunday to fill the gap.
3. I don't know what round money pays for TF, but it really has to be re-examined to attempt to draw more cars that won't just show up for one shot to qualify and then not show up or not make a full pass on Sunday. The Sunday show, and resultant Finals TV show, should be as full of "Full Throttle" action as possible.
Those are just the things that come to me off the top of my head, not saying this is what should happen, just that something needs to be done and set up before the season starts to insure a good product for the fans and sponsors. At least for the fans and sponsors that are still here. The racers, fans, and team owners deserve to know what to expect so they can plan for the season. I have my fingers crossed that the NHRA will get creative to make sure a quality product is available, and not just sit on what they have because "that's the way we have always done it". New ideas will not be found with your head in the sand......

One last thought also, and this is for you PJ. If there are only 8 full time cars in TF, its going to make the countdown pretty useless huh?

 

[DixonFan]

It would be nice to say that NHRA drag racing has a million dollar winner - it might attract added media attention.

Were not that far off from it happening. The Big 3 Automakers have given up there salary for one Year. Why can't Tom Compton give up his Salary for one year in order to make a Purse of $1,000,000 to Top Fuel. So that still leaves $250,000 dollars of Tom's salary that could be added to Funny Car making it a purse of $750,000. Now if Graham Light were to also give up his salary for a year, we could add his salary to the $750,000.This would make a Purse of $1,000,000 for both Top Fuel and Funny Car for the 2009 season. I think this would energize both Pro-Categories to have full fields through the 2009 season. Its a great idea! We just have to get Tom and Graham to give up there salary for a year to make this happen....lol

 

[rocketman]

NHRA will have to do something ....without fuel cars they really can not fill the big stadium style tracks.

At least get the payouts so the pro cars can afford to stay on the road. Or here's another solution...

What they need to do is come up with a prototype budget top fuel car. In fact there was talk of letting the current A/Fuel teams step into a class that would allow them to run blowers. Maybe now is the time to make that happen.

I can see it now. You have an 8-car "unlimited class" for the likes of Shoe etc. Then you have a second "limited class" , these cars would run a strict spec. class that would cost half as much as the unlimited cars to run. Let these cars run more regionally as well as national events.

 

[Randy]

Teams parking it creating short fields will open up opportunities for new teams to compete. They better stay with 16 car fields or the infux of new racers will dry up in my opinion. Some in the TAD and TA/FC ranks will view this as an opportunity to go pro, rather than looking at it as a playground for the rich. NHRA needs some new blood anyway. Heck, we even talked about unloading our stuff and trying FC on a limited basis if the fields remain short.

There are several IHRA FC racers looking for a new home and NHRA will provide the welcome mat.

The dedicated hard core racers will race even if on a limited basis like Bill Miller, Steve Chrisman and Mike Strausburg. They just won't have the mega budget, but in time they may find help when the economy turns around and companies want to get back in. They won't be looking at who's been on the couch for the last few years in considering teams to sponsor. They will weigh in on who's out there.

RG

 

[sparky]

IMO, no matter what anyone thinks about a person's salary is really not applicable in this situation. Perhaps they are over paid. Perhaps not. Its their biz and nobody else's. The thought of the leaders of NHRA giving up their salary is pretty unlikely and unreasonable.
What is applicable is the fact that corporate America is in huge trouble for a variety of reasons and not willing to give away $$ for what is a marginal ROI.
The ESPN coverage of NHRA racing is so slanted to the John Force juggernaut (and a couple others) that only fools would make the move to give 3 million to a fuel team.
I like John Force (just like about everyone else) but some equal coverage to ALL the pro teams is paramount to the corporate investment in this sport. I think Force would agree. They did it in the Steve Evans/ Dave McClelland era, so why not now? Now that was great coverage.
I know this has been beat to death on nitromater and other places but something absolutely has to be done about the expense of running these cars and it needs to be done now. Pro Stock is right there with the nitro cars. The Dale Armstrong plan was brilliant and should be reconsidered for the sake of survival.
Do they really need new mega dollar parts to put on great entertainment? I don't think so. It was great in the 80s with 8-71s and cast KB motors. It could be again if people would wise up. PRO could be in control of their own destiny but can't seem to really get a handle on it for whatever reason.
Its going to be tough to watch it unfold.

 

[Tim5636sc]

Dont we have this discussion every year in december? It seems that we always find out that 'this team wont be back' or this sponsor has decided to walk away, however, every year at Pomona there are full fields.
Yes the economy is rough, and people are having tough times everywhere. I still believe that its not time to put things in panic mode quite yet. After all, is this sport not an entertainment field? Its all about 'disposable' income- and having fun? Its a business to many and they make their living this way, however if NHRA offered more money to the racers it needs to be to the low budget teams. Make sure there is incentive to haul the car out and make the runs.
People will come. Drag racing fans will continue to show up, and we should see full fields in Pomona. If not? Well were just gonna have to deal with that.

Just my opinion, but the sky is not falling yet, and if it does, we will survive.

 

[Wes]

Part time and low budget TF racers like Strausburg, Boychuk, Gunderson, Hartley, Novelli, Zizzo, Pustari, and even Arley Langlo stand to benefit from the lack of 14-16 hard-core, full-time teams. This can open the door for some teams that have been parked (Stevens Family comes to mind) and for some alky racers to take the leap into the limelight. Don't forget about the die-hard IHRA teams like Litton, McMillen, and the rest. There are plenty of existing TF teams that will take shots at the NHRA shows in 2009.

How many TAD racers would love to see Bill Reichert give TF a shot? Or how about Tom Conway, Joe Monden, Duane Shields, or a Ron Boggs effort in the category? Point being...every time TF and FC have been "weak" on car count, there has been an influx of aspiring racers join the fray. While we'll have a number of short fields in 2009, there will be planty of part-time players filling the chasm and making next season one of the most interesting in history. Hell...what if Langlo starts winning rounds at left-coast races??????

 

[Jenn]

I'm with Randy and Wes. Not only will you have other teams trying to make the field that normally compete in other series but here's a thought, how about the liquidation sales that are going to be happening? Less expensive, slightly used but still top of the line parts coming down the line at liquidation prices.

TAD drivers could practically steal some of those parts and make them work.

Another thing that i don't think Fans realize is how much fan support helps these smaller teams. Not financial support but just going down the pits and watching those guys work. You probably have better access and certainly better views if you go hang with the smaller teams.

I've sat in those stands when Chrisman, or Hartley, or Noveli comes to the line and heard comments like "here comes and oil down". I'm sorry you have to set there through an oil down, but you've got down to earth racers who actually do it for the love, not the cash on the line. They deserve every bit of respect that you'd give the big guys, if not more because they are doing it for you more than doing it for their sponsors.

I've also been wandering around the midway and see the low budget teams plug away at rebuilding their engines, and nope, the driver can't come out and sign autographs cuz he's pushing pistons too. But get a few people watching them and they stand a little bit straighter and work a little big harder.

If losing big names brings guys like Chrisman, Hartley, Noveli out to the track and parks their small operations on the same row as JFR, and DSR, I'll take it, because these low budget racers might finally get the respect they deserve. Or at the very least, prime parking.

 

[Muddy]

Three qualifing laps, two on Friday, one on Saturday AM and eliminations Saturday afternoon/evening. No Sunday, it all ends Saturday night/evening and you eliminate one day and night of crew expenses, one lap qualifying expense and overhead of the track. I'm just throwing that in for discussion. Of course that's what all us old geezers grew up with so it sounds almost normal.

 

[nick name]

Teams parking it creating short fields will open up opportunities for new teams to compete. They better stay with 16 car fields or the infux of new racers will dry up in my opinion. Some in the TAD and TA/FC ranks will view this as an opportunity to go pro, rather than looking at it as a playground for the rich. NHRA needs some new blood anyway. Heck, we even talked about unloading our stuff and trying FC on a limited basis if the fields remain short...

I know it's been done in the past (Tim Wilkerson comes to mind) but how tough is the learning curve moving into fuel from alcohol?

Is it as simple as hiring a good crew chief to handle the fuel curves/clutch timers which are brand new things for an alcohol team to tweak?

 

[Wes]

Three qualifing laps, two on Friday, one on Saturday AM and eliminations Saturday afternoon/evening. No Sunday, it all ends Saturday night/evening and you eliminate one day and night of crew expenses, one lap qualifying expense and overhead of the track. I'm just throwing that in for discussion. Of course that's what all us old geezers grew up with so it sounds almost normal.

I can't agree more, John. IHRA was very agressive with a similar program in 2000-2001 and the Saturday night eliminations were packed with fans at most venues. It eliminated a complete day of expenses for the teams, association, and host tracks. The programs went by the wayside because some very short-sighted track operators complained that they lost an entire day of revenue. Huh? You read that right. Track operators were somehow thinking that their books should have shown another day of revenue despite the fact that that event day no longer existed! For the record, those events turned better profits that the alternative Thursday-Sunday schedule. Duh.

I'd love to see NHRA make expense-related concessions for their star classes. Eliminating qualifying laps and making the events shorter in duration would seem like a great first step. In the competitive media exposure game, wouldn't it be in drag racing's best interest to be the first events completed each weekend? With a Saturday night finish drag racing would have a better media position in the Sunday morning reports. It could stand to increase the value our the series to potential sponsors.

 

[timebombkal]

Maybe its time for the NHRA to put the hammer down and mandate changes to the nitro classes like single mags, smaller pumps, lower compression engines.
Make the classes more affordable in the future. Now is the time to make the change with less teams out there.
Newer teams can start with a lower budget and have a chance to win.
Teams like DSR, AJ, JFR can step it down, they just don't want too.
So NHRA, make the changes NOW for the future of the PRO classes.
Unlimited hydroplanes killed them selfs with the same problems and now they have less then 5 races a year and only about 10-12 boats.
If they want to save these classes, then make them affordable now.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Three qualifing laps, two on Friday, one on Saturday AM and eliminations Saturday afternoon/evening. No Sunday, it all ends Saturday night/evening and you eliminate one day and night of crew expenses, one lap qualifying expense and overhead of the track. I'm just throwing that in for discussion. Of course that's what all us old geezers grew up with so it sounds almost normal.

Good idea. Now yer cutting cost without creating a new tune-up.
F/C car counts should be fine, whith IHRA dropping the class.

I think T/F will also do alright. With several parking for '09, others will show up now that they are sure to qualify and get some sponsor time on race day.

I would vote NO on putting A/F in TOP FUEL. We need to preserve the class - not dilute it.

And if a bye run happens...so what? It's part of the sport. It happened twice in "08 in T/F and the sky did not fall. Any fan will accept it.

 

[Jenn]

I would vote NO on putting A/F in TOP FUEL. We need to preserve the class - not dilute it.
.

It's not adding A/F to Top Fuel, it's converting A/Fuelers to Top Fuelers. Which many who are more familiar with both classes would say isn't too hard since there are a lot of former Top Fuel chassis in TAD fields right now. I don't have my rule book handy to see what the differences in the chassis but I would say that they are pretty close just by looking at them.

 

[PJ]

They should stay at 16 cars. although if I do wonder why people think that small market teams will benefit fromthis. I would think that if the money is drying up for big teams then the smaller deals that some other teams have may also be in trouble.

Granted many of these teams are more to going shoe string on the budget so maybe they still will be able to play.


Right now there or only 7 or 8 full time tf teams which mean at least 2 countdown spots will be filled by part timers. Just curious what people think of that?

As far as Compton or Light giving up their cash I think thats unreasonable to ask. Although cutting back some to help boost up payouts would be a wise business call I don't think its fair to ask them to only get paid 1$. Would any of us do that for where we work?

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

They should stay at 16 cars.

Right now there or only 7 or 8 full time tf teams which mean at least 2 countdown spots will be filled by part timers. Just curious what people think of that? QUOTE]

What do we think?? No big deal. The book doesn't say you have to run all 24 to be champion. Just like you don't have to WIN a meet to be champ.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Jenn, I was refering to post #6 ...something about letting current A/F cars run a blower. Maybe I misunderstood him. I thought he meant let them bolt on a blower and run T/F