10 Year-End Wishes to Help Improve the NHRA in 2023
Maybe Santa can help decision-makers at the NHRA grow the sport and make the weekend show even more fan friendly.
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TopFuel@Lions
Nitro Member
Read that this morning too Bob, good read.
TopFuel@Lions
TopFuel@Lions
Dennis
Nitro Member
It reads, to me, like a wish list of a drag racing insider. I think first NHRA needs to understand its fan base. Not anecdotally who is attending, but truly understand who is paying to get in and what they want. Do the people paying the bills care who wins the championship? Do they follow NHRA on TV or just show up to one event? I don't think the casual observer cares that there's no single starter at every event or that Camping World doesn't have a bunch of motorhomes on premise like the article states.
This is my wish list, and I say this as someone who used to be waaaay into drag racing but find it very stale and sterile now. I still enjoy casually observing but have only ponied up the cash to go to one event in 20 years. I know many will probably disagree:
This is my wish list, and I say this as someone who used to be waaaay into drag racing but find it very stale and sterile now. I still enjoy casually observing but have only ponied up the cash to go to one event in 20 years. I know many will probably disagree:
- I'd like to see some sort of divisional focus for the pro classes. Bring the races to the people, and bring the racers to their local tracks.
- I'd like to see some unpredictability - minimally prep the track so it's not a matter of "looking at the notebook" for tuning
- Put the stock back in pro stock. Personally I thought dropping the hood scoop in favor of EFI was going to make a difference. All it did was show that PS is a caricature of a car and showcase the 20 foot long hood. And why does every PS look like a dumpling in the back?
- During the broadcast do a segment on a racer maybe people haven't heard of, regardless of class.
- Stop putting the finish line camera at 1320 ft when the cars race to 1000 ft (that's just a personal gripe)
Dean Pappadeas and Main Event got it right the first time. Watch Main Events video, Superbowl of Drag Racing and Rockin and Racing. Thats how its done.
vlad the impaler
Nitro Member
Swing and a miss on every recommendation. Dennis is spot on, written by an insider...
I have long thought that the bodies on Pro Stock cars should not be permitted to vary more than 10% from the factory stock body.
Headerfire
Nitro Member
You only ever see the suggestions of shorter weekends or a reduced schedule come from people who work in the sport. I can't recall hearing any fan (who may only attend one national event a year), say "I sure wish I could watch 33% less drag racing this weekend".
mick
Nitro Member
haven't even read the article.......just put on the best show you can in 22, 23, or however many markets you go to.
the road show, IMO, has some great, unique events.....gainesville, bristol, norwalk, denver, brainerd, indy, reading, ennis, vegas2.....to name a few.
each race is it's own unique entertainment event for a few hundred mile radius drawing racers, sponsors, and fans.
the road show, IMO, has some great, unique events.....gainesville, bristol, norwalk, denver, brainerd, indy, reading, ennis, vegas2.....to name a few.
each race is it's own unique entertainment event for a few hundred mile radius drawing racers, sponsors, and fans.
Working with 80’s Beta max and VHS, Papadeaus was able to bring the sport to life on TV like no one else, past or present. Had NHRA made him their TV producer, maybe the ratings would have reflected the excitement on TV that present day team is at a loss for. NHRA fixing their audio issues on Fox and more so on NHRA.TV would be a HUGE step to growing their TV market
If anybody thinks the Pro audio needs fixing, take a listen to a Sportsman race. The Sportsman portion of the race at Ennis was on FS2 two or three nights ago. The alcohol funny cars were running. The only noise I heard was from the announcers. The on-track sounds were barely audible. Turning my sound bar up did nothing to enhance the car sounds. But I didn't want to listen to the announcers at that volume setting.
Also Thrill:The Eddie Hill Story and Close Calls trilogy that showed the build of the greatest Drag Racing vehicle of all time Swamp Rat 30!
There is another one he did about Big’s final US Nationals, never released to the public, but a great historical record
Marchboom
Nitro Member
Either make pro stock half way affordable (relatively speaking) and allow the inclusion of other car brands or eliminate the class. I don't even watch that class any more. Got tired of seeing Chevy and the little darling always winning.
I know there are aerodynamic safety issues involved here but if the funny car bodies would return to looking like real cars that we can identify with, the fans would like it a whole lot more.
I know there are aerodynamic safety issues involved here but if the funny car bodies would return to looking like real cars that we can identify with, the fans would like it a whole lot more.
Not sure I understand the attack on Pro Stock. The class has had the most cars in all the pro classes consistently
