What would you change in the NHRA?

[Rat]

- IMO there are too many really entertaining classes to watch in present
day drag racing - NHRA must figure out which ones make the best nat.
event weekend.

- PM style cars should be included in nat. event weekends at expense of
other classes, whether PSB, alcohol classes or others; NHRA's current
format of excluding a sportsman class at a nat. event should increase to two,
maybe three classes to make time/room for more entertaining
additions such the PM style cars.........divisional races will inevitably be the best racing for
sportsmen, they currently endure poor treatment at nat. events anyways.

- do something even crazier with PM style cars; why can't we have a
drag racing class that allows ground effects?

- sportsmen cars can be lapped frequently so their quantity is higher, hence
their 'gate' supports the events - don't know how to replace those dollars.

- if nat. event weekends remain 3-4 day events ending on sunday; one
problem i see is there's no 'race' on friday and saturday.
more on that later

- NHRA mite be in enviable position if camaro and challenger enter pro stock;
i agree let's get toyota in too - these are retro body styles that are very
identifiable to fans - NHRA has a chance to actually beat NASCAR back to
cars their fans recognize; get the scoops off, get EFI in and let em' race
with present 500 C.I. rules - they don't need to go faster or bigger
or more exotic - keep this one 'pro' class as simple as possible

- run at least one class elims. on sat. night; for example PS.
two hour LIVE show on sat. nights showing final 3 rounds of
"Pro Stock Muscle Car Shootout"......taped friday and saturday
nitro qualifying hightlites shown between rounds.
PS cars not nearly the oildown problems as nitro cars - live TV a
real possibility, sponsor and factory support revitalized.
really adv't. the 'muscle car' factor - get the 4 mfg.'s to advertise
during this show; show playing on TV's in restaurants and bars;
guys sitting there drinking beers on sat. night watching the cars they
would love to buy on monday.
this show is nhra's answer to 'pinks all out'.

PS could be NHRA's saving grace?
comments please.

Mike it's a genius idea yet the ones that are in a position to make it happen would not even stand up and try cause i feel nhra management (outside of safety, which they have really done good with, tho it always happens too late) have the mentality that if pro-stock ain't broke, don't fix it. It's a shame. If your idea took the place of pinks this would be speed's new highest rated show and nhra attendance would increase. Like yesterday for instance, i met someone that lives 10 mins from houston raceway park and does not even know what the nhra or drag racing is. this cant happen anymore

 

[mick]

Mike it's a genius idea yet the ones that are in a position to make it happen would not even stand up and try cause i feel nhra management (outside of safety, which they have really done good with, tho it always happens too late) have the mentality that if pro-stock ain't broke, don't fix it. It's a shame. If your idea took the place of pinks this would be speed's new highest rated show and nhra attendance would increase. Like yesterday for instance, i met someone that lives 10 mins from houston raceway park and does not even know what the nhra or drag racing is. this cant happen anymore

patrick - why so pessimistic? rome wasn't built in one day.
throw out some ideas, some good, some bad.......that's what nhra is doing;
maybe not as fast as some think they should but until you're the guy making
the changes...........

the show would be the typical espn broadcast, not speed.
i'm not the world's biggest PS fan, but the potential with the re-release
of retro cars is huge; nhra could parlay PS racing into a genuine marketing
tool for the major auto mfg.'rs...........again.

 

[JF]

I would get rid of the block long pit areas 1 Car = 1 Tractor Trailer
Hospitality areas could be at the far end of the track in big tents.

 

[Raconteur]

I think Jeff Burk is hiring???

Well Joe, you are mistaken, fully staffed, but thanks for the misinformation.

Can't wait to meet you at Pomona!

 

[tcrawf]

1) So only the well funded can crush the average "Joe" with sheer cash.

So when exactly do the "well-funded" NOT crush the average joe?

Not being able to match race and get verbally poo-poo'd by the NHRA a la Haddock/Lagana and the rest of the low buck crew is ridiculous.

My only contribution is to make every friday 2nd run in the fuel classes a night run

 

[BigDaddyB]

Why can't we copy some of things that PGA Tour does in their competitions.
Monday Qualifiers let someone who does not have millions in on the show.
We can get ideas from all over the sports world.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

The rest of the answer:
1) So only the well funded can crush the average "Joe" with sheer cash.
2) To insure that ESPN, or any other potential network can insure a ratings hike by presenting hours of interesting use of oil dry for their viewers. I see the sponsors loving that idea.
3) Let anybody who can not drive, drive.
4) Agreed.
5) Just ask the fans who are interested in being decapitated by an out of control race car driven by someone in catagory 5. And, lets sacrifice a driver now and then by letting them hit something much further away at higher speeds.
6) Lets do away with reaction time and red lights and replace it with luck.
7) Totally agree...

perhaps some clarification is needed
3) of course you would still need a competition drivers license – what I meant was no longer restrict to 16 cars.
5) it reads do away with " trackside" barriers, not all barriers. There is no reason to stop a car at the edge of their Lane. All we are doing is hurting drivers and damaging race cars needlessly. Put the barriers where a car absolutely has to be stopped, before the return road, and before the spectators.
6) reaction times would be just as important as they are now. But an instant green would all but eliminate red lights. Making for a better show for the casual fan by having winners determined at the finish line, instead of the starting line.

If I may, I would like to add 8) ban throttle stops

 

[Silly Savage]

change in management...

 

[Rat]

Mike I try not to be on this but it's like as soon as the sport gets some good light the nhra waits to long to use. There are so many opportunites the sport could of ran with and helped yet they just keeping letting them go down unnoticed by a drag racing fan.

The NHRA can't keep reaching out to advertise drag racing via the website or espn when the only people watching or looking were gonna be there watching or looking for drag racing to begin with. They keep trying to reach out and grow by using the same market that's already involved in the sport. I am a marketer by profession and I can't see why the nhra does not ever try to sneak in a tv spot during sportscenter or powerblock on spike, or during an nfl game. They need to advertise in related markets that do not always reflect on people that know what the nhra is.

Not every hands on car guy knows what the nhra is. I feel NHRA assumes that most car guys do. My biggest point of all: We as drag racing fan's that are watching drag racing should not be the only people who get to see a full throttle promo or morgan lucas and the geico dragster spot.
That could be the first small step.

 

[yoda]

I would get rid of the block long pit areas 1 Car = 1 Tractor Trailer
Hospitality areas could be at the far end of the track in big tents.

Yes!!!!!

 

[Rat]

I would get rid of the block long pit areas 1 Car = 1 Tractor Trailer
Hospitality areas could be at the far end of the track in big tents.

that would never work, as one that have been in a countless number of hospitality tents at events, it needs to be kept with the team cause the guests love the up close and personal look at the team/car and seperate location would never work.

Also, even teams do more to grow the sport, going to sponsors, having guests, I met many guests in tents that are at their first ever nhra race, talk about growth that is it in the finest form. Sure you may say it's because the team is obligated to scratch the sponsors back once a deal is made, but unless you personally have been to several different teams hospitality tents, you have no idea how some go far and above a simple guest arrangement.

I want to thank Don Schumacher for always allowing me to be a guest as they are top notch and it has nothing to do about the money. Tim Wilkerson gets my thanks as well because as as independent team, his hospitality deal is extremely impressive.

 

[mick]

......We as drag racing fan's that are watching drag racing should not be the only people who get to see a full throttle promo or morgan lucas and the geico dragster spot.....

patrick, in your defense i'll have to agree watching the daytona 500....
100% of the NAPA commercials did not feature ron capps but truex jr.

2010 adds it's capps and waltrip
2011 adds appears it's truex jr. on nascar broadcasts and capps on nhra?

capps 3rd year with NAPA and still plays 2nd fiddle with no
daytona 500 NAPA adds; NAPA finds more value using two nascar drivers
for nascar broadcast spots than the capps/waltrip combo of past.
slap in the face IMO.

 

[Rat]

patrick, in your defense i'll have to agree watching the daytona 500....
100% of the NAPA commercials did not feature ron capps but truex jr.

2010 adds it's capps and waltrip
2011 adds appears it's truex jr. on nascar broadcasts and capps on nhra?

capps 3rd year with NAPA and still plays 2nd fiddle with no
daytona 500 NAPA adds; NAPA finds more value using two nascar drivers
for nascar broadcast spots than the capps/waltrip combo of past.
slap in the face IMO.

exactly my point. I knew the day napa took over brut's job that it was gonna help capps and schumacher but they were never gonna put drag racing ahead of their nascar presence, and last year with the capps/waltrip commericals they actually surprised me. But all to soon they yanked any possible future marketing for that duo. Napa: Play 1 commerical featuring drag racing during any nascar race and take a fan vote telling them to go online and vots if it was appealing to anyone watching or not. I guarantee it's better than they think.

Most of these companies in america that love nascar and/or associate nascar to be the only motorsport people watch. Nascar like nhra started with nothing and they bulit everything they got but they marketed it so much better and it grown to become a machine that cannot be stopped.

These same companies dont even consider drag racing. Is it because of the marketing by the inner circle inside the nhra not doing enough to let america see it's not a small pee-wee sport, or is it what the sport has to offer is missing something?

 

[.]

1. Lower ticket prices
2. go back to 1320 feet
3. say adios to the current top executives and exorbitant salaries + golden parachutes
   
   
   

• more back-up girls
• make funny car bodies look more like the cars they are supposed to represent
• move the TV package to another network
• make some changes to the tv host line-up
• pay-per-view tv of entire events
• lower concession prices
• EFI to pro stock
• make pro stock cars look more like the cars they are supposed to represent
• Pro Mod at all events
• no throttle stops allowed in any category
• lower entry fees to all racers
• bigger payouts
• tarps for both lanes like baseball for rain delays
• re-invite alcohol classes to Sonoma
• eliminate exclusivity rules (sponsors)
• no sponsor/entity can sponsor an event/racetrack and a car/team at the same time
• limit teams to maximum of 2 cars in any category
• no more hype-men yelling on the p.a. during oildowns
• no more countdown - go back to normal point system
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[JF]

countless number of hospitality tents.

There is the problem.

They are there to race. Not provide dinner and a show for a select guest list that supports our team.(Yes, I have attended Shumacher hospitality area also)
Having a hospitality area near the track, where they can see racing, get visits from the drivers, Live TV feeds, Golf cart rides to the pits. Should be the way to go.

Pits are for Race Cars & Drivers, Crew, & Spectators. Not the Elite Pressed Pants, Diamond Wearing folks that arrive in a $100,000 dollar car just to hang out with the owner of the team. And couldn't tell you the difference between a Funny Car and Limo.

 

[Huge]

I would get rid of the block long pit areas 1 Car = 1 Tractor Trailer
Hospitality areas could be at the far end of the track in big tents.

Well then kiss most of the sponsorships goodbye.

 

[JF]

Well then kiss most of the sponsorships goodbye.

So be it, If all they sponsor for is Hospitality. Sponsors are there to support the racing AND get exposure to their product.

NOT

Racers are their to Support the Sponsor and race.

Although both go hand in hand. But the bottom line is its a DRAG RACE not a sponsor op. You don't see it advertized as:

Sunday, Sunday Sunday at Detroit Dragway come see the Castrol Tent and the NAPA trailer.Also appearing is the Fram-Autolite Young Drivers.

and oh by the way their may be some racecars also.

 

[mick]

........Pits are for Race Cars & Drivers, Crew, & Spectators. Not the Elite Pressed Pants, Diamond Wearing folks that arrive in a $100,000 dollar car just to hang out with the owner of the team. And couldn't tell you the difference between a Funny Car and Limo.

think it's here to stay - it's a great perk for sponsors; unique
to nhra.........what i don't care for on pit row is direct marketing to fans
(i.e. mbna credit cards / prudhomme 'tour' trailer for USTobacco mailing lists),
but it's all fair game once you leave the bleachers..........
that's the gig these days; sell, sell, sell to the fans.
all you have to do is walk past the displays; which i do; except for O trailer
i liked to spend money at, now not at brainerd anymore - go figure)

 

[JF]

think it's here to stay - it's a great perk for sponsors; unique
to nhra

what i really never cared for was prudhomme's separate
trailer setup for tour to establish mailing list for US Tobacco.

Your right it is here to stay. But the question of this forum was: "What would you change in the NHRA"

 

[mick]

Your right it is here to stay. But the question of this forum was: "What would you change in the NHRA"

if we're still on the 'pit row' subject, i'd do away with the corny display
that says 'nitro alley' and other than some concerns about direct marketing
to fans i'd say pit row is handled fairly well, especially trying to park that
same circus at 20+ different layouts.