Why is NHRA unwilling to have Sat. Night races? (1 Viewer)

[Chad Fergen]

No lights at BIR, but I think most others have them.

 

[yoda]

I would concur that lighting may be a concern... Unlike other closed course racing events Drag racing has a lot of motion in the pits and it is a safer environment in the Day light. IMO

One of the things I regularly noticed on Street Outlaws was that, no matter what backroad they were on, the "pit" area was lit up like the sun. How they were supposed to be "clandestine" when their stackers and toters gave off 20,000 footcandles EVERYWHERE in the pits was always a laugh.

Since NHRA has already adopted many of the features of the show- and seem to always be a slave to their liability attorneys- it shouldn't be very hard to have pit lighting, even temporary, at the tracks that already have sufficient lighting on the track. Hello- Musco?

 

[yoda]

Three Pro sessions Fri, ending at 11. A last ditch shot on Saturday morning at 11.
Round One at 14.00hrs.
Event complete by 21.00hrs
Sportsman get the whole place to themselves on Sunday, with Fri/Sat tickets getting you in the gate for $10.
Pro testing only on Sunday, for those that want it. Track time will be between Sportsman eliminations only, on a track prepped per the TAFC/TAD requirements (60'/330' would be the norm for most testing anyway).

Friday-Saturday night racing would be perfect to start on Memorial Day weekend, since all the other big players race on Sunday...

 

[PJ]

Friday is a low count spectator day as many people have to take time off work to be there. Giving up Sunday means giving up a lot of fans entry tickets (as well as concessions and other sales)
While it's fun to watch night racing, it wouldn't make sense economically to eliminate a day of ticket sales

 

[Rajunz]

Friday is a low count spectator day as many people have to take time off work to be there. Giving up Sunday means giving up a lot of fans entry tickets (as well as concessions and other sales)
While it's fun to watch night racing, it wouldn't make sense economically to eliminate a day of ticket sales

This was discussed 20 years ago, and this was the answer that NHRA gave. It cuts too much of the track's revenues to where it doesn't make financial sense for them to put on the event.