Would a Saturday night Finals be allowed IF a promoter wanted to try it?

[Mike]

We've read the reasons why track owners want Finals on Sunday, but if a promoter/owner wanted to try a Saturday night Finals, woild NHRA let them try it to see how it would go?

 

[Just Paul]

It's been done. St. Louis 1999 was run as a Saturday night race. First round didn't start until 7PM if I remember correctly. It got done well after 1AM. I think that was a little too late of a start IMO. It was a fun event though.

EDIT-
After going back and looking, it was supposed to start at 4PM and got delayed. I guess I didn't remember that part. That makes more sense.

 

[T.Smith]

It's been done. St. Louis 1999 was run as a Saturday night race. First round didn't start until 7PM if I remember correctly. It got done well after 1AM. I think that was a little too late of a start IMO. It was a fun event though.

EDIT-
After going back and looking, it was supposed to start at 4PM and got delayed. I guess I didn't remember that part. That makes more sense.

2000 as well. Then it went to Sunday evening for a few years. Interestingly enough, Norwalk is on the old St. Louis hot as hell date.

I know Denver ran evening eliminations back in the 70's and 80's. I'm not sure if they were Saturday evening.

My guess would be the track owner and NHRA would have agree on when the gate would be the largest. The TV window would also be a factor. Lastly, would PRO agree to it.

I personally think racing at Norwalk at Noon and 2:30pm sucks. The excuse of making qualifying runs in race conditions to prep for Sunday is bulls**t when everyone is out there smoking the tires on Saturday. There has to be a balance of actual racing and putting on a respectable show for the fans.

Just from person experience. I've seen way too many times when either sitting in the staging lanes waiting to run or in the stands when fuels cars are running, people heading for the exits and nothing but red tail lights in the parking lot. I've seen it many times at RT66 and Indy. One of cool things about our sport is the amount of action on the track and in the pit area throughout whole day, but I also think it makes for a very long day, especially if you have kids.

 

[sutton]

In 1978 OCIR had a 32 car PDA top fuel and funny car show that started at 11:00 AM Saturday and ended Sunday at 2:30 in the morning John force won his first big race, and I won top fuel. even though I could not walk a single step due too a ruptured disc in my back. Yes I am very stubborn.
Larry Sutton---

 

[Chili]

2000 as well. Then it went to Sunday evening for a few years. Interestingly enough, Norwalk is on the old St. Louis hot as hell date.

I know Denver ran evening eliminations back in the 70's and 80's. I'm not sure if they were Saturday evening.

My guess would be the track owner and NHRA would have agree on when the gate would be the largest. The TV window would also be a factor. Lastly, would PRO agree to it.

I personally think racing at Norwalk at Noon and 2:30pm sucks. The excuse of making qualifying runs in race conditions to prep for Sunday is bulls**t when everyone is out there smoking the tires on Saturday. There has to be a balance of actual racing and putting on a respectable show for the fans.

Just from person experience. I've seen way too many times when either sitting in the staging lanes waiting to run or in the stands when fuels cars are running, people heading for the exits and nothing but red tail lights in the parking lot. I've seen it many times at RT66 and Indy. One of cool things about our sport is the amount of action on the track and in the pit area throughout whole day, but I also think it makes for a very long day, especially if you have kids.

Yes Denver had Saturday night finals for the first few years of the Mile High Nationals. I believe the reason was the Bandimere family is very religious and preferred not to race on Sunday. I could be wrong on the reason but that is what I was told.

 

[Cliff]

I used to love night racing at Lions, OCIR, etc etc. The flames from the nitro cars at night was part of the excitement. We had some Sat night shows at Firebird, was fun to go at night when it was so hot in the day time. BTW - its 117 today in Phoenix. We call that THTL, means Too Hot To Live. heh

 

[Gone Dead Train]

NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals Pomona July 5-7 2001. I was there all 3 days, it was hot and the place was packed.
Saturday night under the lights.