Notes scribbled on a cocktail napkin during the U.S. Nationals. . . .

Just Wondering ... Am I the only person who wonders why Angelle Savoie had so many opportunities on television, print and even at the Car Craft All-Star banquet to plead for a sponsorship? I mean, it was unending. It's not that I begrudge her the opportunity or that she didn't deserve a major sponsor, but what about affording the same opportunities to other professional racers who have been without major sponsorship for a much longer period than Angelle? Do the names Chris Karamesines, Shirley Muldowney-Tobler, Cory Mac, Todd Paton, John Lawson, Rickie Smith, Kenny Koretsy, Geno Scali, or Antron Brown sound familiar? These racers haven't had nearly the opportunity or backing that Angelle received from the NHRA media in their search for a sponsor. How about a little equal opportunity here!

Just Wondering ... Does NHRA really like the Pro Mod class or not? NHRA's publicity department for the most part acts like the class doesn't exist. In private and in one-on-one situations, executives of NHRA tell Pro Mod competitors that they really like and appreciate them and the class, and that they are actively promoting and selling the class to potential sponsors. Evidently those folks have neglected to share those feelings with NHRA's publicity department. But give National Dragster editor Phil Burgess kudos; he gave the class some coverage in the Monday edition of the "Daily Dragster." Aside from that, Pro Modified received almost no mention on any of NHRA television coverage or in any of the material generated and distributed to the attending media by the PR department.

Just Wondering ... Even though NHRA prez Tom Compton did announce to a group of reporters that the Pro Mods would once again have a 10 race schedule at the same tracks and, it is assumed, with the same purse, why wasn't one word about the class mentioned in the NHRA press release?

Just Wondering ... Is there any other major auto race in the world where the sanctioning body puts out a daily paper covering the event? It requires a lot of effort and is unique in motorsports. A tip of the Burkster's DRO cap to editor Phil Burgess and all of the men and women at National Dragster.

Just Wondering ... Why did IHRA's prez Bill Bader issue a $100,000 challenge to Larry Dixon for a match race against Clay Millican? Dixon certainly doesn't have a lock on the NHRA world championship. Why not wait until the NHRA World Champ in Top Fuel is determined and then schedule the event for the IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham -- a track that all participants are familiar with. Just for the record, I make the odds 9-2 that the event never comes off. Prudhomme, Dixon and LaHaie and the team's sponsors would have everything to lose and nothing to gain racing against Peter Lehman, Clay Millican and Mike Kloeber.

Just Wondering ... Am I the only one who can't figure out why the IHRA nominees for the Car Craft All-Star awards didn't bother to show up? You'd think that at least one high official of the IHRA would attend this most prestigious affair to at least represent their sanctioning body in front of their peers when an IHRA racer wins the coveted prize.

Just Wondering ... Where was Clay Millican and the Werner car during the U.S. Nationals? The defending IHRA World Champ and winner of nine consecutive IHRA races couldn't find a way to squeeze Indy into their schedule? Granted that by racing at Indy the team would have had to race three straight weekends, but fellow IHRA Top Fuel racers Don Reed, Paul Romine and Bruce Litton didn't have a problem. It was probably the smart thing for the Werner Enterprises-backed team to do, but I really would have liked to see one of the most successful Top Fuel cars in drag racing history matched up against NHRA's best at drag racing's most prestigious event.

Just Wondering no longer ... If anyone had any questions about how important winning the U.S. Nationals is to the drivers, the reluctant, post-race, five-word interview Kenny Bernstein gave after losing to Larry Dixon answered that question. No rote sponsor plugs from Kenny, Larry Dixon, Allen Johnson or Tommy Johnson Jr. to Budweiser, Lucas Oil, et al. Just anger, angst and raw emotion from drivers who had wanted to win so badly. Dixon's statement about not caring about the points and that wins were all that counted when the career was over was refreshingly candid, honest, and far more memorable than the usual memorized sponsor plug, as were the interviews from all of the drivers mentioned above.

Just Wondering ... What's it going to take before NHRA does something, anything about the terrible show most of qualifying and eliminations has become at their National Events? At the U.S. Nationals on Friday and Saturday night and Sunday between 50- and 75-percent of the qualifying runs were aborted. That's not what racing fans come to see. SOME FORM OF TRACTION CONTROL IS REQUIRED!!!!

Just Wondering ... Was I the only one to notice that the number of empty seats at the U.S. Nationals from Saturday to Monday was in direct correlation to the increased price of a general admission ticket on each of those days?

Just Wondering ... Has the U.S. Nationals become just too civilized? Am I the only one that longs for just a little of the slightly crazed, over-the-edge atmosphere that used to be part of the Nationals? Turning the U.S. Nationals into something resembling a church social camp kind of takes away some of the mystique about attending the event.

Just Wondering ... How much longer can they continue to run the U.S. Nationals at IRP, which is a worn-down facility? Why doesn't NHRA cut a deal with Bruton Smith to rotate the Nationals through his facilities at Bristol and Las Vegas until they are able to upgrade and update Indy? The premier race of any sanctioning body should be held in a showcase facility. Unfortunately, Indianapolis Raceway Park isn't even in drag racing's top five right now. Besides, they might draw bigger crowds if the show traveled like golf's U.S. Open!

Finally, Just wondering ... What will it take to get my peers in the motorsports national press to come to Indy? Fuel qualifying at night is some of the fastest, most viscerally entertaining racing in the world. And Monday at Indy matches any of the sports other races for drama and I've been to them all.

photo by Randy Fish

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