We have met the enemy and he is us

Just Wondering… Is NHRA drag racing actually a lot healthier than many of us seem to think? I don’t see any of the NHRA’s National Event venues up for sale (as far as we know), or closing. The track owners keep paying the NHRA fees to have National events so they must be making money. So let’s assume that the NHRA is doing just fine, thank you, and move on. I’m trying to myself

Just Wondering… If you think about it, isn’t there more drag racing available to racers and fans, whether you are a nitro junkie or a doorslammer fan, than at any other time in history? These days the NHRA Full Throttle Series is just one choice among a dozen different nitro, Pro Mod, Pro Stock, Bracket, and Pro Street circuits a fan or racer can participate in.

Just Wondering… Is it true that when the NHRA does go back to racing quarter-mile some of the shorter tracks like Pomona and E-town will remain 1000ft tracks? As I think about it, that scenario wouldn’t be so bad. I like the idea of the NHRA having some quarter-mile races, some 1000ft races, and I personally would like some 1/8th mile races. I would even support four-wide racing at Charlotte. Variety is the spice of life, and racing.

Just Wondering… What if Bruton Smith were to build a state-of-the-art dragstrip that had a 1/8th mile track but seating for 30,000 built around it? I would buy a ticket to attend a race in a venue like that.

Just Wondering… I can’t help it, I just keep thinking how funny it might have been if while ESPN was filming the “Cat Nationals” in John Force’s camp, one of Shirley Muldowney’s dogs showed up and chased the cat.

Just Wondering… Have they repealed the laws of physics for nitro cars? Don’t those internal combustion engines burning nitro still have to have fuel, air, and spark to make power? Are you telling me that the smart guys at NHRA, in almost four years of trying, can’t figure out a combination of those three constants that would slow the cars down, without burning ‘em up, and without costing the team owners a fortune?

Just Wondering… If most of the NHRA tracks are just too short for Top Fuel and funny cars to race on safely, why does the NHRA tech department keep making rules that make the cars heavier? Again, don’t the basic laws of physics apply? The heavier a car is, the harder it is to get it going and then get it stopped, right?

Just Wondering… Did you know that since 2001 the NHRA mandated minimum weight for a Top Fuel dragster has risen from 2175 lbs to 2375 lbs, and the minimum for a Nitro Funny has risen from 2375 lbs to 2575lbs? Additionally the NHRA has mandated lower nitro percentage, a rev-limiter and 1000ft tracks yet the cars evidently too fast as the NHRA is in the second or third year of experimenting to find ways to slow the cars down.
Evidently neither Ray Alley or Dan Olsen can make a change the tuners can’t circumvent. “We have met the enemy and he is us.” - Pogo