Doug Herbert, team owner and driver Snap-on Tools Top Fuel dragster
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 DRO file photo |
Doug Herbert’s view of the next level is, “Upgrading the facilities, like those here at Sears Point, Bristol and Vegas. I think the biggest thing (required) to take the NHR A to the next level is exposure and (all) the television that we (can) get, that’s what took NASCAR to the next level and I think that’s what it’ll take for us for the new guys (HD Partners). They didn’t buy this (NHRA) to sit on their hands; they bought it to turn around and make money, and I’m just guessing that if it’s going to make them money it’s probably going to be good for the racers also.”
“I think we need more live TV, but overall it’s not bad. But they are better together - ESPN and ABC.” Herbert continued, “I won Columbus in 1993 and that was on network (TV), I think on NBC, and everybody saw it. At least some of our big races should be on network like Indy, the Pomona Finals and the Winternationals, now that’s big.”
Cory McClenathan, driver of the Fram Top Fuel dragster
 Todd Dziadosz photo |
Cory McClenathan thought some of the issues facing the next level would be financial. “I’ve been around long enough to see how big it has gotten, but we need more sponsors. Money-wise I’d like to see the purses grow, more live TV time and a little more accurate on how some things are run and what their abilities really are when it comes to tracks, what the procedures are and safety. I guess the older I get the more stuck I get on the safety factor for all the professional categories at the same time… for instance do we need safety walls?”
“What are their (HD Partners) interests? Do I think this new company is good and in the right direction? Well, there’s always a changing of the guard, but is it the right one? I really don’t know. I think we have to wait and see, but like everybody else, I’ve never had it explained to me (the HD Partners deal) as to what are the great changes, what is going to happen? We’ve got a giant monster where people can still come buy a ticket and a pit pass to see the whole show. I’d hate to see that go away, but how are we going to make it bigger if we don’t have the areas to do it in?”
“How can we improve the purses?” McClenathan continued. “I’d like to see some kind of table that’ll show us where they (HD Partners) think we’ll grow it in the next five years, three years, even one year or ten years down the road. When I’m teaching a new girl or boy how to drive, I want to know that they are safe and they are going to have a future and I can keep on coming here and doing that.”
Larry Dixon, driver for Don Prudhomme’s Top Fuel dragster
 Brad Turk Photo |
Sitting in the staging lanes Larry Dixon responded, “The next level is when we have a set curfew to start the session early enough that we can finish it. That would be a giant step toward the next level. For these people (fans) that pay lots of money to come out here and watch us race, to actually get to see us race and not want to throw tomatoes at us because we are towing our cars back to the pits.”
“The next level is better (TV) ratings, bigger attendance and therefore we’ll end up with more cars with more and better sponsorship. At that point then I think we’d have better prize money, more championship money, but whatever you have to do to get ratings, attendance and sponsorship…and I’m not that guy. NHRA should be doing everything possible to make those fans not mad at us for not running in the nighttime sessions; that would be a good start. Because you want them (fans) to want to come back, instead of never coming back.