It’s going to take some shuffling of the schedule no doubt. One reality would be a qualifier on Thursday. Once again, value added for both the alcohol cars and NHRA. If you’re featuring the alcohol cars on Saturday, now you can feature them on Thursday. “Thursday – See Lucas Oil Top Alcohol qualifying under the lights…”
On Friday, the schedule could remain untouched. Two qualifiers on Friday just like normal.
Saturday, obviously is the biggest challenge. Here’s a sample Saturday run schedule with Top Alcohol eliminations:
8:00 AM – Sportsman Eliminations
9:30 AM – Comp Round 1
10:30 AM – Pro Stock Qual. 3
11:00 AM – Top Alcohol Round 1
12:00 PM – Nitro Qual. 3
1:00 PM – Top Alcohol Round 2
1:45 PM – Pro Mod Qual. 3
2:45 PM – Top Alcohol Round 3
3:10 PM – Pro Stock Qual. 4
3:40 PM – Nitro Qual. 4
4:40 PM – Top Alcohol Finals
5:00 PM – Pro Mod Round 1
6:00 PM – Comp Round 2
7:00 PM – Sportsman Eliminations
Sunday would also need some adjustments. More sportsman eliminations could be shifted to Sunday to help with the dead time. Would it be science fiction to fill a dead spot with jets and/or wheelstanders? Nitro Harleys, Nostalgia, Cacklefests, etc. Here’s a random concept – featured “match races” between the fast losers of round one. Sell it to a sponsor. I’m sure the teams would love the test, plus more exposure for sponsors. Not to
mention if it’s a team car of a car still in, they get a test shot.
Such a program will take alcohol racing to the next level we all hope to reach. The added exposure would really go a long way towards getting team sponsorships. The alcohol class and drivers would gain a lot more name recognition. This would really help whatever the future holds in regards to divisionals or regional events.
One negative is obviously having a Thursday run. It definitely makes it harder on the working racer. Another is not racing on Sunday. To be featured and have improved TV coverage would offset these negatives.
Let me reiterate that I do not advocate this unless it comes with being featured and same day TV. Just moving eliminations to Saturday, with no mention in advertising, and the same week-delayed TV coverage does nothing for the alcohol cars.
Of course the above schedule will have to be tweaked and adapted to individual events. For instance, the Jeg’s All-Star race would require normal Sunday eliminations for the alcohol cars.
I think NHRA wins big in this scenario. Having an opportunity to have a sponsor pick up the bill for another hour plus to their Saturday show would really be a huge step forward. If alcohol racers become more recognized in the motorsports picture, NHRA wins again.
I think sometimes some within the NHRA don’t want to admit it, but the alcohol cars have much more fan appeal than they are given credit.
It’s an outside the box idea, but if it could happen, it just may take alcohol racing to the next level. Let us know what you think by commenting on my website InsideTopAlcohol.com, or drop us a line at response@dragracingonline.com 
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
