4/19/06
PRO STOCK NEEDS ITS HEROES
It has long been my biggest complaint that Pro Stock has been treated like the ugly stepchild of NHRA. It makes me ill to turn on the TV to watch NHRA and hear nothing but Force, Schumacher, and Anderson. They should rename the origination FSAA. That would be more appropriate given the way they report the events. NHRA is not built of these guys alone! If someone that was new to the sport tuned into to the programming it would seem pretty uninteresting. Maybe that's why NHRA is having a PR issue.
Racing (NO MATTER WHAT IT IS!) is about heroes. That's how you build fan base. I know that NHRA thinks that it can survive on that but what happens when they're gone? NASCAR has it down pat. NHRA take notice!!
I said all that for this. You had a Pro Stock team racing at Las Vegas this past weekend that runs on a part time schedule and limited budget that qualified in the TOP HALF of the toughest category in NHRA and you didn't hear a word about them. IF THAT'S NOT NEWS WORTHY I'LL EAT MY CREDENTIALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave Howard and Team INDiCOM Racing deserve a BIG AT A BOY. They have qualified at many other events and the same attention has been given to them. THAT IS BS! These guys deserve at least a mention of their efforts. And if you remember the teams last time out at the Gator's they put Jason Lines on the trailer. That's not news worthy? That got barely a mention on the coverage that day! Come on NHRA!!!!!! Get your heads out of the rear ends of Force, Schumacher, and Anderson and take a breath of FRESH AIR!
It is getting harder and harder to stay involved with an sport/organization that is so narrow minded with its members and participants. Come on NHRA, make me want to be a part of your fan base.
Thanks,
Keni Hill
JUST GETTING THEIR ATTENTION
I think its too bad Mrs. Russell had to go to these means to try and get NHRA to respond to her request. But as a long-time NHRA racer it does not surprise me.
James R Hanig
Houston, TX
APPLES AND ORANGES?
When you look at the price of a movie today and the cost of a whole day at a National meet, the cost of the race is very low. When you can talk to the drivers, watch the crew and see hundreds of races what is the problem? Try talking to the stars of the movie. Get real -- it is a whole day!
Jim McCulley
Pine Hill, NJ
Well, Jim, you've obviously never seen "The Purple Rose of Cairo." However, carrying on with your analogy. . .the national average price for a movie ticket in 2005 was $6.41 (according to the National Association of Theatre Owners) which is $3.205 per hour of entertainment. At that rate you would have to spend over 17 hours (17.160686) to get your money's worth for an NHRA Sunday ticket at $55.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
BURK, It is NOT professional drag racing. Professionals get paid a professional fee. Winning any drag race still nets chump change. No money, no nothing happening.
Norman Hechtkoff
THE BACKBONE OF THE SPORT
I normally don't write in to these things, but a few things in your editorial really bothered me. Since when do only the pro classes represent "real NHRA drag racing"? Don't get me wrong, I love to watch fuel cars on TV and especially in person, but I could watch Comp cars and Stock/Super Stock stick cars go down the track all day long too.
I also do a fair amount of bracket racing on weekends, which I believe (with no data at all to back up my claim) is the most popular form of NHRA drag racing based on the number of participants. That to me is the real essence of drag racing, everyday people trying to make their ride faster and at the same time compete for a trophy or some money in front of family and friends.
Secondly, I tape every single drag racing related show I can get my hands on, just ask my wife! I would never pay for pay-for-view TV just so I could watch the finals live. I can wait a couple of hours and watch the taped version from the comfort of my Lazy Boy.
On a side note, I'd like to see an outlaw fuel class created to get some real innovation back into the class. As much nitro as you want, whatever tire you want, etc. Limit them to 1/8th mile or 1,000 feet to keep the speeds down and let 'em rip. Fastest guy wins either because he's the smartest, the richest, or both!
Bob Hepburn
Oregon
