The voice of experience

What is the NHRA Experience?

I sure hope that NHRA sees what is becoming popular, and more entertaining than Pro Stock. If any one has witnessed some of the 10 Wide turbo cars that LOOK like real cars, WEIGH like real cars and can DRIVE to the local hamburger shop, then turn around and run 6.50 220 on the track, you don't know what you are missing.

I have recently become a fan of Dan Millen, Tim Lynch, and Andy Jensen. Absolutely amazing. These small blocks are so fast that the ADRL wants them to run with the blown alcohol coupes!

Want a gauge of what is hot and not? Check out YouTube. Enter one of the above names.

Have you ever seen a Pro Stock run an entire 1/8 mile on the wheelie bars? Unbelievable. Power like I have never seen. Driving like I have never seen. The challenge for NHRA would of course be to regulate somehow. I would hope they would choose a loose set of rules with safety in mind, and that's it. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Pro Stock because I know what it is to run Pro Stock, because I am a 30 year drag racer, but the average fan? Ask them which is more exciting? Pro Stock is an engine builder’s exacting and pristine domain, but all spectators see are fast cars, some more exciting than others. Some more real to them than others.

I guess maybe we have to decide whether or not the NHRA experience is structured to entertain ourselves as hard core racers, or spectators and fans who only know the sport from the stands and the pits.

In my racing career I have only had the time, money, and means to race local brackets and Quick 16, but I know that I will have nowhere to race if the IRHA, NHRA, ADRL and all the rest go under, so I care about what they do. Only in America, I still get an extreme patriotic rush sitting in my car hearing the Anthem before the start of each race. 

Let's make sure it lives on because in the future, the race cars of today will be an example of a beautiful era of what "once was" in American automotive history.

Dennis DiValerio
Algonquin, Illinois

Evidently the view looks fine from Glendora

Damn, has the NHRA brass acknowledged any of these big sponsor/team losses? Haven’t Connie's fuelers been a BIG part of a certain class for a long time? NASCAR has even admitted only 37 full time teams in 2009, of which only 29 are fully sponsored! The General is gone... Oh, but Hillary won a race overseas and a sportsman racer is gonna be on Deal or No Deal? Wow. I’m worried what the Winternats are gonna look like, what about you NHRA? Come on you can tell us... From the tower? Yikes...

Rick Rzepka
Clinton Township, Michigan