More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster

Mike Schwartz · 01-27-2015, 09:41 PM

"In a letter to their advertisers the NHRA recently stated that going forward National Dragster will make 50 percent of their editorial content about the NHRA sportsman classes, 25 percent dedicated to NHRA’s ET and bracket racers, with the pro classes getting just 25 percent of the editorial content"

Full story:
http://www.dragracingonline.com/agen...xvii_1-47.html

modelman1960 · 01-28-2015, 08:22 AM

I for one will be looking forward to more sportsman coverage. Hope it's not smoke and mirrors. After reducing the frequency of the issues to every other week and now the size has shrunk also, seeing more news about our grassroots racers would certainly be welcome. Hope it's not just another "enhancement".
I'm trying to be positive here.
Good racing all.
Walt

Irace007 · 01-28-2015, 09:43 AM

I might even subscribe...........I did say MIGHT.

Jim Kaekel · 01-28-2015, 09:44 AM

I just hope they deliver. Maybe they'll quit trying to make National Dragster a fan magazine. I know I'm sick and tired of the pro driver stories. I'm surprised they didn't add Robin Leach from "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" as a feature writer for that garbage.

Lyn Smith · 01-28-2015, 10:58 AM

Dragster used to be a cash cow for NHRA.The classifieds,and Sponsor directory brought in alot of income.Maybe now they are starting to realize that it was the Sportsmen racers that spent the cash that kept that going.

Bill Grubbs · 01-28-2015, 12:36 PM

I think everyone needs to re-read the quote from NHRA..."editorial".

"Editorial" not "feature"...how much of the Dragster is editorial anyway? Twenty, 30, 60 column inches? Most of the Dragster would be considered feature articles.

I also agree with Lyn on who the advertising dollar is targeting.

racerhead · 01-28-2015, 12:46 PM

Bill, I believe in their lingo, 'editorial' is most everything, not just like the editorial section of a newspaper. This change is driven by the input from advertisers, who see that racers themselves are the ones who primarily purchase their race parts. More interested racers and hard core fans, more advertising effectiveness. I'm optimistic. I'm also biased as I still write for ND and I advertise.

Bruce Deveau

MR DERBY CITY · 01-28-2015, 12:52 PM

Could they include any less ?? Geez....I have read enough of the Force girls to last me a lifetime. How bout an article about Randi Lynn Shipp jumping off the Stratosphere (spelling) while competing at Las Vegas. Now, that's entertainment. M.J.

Tim H · 01-28-2015, 01:32 PM

Great news, maybe I will renew after all ... too bad there is no more free T-shirt !

Kevin McKenna · 01-28-2015, 03:19 PM

It is true. The focus of National Dragster will be shifting in the coming weeks and months as we continue to pursue the proper balance of editorial content that appeals to our subscribers, readers, and advertisers. To that end, we plan on adding much more sportsman-related content.

Over the past couple of years, some of you have no doubt noticed that we’ve included at least one sportsman feature in every issue. Some of the prominent class racers that have been featured include Austin Williams, the Teuton family, PB and Brett Candies, Bo Butner, and others. We certainly plan to do more of that going forward.

We are also planning a return of Dan Fletcher's very popular "Route 2015" column for what we hope will be six issues this year. As most of you know, Dan's writing it top notch and he's very honest and forthcoming about his life on tour.

As for race coverage, we began including an extra photo page with each sportsman story last year and that was very well received so we’re going to continue that as well.

From time to time we do surveys and one of the things that seems to always be at or near the top of the list is tech features. To that end, Mike Galimi will continue to contribute with his regular tech columns and we’re also going to roll out a new feature that I believe will be very popular. We’ve taken some of the most successful and best-known NHRA sportsman drivers and asked them to reveal some of their best-kept secrets for success. We’ve asked them to sound off on a wide variety of topics including car prep, record keeping, dial-in selection, and the finer points of finish line driving. It’s our hope that this will provide useful info that can actually help make you improve your program.

If you’ve got comments, suggestions I can always be reached at kmckenna@NHRA.com

Kevin McKenna
Sr. Editor
National Dragster

01-27-2015, 09:41 PM	#1
Mike Schwartz Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 497 Likes: 98 Liked 192 Times in 65 Posts	More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster "In a letter to their advertisers the NHRA recently stated that going forward National Dragster will make 50 percent of their editorial content about the NHRA sportsman classes, 25 percent dedicated to NHRA’s ET and bracket racers, with the pro classes getting just 25 percent of the editorial content" Full story: http://www.dragracingonline.com/agen...xvii_1-47.html

01-28-2015, 08:22 AM	#2
modelman1960 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central N.Y. Posts: 229 Likes: 2 Liked 55 Times in 22 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster I for one will be looking forward to more sportsman coverage. Hope it's not smoke and mirrors. After reducing the frequency of the issues to every other week and now the size has shrunk also, seeing more news about our grassroots racers would certainly be welcome. Hope it's not just another "enhancement". I'm trying to be positive here. Good racing all. Walt

01-28-2015, 09:43 AM	#3
Irace007 Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Forest Lk Minn. Posts: 102 Likes: 518 Liked 17 Times in 12 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster I might even subscribe...........I did say MIGHT. __________________ Marty Hanft

01-28-2015, 09:44 AM	#4
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,222 Likes: 134 Liked 498 Times in 104 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster I just hope they deliver. Maybe they'll quit trying to make National Dragster a fan magazine. I know I'm sick and tired of the pro driver stories. I'm surprised they didn't add Robin Leach from "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" as a feature writer for that garbage. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

01-28-2015, 10:58 AM	#5
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,121 Likes: 217 Liked 841 Times in 156 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster Dragster used to be a cash cow for NHRA.The classifieds,and Sponsor directory brought in alot of income.Maybe now they are starting to realize that it was the Sportsmen racers that spent the cash that kept that going.

01-28-2015, 12:36 PM	#6
Bill Grubbs Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 404 Likes: 1 Liked 458 Times in 61 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster I think everyone needs to re-read the quote from NHRA..."editorial". "Editorial" not "feature"...how much of the Dragster is editorial anyway? Twenty, 30, 60 column inches? Most of the Dragster would be considered feature articles. I also agree with Lyn on who the advertising dollar is targeting.

01-28-2015, 12:46 PM	#7
racerhead Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 187 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster Bill, I believe in their lingo, 'editorial' is most everything, not just like the editorial section of a newspaper. This change is driven by the input from advertisers, who see that racers themselves are the ones who primarily purchase their race parts. More interested racers and hard core fans, more advertising effectiveness. I'm optimistic. I'm also biased as I still write for ND and I advertise. Bruce Deveau

01-28-2015, 12:52 PM	#8
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,329 Likes: 859 Liked 6,617 Times in 1,290 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster Could they include any less ?? Geez....I have read enough of the Force girls to last me a lifetime. How bout an article about Randi Lynn Shipp jumping off the Stratosphere (spelling) while competing at Las Vegas. Now, that's entertainment. M.J.

01-28-2015, 01:32 PM	#9
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,010 Likes: 898 Liked 430 Times in 142 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster Great news, maybe I will renew after all ... too bad there is no more free T-shirt !

01-28-2015, 03:19 PM	#10
Kevin McKenna Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 194 Likes: 0 Liked 33 Times in 7 Posts	Re: More Sportsman coverage in National Dragster It is true. The focus of National Dragster will be shifting in the coming weeks and months as we continue to pursue the proper balance of editorial content that appeals to our subscribers, readers, and advertisers. To that end, we plan on adding much more sportsman-related content. Over the past couple of years, some of you have no doubt noticed that we’ve included at least one sportsman feature in every issue. Some of the prominent class racers that have been featured include Austin Williams, the Teuton family, PB and Brett Candies, Bo Butner, and others. We certainly plan to do more of that going forward. We are also planning a return of Dan Fletcher's very popular "Route 2015" column for what we hope will be six issues this year. As most of you know, Dan's writing it top notch and he's very honest and forthcoming about his life on tour. As for race coverage, we began including an extra photo page with each sportsman story last year and that was very well received so we’re going to continue that as well. From time to time we do surveys and one of the things that seems to always be at or near the top of the list is tech features. To that end, Mike Galimi will continue to contribute with his regular tech columns and we’re also going to roll out a new feature that I believe will be very popular. We’ve taken some of the most successful and best-known NHRA sportsman drivers and asked them to reveal some of their best-kept secrets for success. We’ve asked them to sound off on a wide variety of topics including car prep, record keeping, dial-in selection, and the finer points of finish line driving. It’s our hope that this will provide useful info that can actually help make you improve your program. If you’ve got comments, suggestions I can always be reached at kmckenna@NHRA.com Kevin McKenna Sr. Editor National Dragster