Thoughts?
 

With the huge surge in the very popular "No Prep" "Back of The Track" type events with huge crowds and an even bigger TV audience and now with big names like Steve Jackson chiming in on the sport and the Coughlin's building a car to compete in the 2022 season of No Prep Kings, what are your thoughts? I for one don't really care what type of drag racing it is, I like it. Add in the drama and these shows are very popular.
https://www.dragzine.com/news/jegs-p...acing-in-2022/

Re: Thoughts?
 

I’m all for it if it helps the tracks. Hopefully it will lead to some crossover if people see class racing and think they want to try it out. I personally don’t care for crowds all around the starting line so have zero interest in participating, but that’s just me.

Re: Thoughts?
 

The small no prep races and or back of the track events always have lots of people around the cars. The televised No Prep Kings races which do have some other classes added as filler are very strict about who is in the staging lanes and very strict about who is near the starting line. I find it pretty amazing that now we are seeing what could be considered well funded professional type teams building cars for this series.

Re: Thoughts?
 

I like any kind of car racing. NPK is very high dollar heads up format no different than any pro NHRA category. The real difference is the TV coverage and the story line and personalities that accompany the shows. Those races pay big money 40K to win and a championship bonus at the end. So right there its a better pay day than NHRA in most cases. It is winner take all though. Jegs and Summit seem to be involved in all aspects of auto racing so it makes sense that they would get involved either by competing or sponsorship
NHRA is really behind the times on their social media and TV coverage. That seems to be hurting our side of things right now

Re: Thoughts?
 

I love car racing. Things have changed during the last 20 years, so it is different now. That being said, any type of racing to help bring money to the various tracks is what the owners have to do. I don't go to the events that happen near me, but do, on occasion, watch on T.V.

As Mike Pearson mentioned, the NHRA is way behind in the promoting aspect of the sport. Other than the National events there is virtually no radio or T.V. time for events. I know it costs big bucks to buy time on the radio or T.V, but you have to spend money to make money.

The last Divisional race I attended at Pacific Raceways here in the Northwest had maybe a hundred people in the stands. I can almost guarantee you that most of those were friends/family of the racers, or the racers themselves when not racing

Re: Thoughts?
 

What about this?

Free 24/7 NHRA channel now available on 10 streaming platforms including Tubi, Roku

https://www.nhra.com/news/2021/free-...ding-tubi-roku

Re: Thoughts?
 

good morning to all,
I love all types of racing cars, Drag Racing is my passion. When the "Street Outlaws" started I figured it would last a season or two then go away. Okay - I was wrong!
I think adding in the personal side helps sell this on TV. I think Wally Parks is rolling over in his grave, seeing how this Street Racing has taken a hold of an audience baffles me. Maybe its the "outlaw" vibe. Yes, seeing all those people on the starting line are a little too close for even my comfort. If one of those land based missiles coughs a blower with all those people or a Nitrous Backfire happens I'm afraid this fun and games will all come to a screeching halt!
I like the fact that I hear people outside of the Car World ( like at my job ) talk about this stuff with a fair amount of interest. If this helps to develop interest in our sport and hopefully gets a few people together to build something - then I'm all for it. If this helps build some support for local Drag Racing, I'm real happy for that. But not for me, I'm a Class Racer,
that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz 1534 H/SA

Re: Thoughts?
 

When "Street Outlaws" showed up on tv, to me, it showcased everything that Wally Parks and the original NHRA stood against. NoPrep races on tracks is a different thing and I could get behind that and young fans love it. Stock, Super Stock, and Comp will always be at the top for me.
Pete
Wish I typed faster. Henry beat me to it.

Re: Thoughts?
 

This has to be a track operator's dream! Open the gate and count the money! No $1K barrels of VHT or scraping & sweeping chores.
Unfortunately that doesn't cross over or help class racing in any way.
I hope NHRA can survive another 65 years, but I doubt it more every day.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Ron,
I don't know if any amount of promotion would change that. The biggest issue in my opinion with spectators is that they want to see heads up racing with whoever gets to the finish line first being the winner. I bracket raced for over 20 years and love drag racing but to be honest with you I cannot sit and watch bracket racing which is all that class racing is now days.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Thanks for posting this link. I guess I am a little behind the curve. I still miss the "Sunday, Sunday" back in the day. I am definitely old school.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Seems like the fan base isn't there like when first started. Stands look empty when scanning quick during competition! The cheers you hear on tv aren't real, they are added to sound like big crowd! Just my opinion. Love watching though!

Re: Thoughts?
 

Having been to and participating in.......a NPK's event I can say I love it! Reminds me of the old days of early Pro Mod and the "Outlaw" feel. The show and the fan interaction is great. That being said....given a dream budget.... I'm not sure I would participate on a regular basis only because these events are generally crash fests and it's not a matter of if but when I'm going to pile my stuff and myself up.

God Bless those guys and gals with the intestinal fortitude and bucks to chase it.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Agreed I cant compete with anyone heads up and I also dont have wads of extra cash to wad my junk up and rebuild every other month.....

Re: Thoughts?
 

To me, personally, these type of events are more of a circus sideshow, than the type of racing that I like. As mentioned, breakage, crashes and aborted runs are par for the course. A couple of people that I know, took their small tire/no prep type cars to the recent +Street Car Supernationals" in Vegas. One crashed his small tire Mustang on his first 1/8th mile pass on the Wednesday, and there were so many other crashes and oildowns, that they cancelled the race, after dozens of cars were stuck in the staging lanes for hours. I just hope these freakshows don`t result in so many crashes , injuries, or potentially deaths, do not endanger the abilities of NHRA and dragstrips in general, to keep their doors open, due to insurance claims or lawsuits. JMO

Re: Thoughts?
 

Back in the 60's and 70's = I was Vice President of LA Street Racers.
Often Weekends we would draw 25,000+ to watch. The Drama and
Interaction between Drivers was made it so entertaining to watch.
Every part of town had it's favorites and heros and rooted for them.
That made it wildly popular for everyone to watch.
Thousands of Dollars changed hands every week.
I made my living and paid for College with 4 days a week of racing.
Now we work an extra day a week just to pay for our racing =
never have a year that we come out ahead!

Re: Thoughts?
 

Wow, John... we need more stories from those days! Big Willie was a hero. NoPrep stuff seems silly to me. I suppose i'm a fan of traction but YouTube Russian dash cam videos have shown me the appeal of crashes.

Re: Thoughts?
 

"There's an a** for every seat"

Not my cup of tea. But if it helps parts manufacturers, chassis shops, engine builders, track owners and the people who participate, mazel tov

Re: Thoughts?
 

My issue with the no prep- outlaw- made for ewetoob racing is the bad name our sport is going to get when the 18 dozen people they allow all around the starting line start getting hurt and killed. Good Lord knows NHRA isn't perfect by any means but the safety they provide is second to none.

BBB

Re: Thoughts?
 

This is like racing in the 50' and 60's. Narrow airport runways, no guard rails. Ii raced in the 50's and 60's at Aurora Oregon airport, Balboa in Eugene Oregon, Portland when it was an old road in the Vanport area flood area, Scappose airport, The Newport, Oregon airport The Dalles Port, Washington airport across the river from the Dalles, Oregon,
Woodburn Drag Strip is a converted airport That became a drag strip before guard rails.There was Shelton Washington airport, Arlington Washington airport, When Seattle International Raceway opened they had a great show Of all the different types of car's that raced there, Go karts, sports cars, and motorcycles.
There were 64 funny car races, The fox hunt races when females got in free, when you came down the return road the fans threw beer cans at you. Bill Donner knew how to give the fans there moneys worth. He was also the lease holder at Portland International raceway ran by Steve Dembo. These tracks back then were a lot more fun becouse you built most every thing yourself.
If you see the lead disclaimer these "Street racers" are tightly controlled races with ambuanlce's, fire truck's ,and Discovery channels money. The drivers wear full safety equipment, and I bet they have better tech inspection than the NHRA. They are doing there best to end sportsman racing.
I am glad that I retired from owning and driving when I did. The main reasion I go now is the people, I have met people from all over the world and the NHRA can not take that away from me.
Remember when you wacke up and don't see dirt above you, IT'S A GOOD DAY

Re: Thoughts?
 

No clocks, 1st to finish line. NHRA could easily do this with stock. 10 classes sole based on weight versus factored horsepower. let racers add /subtract weight to be at optimal weight/HP factor.

Re: Thoughts?
 

They weigh the no prep cars after each run. They have minimum weight based on cubic inches and power adders. They have had some bypass the scales antics like NHRA racing. I heard them mare a deal after they turn off of the track when the winner broke.

Re: Thoughts?
 

They already did/do this with Top Stock. I hate to say this, but you will never turn classracing into no prep kings or street outlaws. There really is no parody in the two. We love classracing for what it is, and if it became a heads up race for every round, only the fast cars would come. Here in Division1 we get almost 100 stockers and 70 Super Stockers for every race. Anything done to cater to a NPK/SO crowd would probably turn off the diehard classracer.

How does Bader fill the stands at his division races? That's what really should be looked into. The new generation is not into what the old generation is into for the most part. Not just in racing, football stadiums, baseball stadiums, Nascar and even concerts all have a dwindling attendance. Maybe trying to get the mass of young kids interested in class racing is like getting them excited about dancing the Jitterbug, or going to drive ins.

Re: Thoughts?
 

You never hear any advertisement for a divisional locally anymore and relying on racers to pay the bill doesn't make sense. Advertise and Fill the seats.
Turning stock into that venue would be a huge mistake. That would fuel their mission. There are no match races any more so Where is the excitement? Look at the excitement and press the AA final achieved! What does that tell you?
The backbone of the sport has a slipped disc! Fix it.
JMO......

Re: Thoughts?
 

Stock was conceived built and represented in a time that doesn't exist any more. I'm certainly not saying stock should be anything other than what it is today. The real question is... can stock survive today? Many opinions are that the NHRA are behind the times, well if NHRA were to re-engineer their program, would stock survive?

Re: Thoughts?
 

Re engineer how ?

Re: Thoughts?
 

Remember that there are no sportsman racers in in NHRA management. Just like all major companies they ae ran by bean counters. When i won the finals in 2000 i got a total payout 0f $16,000.00, now you would be lucky to get $5,000.00. After you pay double to enter

Stan Hawes retired

Re: Thoughts?
 

Totally agree. Funny, they give zero numbers or math. No reaction times, ET or MPH either. I think the average fan can understand " gotta go A to B" better than "I was double Oh Three on the tree, holding two and dropped him at the 1000 and ran dead on with a 2". NHRA though also gets some of the blame. Promote the racers. Not just the Pro's, maybe the Worlds fastest Factory Stock CobraJet vs the Fastest Copo in Factory Stock! The old radio ads were legendary, and worked! They even popped up in the movie Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. It drew you in. SUNDAY Sunday sunday...

Re: Thoughts?
 

The end of track racing is pretty big and there is some serious electronics and power mgmt involved. I do agree they need to clear the starting line. It’s pulling in big numbers.
Along with all these big bracket races. So there appears to be a food future in racing.

On another note. What about full radial type prep racing. It’s popular too. Cecil has a monthly street car shootout. Many classes pro mod, too sportsman, ultra street and x275 -all 1/8 mile.
8.50, 10.0, 11.50 plus bracket classes all 1/4 mile.
Track is prepped to the max.
I like that a lot too.
Would love to see stock n super stock on radial prep.
Along w nhra, and the other sanctioned bodies we are doing pretty well.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Meaning IF NHRA were to modernize their format. If NHRA were serious about moving in an EV direction to capture more/different fanbase, would any of the current sportsman classes fit in at all?

Re: Thoughts?
 

NHRA Does not care about sportsman racing. They kiss the rich rears with the factory race cars. i raced stock because it was an inovators class. Remember sedan delivery,s with car motors, 270 hp 283's with truck transmissions, 4 speed hydro's. Any one can now race stock for $125,000. with no knowledge. A budget racer can in stock and do well, Just look at Dell & Derick Elam,s Pinto Wagon W/SA. Ilike to see them race & win against the factory stock 150 mph cars. Remember the nitro fans want to see blow ups, crashes,& bimbos. When the sportsman race they hit the nitro Mall, beer stands & whach them rebuild the engines after each pass. Only the smart ones know the sportsman pits is the best car show .

Stan Hawes retired

Re: Thoughts?
 

That Pro Stock burndown in Topeka was a a big talk and brought drama more of that is needed it was the talk of lot of podcasts

Re: Thoughts?
 

However, two "well known / well traveled / experienced" Stock or Super Stock guys try that and they would BOTH most likely be disqualified!!!

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Burndowns are a childish game and should not be allowed. I typically wait for the competitor in the other lane to start their burn out before I do. I do my burn out quick and go straight to the line. Again I usually wait for the other driver to light the pre stage light. Then I pre stage and stage. I hate when I get up against someone that cant figure out how to burn out and stage in a reasonable amount of time

Re: Thoughts?
 

Buster would back the two perps off the line and let them sit in the sun until the end of the eliminator round .
I guess the current starter doesn't do that?

Re: Thoughts?
 

Mark, in todays kinder, gentler society, such an action would likely hurt the parties involved delicate feelings.

Re: Thoughts?
 

Im not a fan of the original Street Outlaws, and the JJ Armdrop crap, it seems very "staged and scripted" I like the NPK series because it is in a controlled environment, at the track, staging with the Tree and the instant green start. I fast forward to the runs themselves, Im not a fan of all the BS and drama in between. My biggest peev is that they bitch and moan when someone "guesses" at the green. I'd be guessing at the tree too, if I knew I wasnt as fast as my opponent, they are such babies with that crap.
As much as I enjoy it, it has basically become a no prep Pro Mod race, with full pit crews and outrageous budgets. Something most of us can't relate to.......lol