At the risk of adding more fuel to the fire...........
This is 2011. Motorsports is BIG BUSINESS. And in business the bottom line is pushing product, and has been for a good long time. The pursuit of money drives everything! For the corporations who make television possible, the more people who watch their advertisements the better. The average drag racing "fan" likes the smoke and fire, so that is what's presented on TV. That's the economic impact of the business! Who would have thought that people would watch "bass fishing"? Or Poker?? Someone figured out a way to make a buck so there you go!
Drag Racing may have started as a hobby for most of us. Some of us have been able to be quite successful at it, but for most of us, the only return on our investment is just the enjoyment of doing something we love. If the most important part of your hobby is the money you make from it, then maybe it isn't a HOBBY anymore! And not that making it your job is a bad thing, but if that's the case, then it might be time to go Top Fuel or FC racing, where the REAL money is
.
Just my opinion, flawed or not! I'll still be out there, because that's where I want to be, good or bad!
Lew