Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Mulry
Just my 2 cents..........
For the old that can't remember or the young who weren't there, NHRA had a formula for success but they threw it away.....
Let me roll back the time machine to the 1970's & 80's.
Each Division had their own champions from Top Fuel to Stock and we competed at our HOME division tracks (you got more points)...
A race fan could go to a local track and see it all. Local sponsorship would sell to the buyers in the area, not hundreds of miles away.
If you wanted to be a World Champion you had to finish in the Top 10 of your division to be invited to the World Finals to compete for a World Championship.
We had local Top Fuel teams sponsored by gas stations..
The Pro's wanted to be Pro's I guess and then they only raced at National Events. What this did was remove the interest of a local fan to attend a local Divisional meet.
No Pro's no support. No fans. No money. No getting the next generation interested in what we do. Racing used to be affordable (ha ha) because even Top Fuel teams raced out of their own garages.
Have we become too professional for our own good?????
NHRA needs a complete overhaul to survive and going back will be a tough pill to swallow, but reducing the cost to participate is a step in the right direction..
If Pro Stock was affordable, with a pay out in line with expenses, there might be some new blood.
Do you think having the PRO's back at Divisional racers could increase the fan base????
I just remember how it was, with the stands filled and waiting the next issue of National Dragster to see if you still had a spot in the top 10 of your division....
I don't have a clue if this would work or if anybody wanted it work, but I do know that what NHRA is doing now isn't working.
Bob
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Bob, I think you're spot on with this post. I remember when my uncle was racing pro stock and they had to run the division races. Making the PRO's run the divsionals and gain points to move up would bring more fans and more PRO competitors.And in turn would bring more fans and competitors in all other classes.
Bret Velde
SS/LA