CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post

Dan Bennett · 11-06-2019, 01:42 PM

Just as a follow up, I wanted to make some things a bit clearer about my original post. I was impressed that he gave equal importance to increasing funding for the series AND the teams. That thinking does not seem to happen with the NHRA.

The other part I liked was about working to keep the cars relatable for the fans. Pro Stock was where I concentrated and so that point really hits home for me.
Top Fuel gets a pass on this, since they are the "unlimited" class even though that hasn't been true for many years.

I watched the first funny car races and they were a sensation for being outrageous overkill of cars anyone could buy and would be seen daily on any street in the country. Now, they're some sort of doorstop looking blob - and it got bad enough that a Mustang changed into a Camaro just by decals and nobody seemed to care.

As for Pro Stock, I could go on for pages and pages but everyone here knows that they bear no relationship to anything that has rolled off a production line or sat in a dealer showroom.

This whole thing doesn't need to be a "living in the past" vs "change with the times" argument. I am still excited to see a great run from a 60s or 70s car. But that comes from having raced them before I ever saw very many on a drag strip.I would also be excited to see the best tech minds give their all to increase the already impressive performance of modern production cars. But even though we've had that chance for the last few years, it went out of control very early. Leadership was not there.

Let me see real invention, and not just a series of ghost packages that appear out of thin air, were not a part of production, and depend on having enough sway with NHRA to get them approved. So, Leadership. Not in maximizing profit, bonuses, or golden parachutes. Leadership in actually advancing the sport. Keeping the past and allowing for the future.

No, it's not easy. But what Penske has planned isn't either. The difference is that he cares enough to try and make it happen. That's why I posted.

11-06-2019, 01:42 PM	#1
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 439 Likes: 853 Liked 595 Times in 136 Posts	Re: When Leaders Lead Just as a follow up, I wanted to make some things a bit clearer about my original post. I was impressed that he gave equal importance to increasing funding for the series AND the teams. That thinking does not seem to happen with the NHRA. The other part I liked was about working to keep the cars relatable for the fans. Pro Stock was where I concentrated and so that point really hits home for me. Top Fuel gets a pass on this, since they are the "unlimited" class even though that hasn't been true for many years. I watched the first funny car races and they were a sensation for being outrageous overkill of cars anyone could buy and would be seen daily on any street in the country. Now, they're some sort of doorstop looking blob - and it got bad enough that a Mustang changed into a Camaro just by decals and nobody seemed to care. As for Pro Stock, I could go on for pages and pages but everyone here knows that they bear no relationship to anything that has rolled off a production line or sat in a dealer showroom. This whole thing doesn't need to be a "living in the past" vs "change with the times" argument. I am still excited to see a great run from a 60s or 70s car. But that comes from having raced them before I ever saw very many on a drag strip.I would also be excited to see the best tech minds give their all to increase the already impressive performance of modern production cars. But even though we've had that chance for the last few years, it went out of control very early. Leadership was not there. Let me see real invention, and not just a series of ghost packages that appear out of thin air, were not a part of production, and depend on having enough sway with NHRA to get them approved. So, Leadership. Not in maximizing profit, bonuses, or golden parachutes. Leadership in actually advancing the sport. Keeping the past and allowing for the future. No, it's not easy. But what Penske has planned isn't either. The difference is that he cares enough to try and make it happen. That's why I posted. Last edited by Dan Bennett; 11-06-2019 at 07:33 PM.