Alcohol dragster?

[Alan Roehrich]

Actually, Floyd, they can substantially improve the track shutdown area, and solve a lot of problems for everyone.

NHRA is simply looking for a way to pass the cost on to the racers, because they don't want to spend their money (it really belongs to the members) and they can't get the tracks to spend their money because NHRA is already cutting their throats.

So they tell the racers to go buy new brakes. That's right, they told the alcohol racers to go buy carbon fiber rotors if they don't have them. They already changed the parachute mount spec, and they're looking at adding more to it. Don't get me wrong, those are improvements to the cars, for safety. They're also going to mandate a cut off switch for alcohol just as the fuel cars have now.

But NHRA is not spending any money on it. That's why they like it. That's why they like the 1000' solution, too.

The "pit" and the net can be improved. But Graham Light says "we've used that stuff for years, and it's always worked". Well, the racers have used their brakes for years, and they've always worked, too. And even NHRA says the alcohol cars have not gotten much faster in 5 years.

NHRA could, with their resources, set out an open bid for a contract to fix the tracks. They could easily finance it. Why don't they? NASCAR spent millions of dollars on testing, and then went about implementing what they learned. NHRA could accept bids from contractors on a new net system, and a new shutdown area. I'd bet Jim Head would be one of the first in line, he probably has a few things in mind already. NHRA could also help the tracks get financing, and offer them contracts to guarantee they'd have enough races to pay off the loan.

But they're not doing it. They continue to put cars on poorly prepared tracks, with safety systems that have not been improved in decades. They make the racers buy new belts, new jackets, new pants, new helmets, and have their cars certified and re-certified. They spend the racers' money, they spend the track owners' money, but they're not spending theirs.