NHRA as seen by the pros.

[Bobby Zlatkin]

We have all seen many posts here the last few months citing the economic plight of the sporsman racer for the upcoming season and NHRA being totally oblivious to this.

There was a recent article (Jan. 12) in Auto Week magazine looking at the current situation from the pros viewpoint. I know no one feels any empathy for the pros who have painted themselves into a corner, to where none of them can now afford to race out of their own pocket. But, the article is very interesting.

It tells of the withdrawal of major sponsors (corporate partners) and of the professional drivers who have lost their rides. Of how there are going to be fields that aren't going to be filled this year, especially in top fuel. Let me quote the last three paragraphs of the article;

"With the new season looming, NHRA has a third of it's events available for sponsorship. Officials haven't acknowledged any of the corporate fallout while raising the costs of in-pit hospitality for individual race teams."

"If the current management had to answer to stock holders, they'd be run out of town, one prominent team owner said (we know that wouldn't have been the Ford Sponsored NHRA poster boy). This is the worst economic crisis to hit our sport ever, and they have decided to stick their heads in the sand. They're a joke."

"Calls to NHRA management seeking coment were not returned as of Auto Week's deadline."

NASCAR is in the same position, with 750 full time crewman jobs lost so far, but at least they acknowledge it and are trying to work through it. I never thought of it this way before, but who are the NHRA officials responsible to? Us, the members? Then why can't we do something about it. Why shouldn't they feel the pinch in their pocket books too? It's like the corporate bailouts, no accountability.