Who's Racing & Who's Parking for '09?

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

What I'm wondering, tracks? ...If the tracks start going down due to the economy, that could become a problem.

Robert Swartz

Yeah, I've wondered the same. Like the rest of corporate America, the NHRA owned facilities are bloated beyond management. But if most other operators are smart, they'll get creative. I was never a big nitro fan, but match racing seemed to fill the stands during the '70s. And with the pro sponsors drying up, low dollar teams may need to resort back to this activity. Who would want to pay NHRA a $100 admission fee to see nothing more than JFR vs DSR when they can go to their local track and see some local nitro-nostalgia-A/FX whatever for $15 admission? That's what I'm picturing. I also remember some awesome weekly class racing at E-Town during the late '70s & early '80s.

They may need to start thinking like the '60s & '70s again...LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL!!! In fact there were plenty of local racers "in the day" that could really put on a show. It's all in the promotion!! (except Tom Compton's promotional methods which comprise of: a safe, vaseline, mirrors with plenty of smoke, and sphincter forecepts).

People I'm going to watch closely: the New family, Blake Bowser, Bernie Longjohn, Pat Joffrion, the Baders, George Case, even Bruton Smith (unlike Compton I think he's a real promoter). I feel these could be the next promotional movers & shakers of our sport.