A subject for discussion on a winter's day.

[CMcAllister]

A few years ago, we went to PRI. There were a number of the Street Outlaw guys there walking around as well. People were following them around, stopping them for photos, standing in line to meet them wherever they stopped to shoot the breeze with someone. I had to ask a buddy who they were and why they were such celebrities.

Later in the weekend while walking, we saw the Top Fuel World Champion car in a booth, stopped to look at it a second and noticed the Top Fuel World Champion sitting there at a table with hero cards. No one talking to him, no line to meet him, just sitting there watching people walk past. That was an enlightening moment.

[1320racer]

Those of us that are racers clearly don't do this for the $, hero cards, autographs, no mind any kind of self serving celebrity. WE do this for the competition in an attempt to be the best for a day, weekend, season.

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Those of us that are racers clearly don't do this for the $, hero cards, autographs, no mind any kind of self serving celebrity. WE do this for the competition in an attempt to be the best for a day, weekend, season.

That's very true. I just thought the contrast in the attention paid to the SO "stars" vs. the Top Fuel WC was interesting, especially since this was an event for trade/racers only, not star gazing fans.

[1320racer]

those that idolize these guys are fans of the circus, fans of a reality tv show not racers and never will be. Grown men asking for autographs says it all.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

A few years ago, we went to PRI. There were a number of the Street Outlaw guys there walking around as well. People were following them around, stopping them for photos, standing in line to meet them wherever they stopped to shoot the breeze with someone. I had to ask a buddy who they were and why they were such celebrities.

Later in the weekend while walking, we saw the Top Fuel World Champion car in a booth, stopped to look at it a second and noticed the Top Fuel World Champion sitting there at a table with hero cards. No one talking to him, no line to meet him, just sitting there watching people walk past. That was an enlightening moment.

^^ this is a good example of what exposure does for a "sport". Those shows are popular ( and the people on the shows) because of constant exposure to the viewing public.
People that don't race are tuning in to watch these episodes. I hear it all the time from non drag racing people at work.

The Discovery channel has many scheduled hours of the Street Outlaws and No Prep Kings episodes as well as the offspring shows from that ( Memphis Outlaws, etc.)

How many hours of TV time do NHRA classes ( pro or sportsman) get ? Very few.
Plus not many people are up watching FS1 @ 11:00 pm or 2 am