"Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals

[Ken Miele]

Okay guys, my thoughts on the past two weeks of racing. First, I'm grateful that I get to race and cover the race. The weather has been great, we did have some down time during the Baby Gators along with traction issues. Its hard for me to make a call on what the issue was because I am not privy to what's going with the track crew. The next day the track seemed like it was better. All in all the Baby Gators went well, even though the scheduling seemed kind of strange. The Baby Gators are for the sportsman racer so I have been told, but every year it seems they take I little of the enhancement away from us. The Gators use to be the second biggest race of the year, and now its reduced to a points meet and low car count category national event.

The Baby Gators had 600 plus cars here, it still amazes me how much we support NHRA, but they treat us as liabilities instead of assets. The resources that racers have spent supporting NHRA for decades, yet NHRA takes a little bite from us every year, and we still come. Why do we keep coming back. If I did not have Class Racer I don't think I would be at another national event. The division races are much more enjoyable for me.

As you guys know I very rarely bash NHRA. I want them to do well, but its just got to the point where there is very little enjoyment at a national event, and except for the racers that have become good friends, its just hard to get that feeling that you want to be here. I understand NHRA has to be efficient, but the current management has no respect for the racers that support them the most. The sportsman are the back bone of what NHRA use to stand for, now its just a distant memory of what it use to be. I know I sound bitter, but many of you know me... I always like to stay up beat, but what happened today just put me in a mood. Not an angry mood, just a sad mood... things are changing and they are never going to get better... its so very sad.

So what happed today... well I'll tell ya. The day was going smooth no long down time from oil downs or issues, yet they schedule changed. So instead of running the sportsman that support NHRA all year long, go to 8 plus division races to get into these events, spend time and money, lots of money... lets just run a tesla down the track against a Charger... WTF. Who gives a rats *** about a tesla. What the hell does that have to do with drag racing. Do you think the fans want to see a hair dryer go down the track. Who the F makes these calls. Next we get a parade of cool cars, great we all love cool cars, but why. Junior Dragsters, yes they are the future, but come on, do the sportsman have to take a back seat to everyone. I understand the pros are the show, but its just getting worse for the sportsman.

So you wonder why this has made me sad. Well because of the schedule change, the sportsman were the last ones down the track... schedule said the pros would be the last down the track... why even have a schedule for the sportsman... really, why? Anyway, the sportsman did not get the usually ride back in front of the stands, where there was 100's if not thousands of fans waiting against the fences to just be a part of the the winners interviews. No Joe Castello, not Walley's, no camera crew. Just go to the staging lanes and wait for the pros to take their 40 minutes of photos so you can get your photos done in 5 minutes or less. Joe was down at the other end of the track to talk to the winners, but there was no fans to enjoy the winners. It may seem like a little thing and to the winners I am sure they did not mind, but its so sad that sportsman are hiding from the fans. Yes the fans come to see the pros, but they like us too, we are not a liability, we are an asset, its just NHRA has no clue how to use us as an asset.

So there it is, will I be back at another National... sure will, at least I know you like to see the coverage and that's what makes it worth it. Like I said in the beginning of this post, I am grateful I get to do this. Next race... D2 at Valdosta, GA, next week.