"Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals

[Spyphish]

LEMONS 24 Baby....... 7th car!!!!!!!

[Mike McCandless]

It's ran as a straight business that needs to be profitable. Those making the decisions are making the decisions they believe will give NHRA the best ROI. They might not be making the best choices, but I'd bet that's the reason these decisions are made. Easier to make those decisions for the now vs the future. If sponsor X will pay Y for something to happen, they'll take the path of least resistance vs building something long term.

I can promise you that 99% of people in the stands have zero clue how difficult it is to enter stock/super stock and be competitive. Yet, optically, it's the class most can relate to because the cars are real cars they've seen before. I believe there is a way to make S/SS more relevant and part of the bigger show, but it wouldn't be easy or fast. Like it or not, social media and video consumption is at an all time high. NHRA won't do this, because they'd default to the bigger classes, but a "drive to survive" type of series for S/SS in my opinion, is the only solution to gain fan interest.

If you profiled 4-6 people in each class that were running nationals schedules and divisional's, I think you could make something compelling. Make it in consumable video content, no more than 30 min per episode with 2 races per episode. If people can't relate to the struggle, I'm not sure you get them engaged. There has to be a human interest element to this. Looking back now, I would do anything to be able to go back and profile the insane things we had to do for Jason to win D2 last year in Stock. It would have made for an insane TV show, with the outcome being decided at the last race of the year in the finals against the team owner of the car. You couldn't have scripted it any better. We need stories like that to get out, hook people and that's how you get things to change. NHRA has to believe the class provides a positive ROI, otherwise it will get cast to the side.

In the cold world of business, why would NHRA care about any non pro class? They're looked at as filler that don't bring fans to the track. If any sportsman class was instantly dropped, what's the overall impact financially to NHRA? Knowing they'd just put in another class or expand the field to get the count it needs? S/SS have decades of work put in them by the participants. As much as we all bitch, we're not going anywhere, NHRA knows that. If we do, they'll just pull something off the shelf to replace it. It would be sad, but that's my guess.

My worthless .02

[1347]

With no clear channel of communication of why they do what they do to the sportsman racers at National Events, I really don't think it will get any better.
After I watched the stands dump out as they were running FSS after the pros Saturday, I realized 90% of the fan is a fan of FC TFD and Pro stock car and motorcycle.
The call outs and all that other bull**** with announcers standing on stage like a DJ is what the common fan likes. We are a victim of society, not NHRA.
We need to just come to the realization that we class race because we like it. Not because we are the show. Just look in any high school parking lot to see that muscle cars are not attracting the youth.

[BigBlockBill]

Just look in any high school parking lot to see that muscle cars are not attracting the youth.[/QUOTE]

If it doesn't have a huge turbo or the BS horse power that is nitrous the kids don't anything to do with it. They like the bottle ponies and don't want to do the real work that actual engine building takes.

BBB

[BG56]

I'd like to chime in on this. I agree with all the points brought up here and of course, for years. I think the real problem yesterday was to meet the "TV Window" and wrapping the Pro program by 3:00!! Even though Alan R. warned of the 10am start and 'hurry-up' to make it, maybe some never looked at their timepieces. Sure they could have fit all finals in before the Pro Finals, I'm thinking they couldn't take the chance. And the 'new' .TV still leaves a lot to be desired. We can register our "thoughts" on that elsewhere. Cheers!

[Ken Miele]

Hey guys, I forgot to post the semi's and finals of the Factory Stock Showdown. First few are from the semi's The one photo out of focus is Welch almost stuffing into the wall. I was late turning around for the shot... Never found out why. As soon as he crossed the finish line the car made a hard left turn... good job saving it.

Check out the finals, the 6th photo, tell me what is different about the two cars besides the brands. Stanfield had to pedal the COPO as it was in the wheelstand, I don't think he would have had the power to get around Welch. Welch was on time and arguably has the best FSS car.

[James Perrone]

Welches car suspension is some new school stuff

NO WHEELIE BARS !
Rear lifting and planting the tires and pushing the front down
This is what the fast 275 drag radial guys do
What’s next the goofy front struts 2 ft of travel?
Seems to work

[Billy Nees]

Ya know Ken, anybody that knows me well knows that I'm not a fan of wheelstands. I know that some instances require the front wheels to be off the ground in order to hook the car BUT Welch's car looked like an old '60s Max-Wedge car with nothing but a pinion snubber on it all weekend and he was definitely the class of the field. What's he doing under that car?

[James Perrone]

Well said YO Ken
I think I feel the same way
We are not forgotten by NHRA
We are there piggybank $$$$
We print the $$. They spend it anyway they want

[GTS340]

Originally Posted by James Perrone

Well said YO Ken
I think I feel the same way
We are not forgotten by NHRA
We are there piggybank $$$$
We print the $$. They spend it anyway they want

6 National races filled with sportsman entry $$$, membership costs and what ever must be a cool million to get the year going.

Paul