Can NHRA survive without John Force ?

[James Perrone]

NHRA has made the biggest mistake any business can make
Depending on a few BIG customers and neglect all the small ones
Folks we have seen the train wreck before .........IHRA
How did that work out..... asking for a friend

[Greg Reimer 7376]

We had a discussion a year and a half or so ago, among just us racers that have done this awhile. Why not have 140 car fields, knock off all the grade points, at $330 a car, that's a bunch of cash flow, for all Sportsman categories. We could get there at the track on Monday, get pitted and entered, then get two or three time only's on Wednesday. Rounds one and two could go down on Thursday, three, and four on Friday AM leaving the afternoon for the Pro qualifying, then round 5 on Saturday, the Pros finish qualifying on Saturday with minimal sharing of the track time for the Sportsman, then the semis and the final round on Sundays in between the last few rounds of the Pros. Seems that that would bring in another almost $200,000 in entry fees total, and would only result in another day's work.It also wouldn't compromise the time requirements for the live TV viewers on Sunday.

[tpoh815]

Originally Posted by Greg Reimer 7376

We had a discussion a year and a half or so ago, among just us racers that have done this awhile. Why not have 140 car fields, knock off all the grade points, at $330 a car, that's a bunch of cash flow, for all Sportsman categories. We could get there at the track on Monday, get pitted and entered, then get two or three time only's on Wednesday. Rounds one and two could go down on Thursday, three, and four on Friday AM leaving the afternoon for the Pro qualifying, then round 5 on Saturday, the Pros finish qualifying on Saturday with minimal sharing of the track time for the Sportsman, then the semis and the final round on Sundays in between the last few rounds of the Pros. Seems that that would bring in another almost $200,000 in entry fees total, and would only result in another day's work.It also wouldn't compromise the time requirements for the live TV viewers on Sunday.

How would this be feasible for the "working man"? Every event for a racer would mean taking vacation time. Unless all "sportsman" own their own business or are retired you will lose racers here too.

[jmcarter]

Guess we’ll find out soon enough with the limited PRO show this coming weekend. DSR will be out there with 4 entries just in TF so there probably will be close to full fields JFR or not. But NHRA can’t make a go without a big gate. Saw the Denver track got sideways with the health department this weekend so the prospects for a big fan event in a month from now looks unlikely. My normally glass half full has been turned upside down I’m afraid.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...h-of-july-race

[John Kissel]

A lot will depend on the states the events will be run in, there are govt. offical types who don't like us, never had, and love their power to kontrol. John Kissel K242

[Randall Klein]

The real draw is nitro smell and noise. Certainly a character like Force has some draw. If NHRA marketing would awake from their coma, they need to groom a character or two, the trick is to find a likable character with a little flair, surely the Hawley school could identify someone or two
As the big dogs drift away, I would think fringe players may step up....give the fans the nitro fix, most will never notice a tenth slower or so
Use Garlits ideas to reduce cost
Maybe 8 car shows, maybe mix FC & TF in a “King of the Hill”, FC gets lane choice
Surely those high paid corporate suits listed in the front of ND, are thinking outside the box

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Randall Klein

Surely those high paid corporate suits listed in the front of ND, are thinking outside the box

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[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by Randall Klein

Surely those high paid corporate suits listed in the front of ND, are thinking outside the box

They might be thinking outside the box, but they are keeping it to themselves if they want to stay employed. How many people have we seen come into NHRA with experience and fresh ideas, step on the wrong toes, and get disappeared faster than an enemy of the Clintons?

[Mike Pearson]

Its just a matter of time before John Force, Don Schumacher and Connie Kallita decide to retire. Sponsor issues will make this happen. It takes a lot of money to run any of these big teams. None of these owners are going to run the teams on their own money. Schumacher had his son sitting on the sideline with no sponsor to pay the bill on his car. When this finally happens and it will the pro show will be much different than we have seen for the past couple of decades. No one person or team is going to cause NHRA to fold up and disappear. Poor management, bad business practices and a failing economy will be the cause of that. There have already been some really big name Pro stars that have retired over the years and NHRA did not shut down.
Sportsman seem to be alive and well right now. Plenty of cars have been showing up at the divisional races that have been run since the shut down.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

Its just a matter of time before John Force, Don Schumacher and Connie Kallita decide to retire. Sponsor issues will make this happen. It takes a lot of money to run any of these big teams. None of these owners are going to run the teams on their own money. Schumacher had his son sitting on the sideline with no sponsor to pay the bill on his car. When this finally happens and it will the pro show will be much different than we have seen for the past couple of decades. No one person or team is going to cause NHRA to fold up and disappear. Poor management, bad business practices and a failing economy will be the cause of that. There have already been some really big name Pro stars that have retired over the years and NHRA did not shut down.
Sportsman seem to be alive and well right now. Plenty of cars have been showing up at the divisional races that have been run since the shut down.

Unless NHRA follows F1 and starts to restrict some spending i cant see how teams will be able to survive. If Chevy leaves Force that will be a huge blow, DS doesnt want to spend his own money and Capco could be out soon also as the pipeline business is going through some major hurdles. Throw in the virus and election this year, companies are worried about their financial situations and usually first on the chopping block is racing. May be NASCAR will buy the NHRA and its assets for a major discount.