Interesting...Jon Asher on Pro Stock and Factory Stock

[Rod Greene]

I remember the old days, back when Cloy or Farmer would bounce you for having the wrong trim on the car. Back when Tech meant something. I remember the private Top Fuel teams blowing up all the time and then the call would go out for Stock to the lanes. I remember a special lane for Record Setting attempts. I remember when we would make 6-8 passes in a day instead of sitting around BSing about the good old days and hoping to get a pass or maybe 2 if lucky. I remember when you could race AHRA,IHRA or NHRA and there were full fields of cars. AHRA died with Jim Tice, Billy Meyer killed IHRA and Greed is killing NHRA.
Pro Stock used to be entertaining with a great mix of all brands of cars. Then politics and corruption took over and it became a GM playground. NHRA will never change with the current Hierarchy in charge who are more interested in lining their own pockets and sucking the racers dry.
We need a revolution but you can't get 2 racers to agree on anything.

[SStockDart]

Farmer bounced me from the 1971 Nationals, because my 1969 roadrunner did not have side lights. Claimed I was cutting weight. Obviously, 68 Roadrunner had side lights, 69s have reflectors. I had the build sheet in the trailer and fixed the problem. Farmer was a piece of work and no arguing with him.

[SStockDart]

Originally Posted by Bernie Cunningham

For many years now I have been saying that it's 'technology' that is killing all sorts of motorsports, not just NHRA Pro and Sportsman. I'm talking about any king of propelled vehicle all over the world.

Technology has transformed racing into a boring sport because the competition between racing apparatus has gotten too close and too predictable.

All forms of racing are affected, consider Formula One that has battled with this for decades with many, many ideas and changes trying to keep it exciting while affordable with unlimited budgets from the teams.

And Bob Multry, I understand what you are saying...I get it. Again, the world has changed. Individually owned gas stations, grocery stores, hardware stores, restaurants, etc. Are nearly a think of the past. Replaced by National companies. The notion of sponsorship on a local level is really challenging.

You only have to look at the bracket like consistency of a modern day Top Fuel car to see it, very boring.

Bernie, for once I agree with you. Example being F1...ga-millions of dollars spent for a tenth on a 2 mile track. Or...half a million for a leased motor for pro stock...everything is out of hand. Another example is the pro basketball player that makes 40 million a year. It is stupid. The same player would play for much less if that was the going rate.....maybe half a million a year (how many of us would work for $500,000 a year)...the world has changed and we sportsman are no longer in favor for a number of reasons (factories no longer sell 69 Roadrunners).... so, if we desire to race, either accept the facts or do our own thing....whatever that might be.

[nhramnl]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

So you're saying that the problem with today's Stock and Super Stock classes are the tow rigs and the other classes that have been allowed to run the events?

Nope... not saying that at all, and I suspect you realize that. What I talked about isn't THE problem, but it is certainly ONE OF THE problems.

[randy wilson]

The fans ain't ever coming back. There's no home town heroes to follow. Factory Stock will do nothing to gain fans. Just the way it is.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by randy wilson

The fans ain't ever coming back. There's no home town heroes to follow. Factory Stock will do nothing to gain fans. Just the way it is.

The paying fans are now watching grudge style heads up racing.

The "Lights Out" races that Donald Long puts on are a prime example of great marketing and event management.
When you have to close the gates because the place is too full, then you know you did a good job.

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by House of Darts

It is very interesting that this article is brought to the forefront in the S/SS section. Ever watch the stands at a divisional meet or national event when S/SS race? For the divisional which speaks with more clarity than a national event,. some wives and girl fiends, volunteer pit helpers an friends are the only ones in the stands.Do you see all the double stackers that show up for S/SS? Pretty crazy for the lousy payouts. A FS car ain't cheap. Do you think that the FS cars becoming Pro/FS will help the sportsman racer? Isn't racing supposed to be a show? Horse, bike and all the various permutations of all motors ports is about the fans coming out to see racers race.If you pull the FS and AH cars out, what does S/SS have to show? To work on your car and get it in the trailer, get to the event and spend 1-4 days at an event that doesn't draw enough spectators that out number the number of people in the pits is that death bell. Someone here, started to do something. Not sure if it was Jack Matyas, got a bunch of teens to show up at the track and they got to see the cars up front and got a T-shirt and more personal face time with racers that they would at a National event with the pro's. That's action. I watched when a dad, grandfather and son stopped by in the pits to look at the cars. The father stopped to talk to me and I could see his 9 year old son looking apprehensive at what was going on to the pits. I walked up to the boy and asked him if he wanted a close up look at my car. Before he knew what happened, he was in the car with the helmet on and his dad was taking pics. They kept coming back after each round just to talk. This class racing isn't going to last unless we as racers, promote the sport ourselves. Don't look to NHRA to do anything constructive. If a bunch of reckless street racers can gain national attention, what will it take to get sportsman racers to do the same thing(popularity)? Is NMCA the answer? Ground roots class racer wave? Save the sport. Racer independence. Patriotic?

Good perspective. While it may not be THE answer, it certainly can add life to Stock/SS. It is basically what John Force did when he got started. Not only did he promote himself, but Funny Car racing got a real shot in the arm. Many racers need to get over their grumpy, introverted, negative, selfish, self-righteous limitations and promote their own stuff.

[BRETV]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

Just my 2 cents..........

For the old that can't remember or the young who weren't there, NHRA had a formula for success but they threw it away.....

Let me roll back the time machine to the 1970's & 80's.

Each Division had their own champions from Top Fuel to Stock and we competed at our HOME division tracks (you got more points)...

A race fan could go to a local track and see it all. Local sponsorship would sell to the buyers in the area, not hundreds of miles away.

If you wanted to be a World Champion you had to finish in the Top 10 of your division to be invited to the World Finals to compete for a World Championship.

We had local Top Fuel teams sponsored by gas stations..

The Pro's wanted to be Pro's I guess and then they only raced at National Events. What this did was remove the interest of a local fan to attend a local Divisional meet.

No Pro's no support. No fans. No money. No getting the next generation interested in what we do. Racing used to be affordable (ha ha) because even Top Fuel teams raced out of their own garages.

Have we become too professional for our own good?????

NHRA needs a complete overhaul to survive and going back will be a tough pill to swallow, but reducing the cost to participate is a step in the right direction..

If Pro Stock was affordable, with a pay out in line with expenses, there might be some new blood.

Do you think having the PRO's back at Divisional racers could increase the fan base????

I just remember how it was, with the stands filled and waiting the next issue of National Dragster to see if you still had a spot in the top 10 of your division....

I don't have a clue if this would work or if anybody wanted it work, but I do know that what NHRA is doing now isn't working.

Bob

Bob, I think you're spot on with this post. I remember when my uncle was racing pro stock and they had to run the division races. Making the PRO's run the divsionals and gain points to move up would bring more fans and more PRO competitors.And in turn would bring more fans and competitors in all other classes.




Bret Velde
SS/LA

[House of Darts]

Dwight, I glad you said it since I don't have enough class racing credits. I looked at the efforts of Michael Beard and his S/SS promotions only to be thwarted by lack of participation. Everyone that I spoke to was pleasantly surprised by those events. I can never figure it out. A day of drag racing definitely beats anything else as a pass time.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by House of Darts

Dwight, I glad you said it since I don't have enough class racing credits. I looked at the efforts of Michael Beard and his S/SS promotions only to be thwarted by lack of participation. Everyone that I spoke to was pleasantly surprised by those events. I can never figure it out. A day of drag racing definitely beats anything else as a pass time.

^^ I agree.
I missed the first Class Nationals but had a great time at the 2nd one in 2015.
That was the first time I ever got to run in a C.I.C. race