Originally Posted by jmcarter (Post 577700)

Understand how this relates to NHRA; their appeal to the "fictional casual race fan" is primarily oriented around going insane speeds, making lots of noise and interjecting some personalities in order to get them in the stands. By doing that the backbone of the sport and hard core fans suffer. NHRA's stated interest in helping with escalating costs is lip service, who in the heck ever let these cars get so fast and expensive anyway? The few well funded teams have sponsors that watch a sub-par TV presentation and ever declining attendance. You think they can put up with that business model forever? Think a kitty litter producer can keep up with escalating costs? Is nostalgia funny cars, gassers, no-prep and others less entertaining? Can you imagine the crowd response if they put some old modified eliminator cars out there for a exhibition?

NHRA is out of control, an out of touch leadership team that knows little to nothing about what made the sport great and it's remaining core of racers who continue in the Sportsman classes, only four of whom at most from each class are in the Sunday show.

Originally Posted by HR9121 (Post 577703)

Interesting video and I can only hope the powers that be at both organizations try to do what's right to keep the ship from sinking. I can remember not many years ago getting Bristol tickets were a prized possession, last time I went to the Bristol NASCAR race was in 2012, the place wasn't even half full on a perfect weather Saturday night.

Originally Posted by jmcarter (Post 577700)

Understand how this relates to NHRA; their appeal to the "fictional casual race fan" is primarily oriented around going insane speeds, making lots of noise and interjecting some personalities in order to get them in the stands. By doing that the backbone of the sport and hard core fans suffer. NHRA's stated interest in helping with escalating costs is lip service, who in the heck ever let these cars get so fast and expensive anyway? The few well funded teams have sponsors that watch a sub-par TV presentation and ever declining attendance. You think they can put up with that business model forever? Think a kitty litter producer can keep up with escalating costs? Is nostalgia funny cars, gassers, no-prep and others less entertaining? Can you imagine the crowd response if they put some old modified eliminator cars out there for a exhibition?

NHRA is out of control, an out of touch leadership team that knows little to nothing about what made the sport great and it's remaining core of racers who continue in the Sportsman classes, only four of whom at most from each class are in the Sunday show.