Is the NHRA dying?

[barnca2010]

I hang around on some sports car racing sites. So to some extent they are one sided. Many seem to think that the NHRA and Drag Racing is hanging on by a wing and a prayer.. Now its been a while since i got to attend any National events. I did get to New England, which seemed as though they hit a home run. I used to goto E-Town and that when i was a kid seemed to be the event to be seen at. So what are your opinions?

[Casey Miles]

When I used to go to E-town back in the 70's, there was standing room only on both sides of the track, granted they install much bigger bleachers, but the attendance doesn't look anything like it did back then. NHRA needs to reevaluate their classes and race fan base.
There used to be Divisional races that had T/F all the way down to Stock, now they call them National events. So what happened to the true National events (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, plus Indy?) They are now gone and there is only a circus coming to town. NHRA allowed all the catagories to get out of hand, for example, there used to be at least 40 Pro Stocks cars at a race, now maybe get a full field. Pro Stock was basically a back halfed factory built car with a tunnel ram motor in it. Now they are funny cars with doors. NHRA took out the people who wanted to race but now can't afford to field a car.
Think about it $100k stocker? What is NHRA thinking?
Just a thought!

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock

[Dave Crouchet]

Drag racing will never die. If by some chance NHRA went away tomorrow there would be a lot of Happy racers.

[Lyn Smith]

Heard they are pulling out from Force Racing after the 2014 season!!!!

[barnca2010]

Ford and Castrol is out after 2014...

[cicero819]

Not Dying but will need a cane for a while it's recovering. Unfortunately I have to admit that Ed was right " we're not a car society " anymore. A proven fact is 20% drop in young adults getting a learners permit between 16 yrs and 24 yrs old but the worse statistic has to be that there has been a 50% decline in mechanical aptitude in generation X & Y. Nobody is turning that old lawn mower into a go-kart anymore. Consequence to that fact is, an automobile isn't the first choice of purchase with their disposable income anymore. I just attended my local track big race of the year and saw a decline of cars and definitely of spectator. What can be done, more people like Billy Nees, Paul Wong, Dan Fletcher and so many more not afraid to look for cheap alternatives.We need more Ken Miele, James Schaechter, Micheal Beard, Jeff Teuton Marc Yacavone, F.J. Smith, Dan Fahey & his side kick James Perrone both passionate in what they believe and of course it would be nice to have people like Don Garlits, John Force, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Jok Nicolson, Bret Kepner ,Rick Voegelin,Tony James, John DiBartolomeo as NHRA Board Directors. Lets send our ballots for a new president of NHRA. Maybe even Ed Fernandez will run. Claude Ruel p.s. I forgot to mention saturday Cruize and grudge night racing are very popular and should be investigated further. I love the concept of racing after work.

[Kevin Panzino]

WEll, I hear you..... but at our local Pittsburgh track on thursday night test.n tunes, and tuesday street nights its is PACKED... way way more kids with cars there than ten years ago...

Our 'format' may be dying, but I dont think drag racing is.

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by barnca2010

I hang around on some sports car racing sites. So to some extent they are one sided. Many seem to think that the NHRA and Drag Racing is hanging on by a wing and a prayer.. Now its been a while since i got to attend any National events. I did get to New England, which seemed as though they hit a home run. I used to goto E-Town and that when i was a kid seemed to be the event to be seen at. So what are your opinions?

Since I don't hunker around the road race sites, how is that doing as far as sanctioning bodies, participation, and fan base? What do you hear about Firebird Raceway, now Wild Horse here in Arizona?

Seems like a lot of the young car enthusiasts I meet are either dreaming or actually dropping an LS engine into ANYTHING to go drifting or road racing.Or even street racing I guess. My 21 year old neighbor (still living at home I might ad) has a newer Genesis and he says he's saving to drop an LS in it and I know one guy doing an A4 Audi / LS right now. So if I were 18+ years old and had a desire to have fun with either a street car or race only car, I would feel a strong pull for auto-crossing, road racing or drifting over drag racing in general. Unless I had a family tie, I wouldn't even consider Class Racing.

[FINESPLINE]

Kevin, I think you aced it by saying the FORMAT is dying. Nhra kept on loosening the rules until sportsman racing now has swallowed the poisen pill. They have priced themselves out of their future. Not for nothing but the new generation is trying to figure out how to pay loans on their college education in an economy that has very little to offer. Children moving back home because they can't make it on their own with the jobs that out there. No jobs, no benefits , no retirement plans, no medical plans.The price of a family medical plan keeps going up as Obamacare looms. Do you really think they are concerned about drag racing ! Go to a Division 1 points meet and you would think the economy is thriving. Most of racers are people who are successful business owners or people who made their money during the good years. Weekend meets that start on Thursday and might finish on Sunday--weather permitting. Some people might have to go to work. Sportsman racing is not geared towards the weekend warrior and that's why bracket racing has its draw and those people are content with that and will never cross the line to S/SS. Even if you have the money you may not have the time. It is what it is !!!!

[Wade Mahaffey]

I don't know if it's dying, but it sure needs to see a doctor and be evaluated.

Wade Mahaffey