Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman

[Ed Wright]

Most are like that. Most don't even watch alky cars or Pro Stock.

[Pentastar340]

Look @ Michael's Live From Norwalk LODRS. Michael reported that the saturday crowd was the biggest one-day crowd in the event's history, topping 40,000! This show's the Fan base is there.

Leonard A. Johnson #4445

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Most are like that. Most don't even watch alky cars or Pro Stock.

True. Talked to a co-worker this morning who happened to watch the race last night on ESPN2. He knows ZERO about drag racing and just happened to stumble on it flipping channels and stopped because his young son was interested. Being around it all my life, and especially Sportsman racing, I was curious on his take. He asked lots of questions about why do they make the tires smoke, etc. Basically he liked the Fuel cars but once Pro Stock came on (he didn't even know the name of them) he turned the channel and lost interest. I'm not sure how you appeal to a "fan" like that.

[skills]

The main reason why it is like that is because of the tv exposure. ESPN and NHRA have on tv not only talk about the cars but the drivers and crew chiefs. People attach to the drivers look at nascar and Dale Jr. Now if they did the same for sportsmen it would be a win/win for everyone. Say they picked one or two drivers a year and followed their progress. Say Dan Fletcher and SS and David Rampy in comp, explain the class and car fits and then follow them for the year give them 10-15 minutes a show. Show all the finals live from every class make people attach to the cars and drivers and you will get more people in the stands to see how that driver does when at their local national event.

[Byron Worner]

Nhra screwed the sportsmen at Houston then did the right thing at Atlanta. Mother nature can reek havoc and no matter what the outcome somebody would always do it the other way. I didn't hear too many, if anybody, complain last year at Maple Grove when they finished the sportsmen on Saturday night so you didn't have to sit around in the rain for a few days.
If you are totally disgusted with National Events then stay at home. These events have not changed in the 20+ years I've been racing and they probably aren't going to anytime soon. Get over it! Sportsmen aren't the priority at National Events. The Pros are.
Keep us together!!!

[Dan Fahey]

This is where we have to do something different.

AND IMHO IHRA has an opportunity to grab it..!!

D

[skills]

Byron I do agree with you, but I am not a racer so I only say what I say because I am a fan and love seeing hours of racing. NHRA will make more money not only by track attendence but tv sponsorships. If they put half the effort into sportsmen that they do in pros everybody would win. Like I said people get wrapped up in the personal racers if they put the drivers out there you can win.

[Byron Worner]

I agree totally the sportsman coverage is terrible. They could easily show the semi finals and finals of all sportsmen eliminators in their hour coverage of the alcohol classes.
The format of national events could be tweaked a little but for the most part they have to get the Pros in for their tv coverage. We do get bumped occasionally for this but that is expected when there are delays. We, the racers, need to remember that when we enter!

[joe176]

I say split em up .... Or have more Sportsnationals !!!!