Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-...ds-pro-nhra-ad Interesting we will see?

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I'm not a regular watcher of his show but I'm familiar with the premise. I find it interesting ... maybe hypocritical ... that he is condemning street racing when that he how is became famous and rich and he still continues to do it. Yes, I understand the show is racing on "controlled closed environments" but it's still on a street and not a sanctioned race track.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

NHRA has plenty to learn from the promotion of the show. NHRA broadcast is pretty boring. Reif and Pedregon are terminally boring as announcers. I would bring Bruno Massel more to the forefront. His segments that he does are pretty good. I could see NHRA starting a new class called Street outlaw in the near future. Big Chief would not be competitive in pro mod or pro stock. I doubt he has enough cash to be competitive. He would be one that could attract some good sponsor money though. I do like the show because they are real "car" guys and like minded to most racers.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I think Chief has had a big turnabout since his wreck. I would assume he finally saw the light and the reasons NHRA is so against street racing. We all question the decisions made by the NHRA sometimes but safety is something taken very seriously and I believe Chief finally understands that now.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

"No Prep" races are also popular, but they wreck cars just like the TV street racing.
Wonder how they get insurance for those?

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I find it very hypocritical on both parties. They only thing that both are thinking about is money.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Put him in charge of marketing some street style heads up races, it would be very popular.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

True statement! NHRA execs can sniff out money quicker than a bluetick hound. At the last SEMA show, a vendor pointed out that the autograph line for Big Chief and his cronies was always twice as long as the one for John Force and company.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Fifty+ years ago the NHRA was about saving lives, getting young people headed the right direction and promoting a good image. Now it seems to be only about dollars. We have slid a long ways.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Astute observation, 50 years ago NHRA was dedicated to Safety...today NHRA is dedicated to SCHEDULE....

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Been to two no prep races this year. Both had lots of people, Ennis was packed, and excitement in the air I haven't seen at NHRA races for awhile. There could be a way to bring SO and NHRA together and wouldn't mind seeing it. Never, ever seen betting in the stands like at Ennis. There were groups betting at the start line, the finish line, and top and bottom of the stands. The fans were excited and on their feet, it just ain't like that even at national events anymore. The different demographic watching SO has much to do with that. Funny that two of the most popular people I've seen at the races lately are Big Chief and Richard Rawlings from the Discovery Channel. If SO and NHRA are going to work together they should do it soon, real soon. This kind of popularity can come and go quickly, remember PINKS? I thought NHRA waited way too long to go P/S fuel injection hope they don't sit and watch this opportunity slip away.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Big Chief and all the Racer of the 504 had their start on PINKS all OUT !
It was a few years ago and all looked younger.

Here are a couple youtube vids..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Cjb0LbrTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDwGX3WUkE

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Put together a top 10 list challenge against the SO and give the mic. to Chief.
Run them 1/8 mile with flashlight starter and NT on the boards during a national event. (wouldn't take long) and I think the stands would be packed.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Chief has certainly captured the interest of a large following of race fans. Maybe its time for him to sit down with NHRA.
People like Pete and Kyle should be in that room, as well.
There are plenty of smart people in and around this sport. Hopefully the new leadership at NHRA will recognize it, and continue to make improvements.


Mike A114
P/SA

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I am an old guy and I can tell you when I was young you described what I saw at outlaw tracks different demographic and side bets everywhere. There were all kinds of fights a few shots and not always safe places at the tracks. I think the demographics has changed some so it should not be as bad but fixing the product they have would be a better solution imho. I do see the draw in all out run what you brung racing and the car owners supplying the purse but my option is fix what Wally wanted.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

The whole gist of it is Chief is trying to get his NHRA comp license back.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I dont know who won last weekends nat'l event, but i know Doc still #1 on the 405 list!
KB racing,Elite,DSR and JFR if any of these teams pack up there wouldnt be anything to televise because these teams are running the NHRA.

My2 cents

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

same for the PRI show.


I wont be surprised to see him in a prostocker with Jegs on the side :)

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

[QUOTE=Tand E racing;506749]I dont know who won last weekends nat'l event, but i know Doc still #1 on the 405 list!
KB racing,Elite,DSR and JFR if any of these teams pack up there wouldnt be anything to televise because these teams are running the NHRA.


That sure is the truth right now isn't it!

The only thing is that the NHRA has been around for 65 years. How long has the 405 list been active?

With the big deal NHRA made about Mike Murillo and others with NHRA stickers on their cars, I am surprised they seem to be courting him now, but money always talks. In this era of instant gratification, you have to jump on what is hot.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I don't know if they are running it but they are keeping it propped up. If any one of the major pro teams pull the plug it will have a major effect on the pro class. JFR, DSR KB and Callita are all at retirement age.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

When big chief starts showing up with a sponsor uniform on and 30 crew guys to help him burnout and stage.. he will loose the appeal people have for him and the "outlaw" that people associate with him..

Racing has gotten to far from what drew people to it.. nowdays nascar and Nhra all money and people have lost there association with a local guy and his buddies that work late every night on there car that they are all in on.

I heard shearer say "my daddy aint got the money for me to go play with them guys" sadly this hits the nail on the head.. Just a bunch of rich guys now days..

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Not sure how you would work SO into a national event. Would the demographic I saw at the two races I went to go to a national event? It was $30 to go to both no prep events, and it was all SO type racing with Farm Truck racing jet cars and some sports cars plus a monster truck race. Would NHRA run a SO race in one day( Saturday?) or drag it out over two days, time runs? Next thing you know it takes these guys three days to do what normally takes one ( sound familiar? ) There is talk of a 150K+ to win big tire race at Houston in the fall.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I wouldn't be surprised if NHRA isn't helping to fund some of these teams with our membership money to keep them going.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

They probably are paying many of the teams with small budgets to show up in the pro categories to try to get full fields.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

As the saying goes "follow the money" -
I hate to say it - but there just are "no boundaries" anymore..... whether it be advertising, marketing, music etc.... Any collaboration or target that has the potential to make money, no matter how ludicrous / underhanded etc... is fair game.
The other old saying "the ends justify the means" also applicable.
I'm not condemning nor condoning NHRA.... just stating the obvious.... it is what it is.... Why wouldn't they want to do the same thing that every large corporation does to grow.
I'm not a fan of reality TV, never have been, never will be. I watched a few minutes of that show... that was about all I could stand... but that's me. It seems like that stuff sells though..... it must appeal to the masses because that's all that's on tv now. Just like the other reality shows that have to bleep out every other word... just not my cup of tea.
I'm glad I grew up in the time that I did. It was much simpler... or so it seems.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

If you watch the show you'd know there is plenty of advertising and sponsoring going on. They are just more discreet about it. You don't see a single guy that isn't wearing a t shirt with some racing product on it. and the big banners hanging in every shop that they show.
When the show stared every one was coming in on open trailers and pickup full of friends in the back. Now nothing but enclosed trailers and the rigs are getting bigger every show. Pretty much like the progression of the legal racers. wont take long and they will disappear like pinks did.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I find myself watching just to see what Farmtruck and AZN are going to come up with.
Kind of like the Red Green show on PBS where he fixed everything with duct tape.

I DVR SO and fast forward through most of it.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I figured this was happening too. The way it is now in the pro classes its not sustainable for long. The cost to compete at that level is way too high. There are lots of potentially good teams that are sitting on the side and not racing because they cant get sponsorship.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Bingo! And I wouldn't count it out that all the drama before was nothing more than a set up leading to what it is now.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Do you know that many of the stars, co- stars and pop up characters are making money. They are paid to race at NHRA tracks. They have received $5000.00 for an appearance. Just like the FC ans PS of the 60's and early 70's. Showing up on Saturday nights and giving the tracks am opportunity to make some $ and build there base. They make $ from endorsements too. And what do we get? Poor service, low payouts and no recognition. Read all the bitch'in posts on this site. Too much bureaucracy makes everything get fat and sluggish. Wally had a great idea but its outdated. I don't think that NHRA and to a point IHRA, will every get out of their own way. At least the 405 guys are having fun and now are making money. Isn't this what we thought it should be?

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

A few years ago NHRA revoked licenses of many of the people who appeared on the show. Big Chief didn't have one. Now NHRA is paying to fly Big Chief to the East coast and give him the VIP treatment. He now has his Pro Mod license and is definitely shopping around for a ride. Yes, they are using one another for promotional purposes.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Next week they are doing a big street racing event in the parking lot of Houston's NFL stadium on Friday and Saturday night. Some of the SO guys are apparently showing up.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Pittsburgh Raceway Park tried that a few times with "Thunder in the Burgh" on the street next to PNC Park. I'm not sure they allowed the SO type cars though. I think they did it for mostly real street driven cars with a few race cars added.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Amen brother. I couldn't agree more.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

What is a "no prep" race. Just what is says?

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Pretty much take your 2500 hp car, put a 6 inch drag radial tire on it ,take 2000 hp out of it to get it leave the starting line, then ramp it back in and don't prep the track and see if you can get to the end without hitting the other guy or the wall lol . Little sarcasm there lol. Definatley makes it entertaining for the fans and they do draw huge fan base . It's Definatley the craze right now that's what everyone is talking about for sure .

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

so i guess grave digger will be next to visit nhra monster truck race's
SO i guess next it'll be a toss up nfl all star game in the parking lot
but we'll have to cover the cost of golf cart insurance.

I always thought that great company's promoted from with in
just my 2cents

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

I have seen monster trucks drag race as part of a "show" just like jet cars. Maybe that was when Feld had IHRA.
IHRA also has some "dancing backhoes" at Rockingham one fall race.

Like other posters have said though, right now, these guys draw a crowd.

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

Just Curious!

How did Englishtown do with the Summer Nationals.
It was on TV and looked fun.
Did they have good attendance..

Saw a good deal of people but some empty seats.


Dan

Re: Big Chief and the NHRA???
 

hmmmmmmmmm sounds like the big chief took a page from the hillary
play book to get a license. I guess he's for gun control also,and have all
pro mod cars limited to 405 cubic inches so he can be competitive (maybe)