[rboyle]

My .02 is that the problems NHRA faces are not the classes or cars or participation or payouts, The problem is the competition has done a better job capturing the imagination of the American Hot Rodders. Their main customer. Programs like Street Outlaws and No Prep Kings and races like that have done a better job promoting their type of racing. They made it easier to understand to the generic fan. First to the finish line wins. No head starts, no ET's and RT's posted. It's not about what Detroit is selling or not selling any more. They need to promote what they currently have better, top to bottom.
They can promote the fastest B/SA shootout picture the interest in a Camaro vs Mustang vs Hemi car shootout all chilled down and no AHFS penalty. It's a matter of selling your product that you currently have. The average hot rodder or restorer can picture building and racing their garage build but few can envision buying a new COPO for $125k then cutting it up and modifying it for another $100k or more.
They can sell a grudge match between the 2 best Super Street drivers with the right promotions.
NHRA has a strangle hold on the Stock Super Stock racer because there is limited option for us outside of NHRA style racing but they can sell even a U/SA mathcup if they try