[Freddie]

Tim: racing is a numbers game, plain and simple. The track owners need car cound or spectators to pay so the event works, or even to keep the gates open, the racer needs a decent chance at a payout before most decide to go to a race, and the spectator needs a show.

I have been racing for many years now, and have even helped organize a few events myself. The spectators have become so used to assosiating drag racing with 300+ mph guided missles, that they really dont care to see anything else. More education is needed to show the spectators what real drag racing is all about, but niether sanctioning body is willing to pony up the funds needed to re-educate the fans. It is cheaper for them to just put on a bigger guided missle show.

Pinks all out, seems to be a craze that is educating some of the viewing spectators on how hard it is to not only have a competitive field of cars, but to win even at a 11 second level. Rich and his crew do a great job with advertising, and providing a show for thier fans.

NHRA from what I have seen could care less about the sportsman racers until enough sportsman racers decide enough is enough and stop going to the "National Events" or guided missle shows. Bottom line is without the support of the sportsman racer ,NHRA could not put on the big show, yet we still year after year allow them to treat us like dirt. I dont care what class you race, anymore the costs have way outgrown the purses.

I have heard some drivers say I dont race for the $$$ i do it because I enjoy it. Well I enjoy alot of other things too but you dont see anyone throwing $200K to go golfing a year, or dont see anyone throwing that kind of $$$ to go bowling. My point is this "Sport" cost big money to do, and we all do it in hopes that one day we will win one of these events we all go to. My question is when are the sportsman racers going to have enough balls to let NHRA/IHRA know how they feel? With all the fuel teams loosing sponsors, and this looking like a year where many "PRO" fields will not be full might be a chance for the sportsman racer to stand up and shout... "WHATS IN IT FOR US?....