Maybe I Was Wrong

[John DiBartolomeo]

All of which begs to ask the question, of which I’m not afraid to admit, “Was I wrong?” How important is it that you race on Sunday along with the rest of the “big show?”

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/maybe-i-was-wrong/

[Dragsinger]

A happening at the local hardware store gave me a smile and reinforced the fan base we sometimes perceive.

This hardware store is located in Kilgore Tx, home of two time top fuel champ, Steve Torrence.

At the checkout counter, I was paying for a package of cables tie when the mid-20s man ask what I was working on.

"I build drag race cars, this is for the wiring."

He replied, "O yea, some other guy from Kilgore races, I think I remember that he won some race lately."

[Andys dad]

Sunday is nice but I enjoy Friday + Saturday (and Thursday too sometimes).

I am not in it for "the 6 seconds of fame".



Ron

[Mike Pearson]

I think it is important to the few that have some level of sponsorship. Someone like Dan Fletcher has a better chance of getting of retaining his sponsors if he can show a larger audience when he makes his runs. Personally I do it for my own enjoyment.

[MikeMoller]

My issue is running a round or two sat morning then running a bunch of rounds later in the day or at the end of the day. I don't care about running a bunch of rounds on Sunday, but it's really hard to be at the track from 7am to 8, 9, or later on Saturday night.. Note I do not have a motorhome, so long days are tough on an old guy LOL!

[GEORGE PETERSON]

It's the camel's nose under the tent.

[Bobby Fazio]

Admittedly, I live for national events and sharing the big stage with the pros. Love the crowd and talking to spectators that ask about the cars and I hand out flyers explaining our classes. Racing Johnny D 4th round at Maple Grove Nats in front of that big crowd was sweet.

I vote for 2 Q sessions on Friday, 3 rounds Saturday, 3 rounds Sunday. If we run class then Q1 and class on Friday or utilize Thursday for Q and and run class on Friday old school heads-up racing in front of people. Have to race in front of people if we want manufacturers to pump any money and life back into it. Some don't need or care about that and that is understandable. And lastly yes I dream of winning a national on Sunday in front of the crowd. If pros and sportsman split off I will probably go bracket race or sell. Just my take.

[Kevin Panzino]

Couldn't agree more Bobby.


John D you are of course entitled to your opinion and to lobby nhra for your desires, including in your articles. So long as you (and NHRA) understand you don't represent anyone other than yourself.

I found your suggestions in print where, perhaps some non-sportsman connected nhra employee/marketing types likely to read it, very concerning.
I can just hear the 23 year-old, fresh out of college, marketing major new hire in nhra saying " see, even the sportsman racers themselves don't want to be there on Sunday"

If a racer is so concerned about the financial aspect, getting home sooner, or minimizing the dead time at the race, there's a class for that. bracket racing.

A lot of us are in this class specifically because we enjoy the technical aspect of class racing and we enjoy being part of the big Nhra show.

While I was at first glad to see you wrote a second article admitting you might have judged us wrong (i believe for the majority of us, you did) alas, less than halfway through the piece you couldn't help yourself but to go right back to your original plot.

Again, you are of course entitled to your opinion, and can write whatever you like in your magazine. But if in doing so you attempt to lobby nhra for something I, a fellow nhra member disagree with, ill be calling nhra on Monday to let them know you don't speak for me.

I encourage everyone else who is in the same boat, to do likewise.

[John DiBartolomeo]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

Again, you are of course entitled to your opinion, and can write whatever you like in your magazine. But if in doing so you attempt to lobby nhra for something I, a fellow nhra member disagree with, ill be calling nhra on Monday to let them know you don't speak for me.

I encourage everyone else who is in the same boat, to do likewise.

Appreciate your comments, but by all means, PLEASE... I encourage you to call NHRA as you mention and make your feelings known, as I encourage anyone else to do the same. If they don't hear from their constituents, they're going to go right on doing what they please. If you go into a restaurant and get lousy service or the food stinks, chances are you're not going to go back or at least going to speak to the manager. NHRA Drag Racing is the same thing.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Admittedly, I live for national events and sharing the big stage with the pros. Love the crowd and talking to spectators that ask about the cars and I hand out flyers explaining our classes. Racing Johnny D 4th round at Maple Grove Nats in front of that big crowd was sweet.

I vote for 2 Q sessions on Friday, 3 rounds Saturday, 3 rounds Sunday. If we run class then Q1 and class on Friday or utilize Thursday for Q and and run class on Friday old school heads-up racing in front of people. Have to race in front of people if we want manufacturers to pump any money and life back into it. Some don't need or care about that and that is understandable. And lastly yes I dream of winning a national on Sunday in front of the crowd. If pros and sportsman split off I will probably go bracket race or sell. Just my take.

Bobby, when I was a younger man I also enjoyed Natl. Events. They just don't "do it" for me anymore. Now maybe I just got older and maybe I just got smarter but the time and monies spent and aggravation endured don't make it worth-my-while.
One of the facts about modern-day Natl. Events is that the purse structure hasn't changed in over 20 years while the contingency program has been left to dwindle to nothing. In the 1990s, I could take home 12-15K for winning Stock at a Natls.. Today, in the same car, I couldn't make 5K and my expenses have tripled or quadrupled. For me, it's just not good business and I don't need the ego massage of being "bathed" in the light of John Force. I can go to the Div. Races and hang out with my buds, maybe make a couple of bucks and get my "fix" and I'm good.
There is a column written by a guy named Jok Nickelson on another site (DRO) that I feel might be worth the read. It is his last column as I believe that the site is closing down. It is mainly involving Bracket Racing but the lesson is the same.