So...................

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

The current nhra quota system was put in place to restrict the Sportsman Racers' access to National Events. Mostly because of the new TV schedule, pit spaces, event scheduling etc. Now, it is being described as a wishful number. And rightfully so.

Remember when NHRA used to have a lot of LIVE coverage from the races? Live finals, sometimes live first round, sometimes even live Pro qualifying or Top Alcohol eliminations on Saturday? Then with oildowns and such, they stopped doing it. Since then, with all the reductions in oildowns, 75 minute turnarounds, etc, why wouldn't they bring it back, now that they have a somewhat streamlined Sunday schedule? No more than eight cars in each sportsman class (except an event with inclimate weather) and an a hour and a half max between Pro rounds. Or is it something to do with ESPN(2)? I also remember NHRA expiramenting with an all day Live, pay per view deal...pay x-amount of dollars, and watch every run down the track on Sunday. My guess there is that NHRA wanted too much of a cut from the cable/satellite companies, so that no longer exists. That, and/or their current contract with ESPN. Seems like it could be a good moneymaker for the financially faultering NHRA.

I don't have anything to add to the "is the current state good or bad'. Car counts are up or down, depending on who you talk to, but it depends on which classes are being rotated out of a particular event. Stock one year, with class, might have 85 cars, the next year may be S/S without class and only draw 60. Some races may or may not have Bikes, Pro Mod, Alcohol or S/Street. Kenny and others brought up the point about all the big motorhomes and stacker trailers. But if a racer(s) have had them for several years now, it's not a fair guage. I guess by the end of the year, it will have a more accurate description of whether things are up or down. I remember a few years ago when gas was 3, 4 or more bucks a gallon, and people were prediciting doom and gloom then, but racers it seems will do whatever it takes to go enjoy their hobby, or profession. I guess it seems to be the case this season as well. Time will tell.

Speaking of quotas, I know they raised them this year. But when you have an eliminator advertised as "128 cars max--Class Winners plus Low ET qualifiers", and you only take 85 entries, whassupwitdat?? Shouldn't they take at least as many entries as there are spots in the field? That would be the same as making the quote for Top Fuel 11 or 12. There is usually around a 10% no-show rate for the quotas/entries, so couldn't you just bump them up a bit? If we didn't have the whole 10 acre circus show that is the NHRA Pro Pit area, you could take a hell of a lot more. I understand the concept of having a VIP/hospitality area for your sponsors, but not right in the pit area. Put them somewhere else, and maybe have a smaller area for some of the VIPS to hang out with in the pit. I don't know how all Nat'l event tracks are layed out. At Columbus, I would have put them where the playground area is (if it's still there). Maple Grove in the field closest to the gate you enter to cross behind the starting line. I'm sure Indy has enough room to give them their own area too. The amount of "stuff" in the pit areas is absurd. Throw out the 30 or so souvenir trailers (again, right in the pit area) to an area somewhere else also.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox.