What should the role of a sanctioning body be?

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

Greg,
Of course there is money changing hands and it is obvious from who. Mopar and Ford are heavy sponsors in the Pro ranks. They both sponsor National Events and have a ton of give away crap at each race. I have NO PROBLEM with the new cars. I do agree that they should be in a class that is even matched just like the FI cars were. When Wally retired then later passed, sportsman racing changed for ever. NHRA is no longer worried about us. They only tolerate us because of the money we do bring in as racers and crew. You never hear an announcer mention sportsman on TV unless it is TAD or TAFC. The coverage on pro stock is even beginning to dwindle to give Force and others interview time. NHRA will say it is what the fans want to see but how can you want to see something that you are never shown. At national events as soon as the pro's run, Frey and others imediately tell fans to make it out to the Pro pits to get autographs and to check out the midway for food and souvenirs. Very rarely do you here them say "Fans stick around to watch the amazing wheel standing Stockers and Super Stockers coming to the line". So of course when Mopar and Ford want to sell more cars they invent a car that is no way ever going to be street legal, go to NHRA and say hey, we give you all this money let us run these cars in Stock so we can sell more cars the the public. WE know they can't afford the same cars that are on the track but the public thinks these cars are stock "wink wink" and it will cause them to buy our production cars. Who cares if others get hurt we just need to sell more stuff.

You mentioned "a lot of giveaway stuff" Please tell me where it is at so I can go get some.
What makes you think "they" can't afford to buy/build a new car?
As far a the money to build a new car compared to an older car goes. The days of "junkyard" parts are gone. Everything on a 69 Camaro or other muscle car is expensive. 8 years ago I was discussing wheel bearings with a guy that has a Camaro he spent almost $2000 for them.
Class racing is no longer a cheap way to race.