NHRA letter on AHFS....

[Ed Fernandez]

Nice letter with good points made.Please don't take my points as criticism.I don't think the upper echelon of NHRA is going to change the way things are running as far as the structure of S/SS.The present fan structure at national events are focused on the fuel cars.
Notice the stands empty out as soon as T/F and F/C finish.
Also the structure of the currant AHFS seems to be to their liking.Only recently have some of the new cars started to show the potential they're capable of.
As far as class payouts I think the sponsors are really showing the effects of the economy,the roadblocks put up in front of them by NHRA in the way of fees and over the years the growth in numbers of races they have to be committed to in maying postings available.Remember in the 60s and 70s how many major races did they post contingency for.There were also way less companies out there making race parts,so they got a larger market share.
Lastly you have a different cross section of racers now in S/SS.Now you have diehard
go fast guys,bracket racers,casual (as in attending 2-3 races a year),etc.
I'd love to have things revert back to a simpler racing structure,but I think it's just a natural
progression of progress that we're seeing in all forms of racing.
Remember when NASCAR was all a bunch of good ol' tobacco chewers,with some moonshiners mixed in for good measure?
The preceeding was written with apologies to all that think I'm just whiney old ba$tard.