What can be done?

[MR DERBY CITY]

There is NO saving NHRA... How do you expect any of the Directors to know anything about Drag Racing, they never raced,never towed a race car, probably never opened the hood of an automobile much less a race car... They have absolutely NO clue about this sport, you can see that with every decision they make. The majority of youngsters today could care less about automobiles, they don’t peg the cool meter anymore.The NHRA will attract a few young racers that come from the Jr. Dragster ranks but that is about it. When Schumacher and Force abandon NHRA, it’s done.....

[Billy Nees]

Sad to say M.J., but when you're right, you're right. What's going on right now is just a money grab.

[nhramnl]

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

There is NO saving NHRA... How do you expect any of the Directors to know anything about Drag Racing, they never raced,never towed a race car, probably never opened the hood of an automobile much less a race car... They have absolutely NO clue about this sport, you can see that with every decision they make. The majority of youngsters today could care less about automobiles, they don’t peg the cool meter anymore.The NHRA will attract a few young racers that come from the Jr. Dragster ranks but that is about it. When Schumacher and Force abandon NHRA, it’s done.....

This is so good that there is almost nothing to add. The "sport" has become a business, "run" by uninterested incompetents. And today's kids are Vegans who drive Audis and watch soccer. It's a brave new world.

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by fastlane

. When I started racing in the mid 60s every stock class car ran heads up against the others in there class and the winner of each class then ran in a handicap format for overall stock eliminator. And the stands were full at all the tracks and the people in the stands understood what was going on.

That is true, however, back then, most of the spectators were "car guys", who were normally somewhat into their own cars, even if it just meant putting a set of glass pack mufflers and baby moon hubcaps on their 2 barrel V8 4 door sedan. They dreamed that they could be out there racing in their own Hemi Cuda, SS396 Chevelle or 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. Unfortunately, for the most part, for the past 20 years (or more), the average person in their 20s or 30s, has no interest in high performance cars or drag racing. From what I have observed in recent years, at NHRA National Events, is the typical "fan" couldn`t be bothered to watch any vehicle go down the track that does not burn Nitro. When the Alcohol, Pro Mods, Pro Stock and Comp cars pull into the burnout box, thats these "fans" signal to exit the grandstands en mass, to get John Forces autograph, or watch the between round thrashes that go on with the Nitro cars. Sad, but true.

[killintime6968]

When the muscle car era died, drag racing started its decline. If factory stock wars was more public it may well help create more interest. Walk into just about any car dealership nowadays and all you see is family sedans and suvs . Not many muscle cars.

[fastlane]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

That is true, however, back then, most of the spectators were "car guys", who were normally somewhat into their own cars, even if it just meant putting a set of glass pack mufflers and baby moon hubcaps on their 2 barrel V8 4 door sedan. They dreamed that they could be out there racing in their own Hemi Cuda, SS396 Chevelle or 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. Unfortunately, for the most part, for the past 20 years (or more), the average person in their 20s or 30s, has no interest in high performance cars or drag racing. From what I have observed in recent years, at NHRA National Events, is the typical "fan" couldn`t be bothered to watch any vehicle go down the track that does not burn Nitro. When the Alcohol, Pro Mods, Pro Stock and Comp cars pull into the burnout box, thats these "fans" signal to exit the grandstands en mass, to get John Forces autograph, or watch the between round thrashes that go on with the Nitro cars. Sad, but true.

What you say is 100% correct but the new Factory Showdown class with all 3 manufacturers running heads up is starting to bring people back to the stands to root for there favorite manufacturer If NHRA would wake up to that and find ways to run more heads up classes and let the fans root for there favorite it could get better it will never be like it was but it can improve or stop sliding into oblivion.