Why cant Sportsman Racing be like this on TV these days???

[Greg Hill]

There has been in the last 25 or so years a complete lack of promotion for sportsman racing, unless you include alcohol cars as sportsmen. i don't know if that has been on purpose or just a lack of knowledge by the management at NHRA. Even the times occasionally that there is a sportsman TV program it focuses almost exclusively on alcohol cars. I can remember back to the late 60's and early 70's going to Indy to watch and there were huge crowds the days of class with people hanging off the fence.

When there are only 8 or 16 stock and super stock cars left on Sunday at a National event and they run before most of the fans are even there, how are people even going to find out about us? The lack of effort from NHRA to promote sportsman racing is just another way in which they have strayed from what their mission should be and that should be to make drag racing better for all the competitors and the fans. All they [NHRA] know any more is top fuel and funny car. It's no wonder that's what a lot of the fans know and like because that's all that ever gets promoted. When I first started racing in the late 60's I knew who Don Prudome was and Don Gartlis, but I also knew who Ronnie Sox was and Bob Glidden, and Bill Jenkins, and Jimmy Waibel and George Cureton and a lot more. These guys were in the pages of Hot Rod and Car craft and Popular Hot Rodding on a monthly basis.

I don't know if stock and super stock could ever be as popular as they once were but I do know no one is trying to make them popular with the fans and no one is promoting them.

[Curmudgeon]

Seems to me,the only realistic way for Stock/Super Stock to get their deserved air time is to go proactive . Relying on the media or the I or N crowd to promote class racers seems futile at best . Perhaps the way to go would be havtng an independent producer film, edit and package for sale to Speed , FSCR or ESPN coverage of one or more of the Stock/Super Stock association combo events . If the concept of class racing were for once properly explained and presented I for one believe the viewers interest could be picqued . The limited coverage given now does nothing but confuse the average viewer . There is no explanation ever given as to HP/weight or CID/weight . All they see is one car getting a head start , but why ? And why did the first car across the line lose ? (breakout) Class racing is GREAT competition and would be interesting to viewers if competently presented . As for independently selling a package I cite by example last week's coverage of the Chili Bowl midget race , Pass Time or Pinks . Guys , you deserve the coverage , but mainstream is commited to celebrities and circuses , the only hope is to find an outsider willing to take a chance showcasing the best of drag racing .

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Seems to me,the only realistic way for Stock/Super Stock to get their deserved air time is to go proactive . Relying on the media or the I or N crowd to promote class racers seems futile at best . Perhaps the way to go would be havtng an independent producer film, edit and package for sale to Speed , FSCR or ESPN coverage of one or more of the Stock/Super Stock association combo events . If the concept of class racing were for once properly explained and presented I for one believe the viewers interest could be picqued . The limited coverage given now does nothing but confuse the average viewer . There is no explanation ever given as to HP/weight or CID/weight . All they see is one car getting a head start , but why ? And why did the first car across the line lose ? (breakout) Class racing is GREAT competition and would be interesting to viewers if competently presented . As for independently selling a package I cite by example last week's coverage of the Chili Bowl midget race , Pass Time or Pinks . Guys , you deserve the coverage , but mainstream is commited to celebrities and circuses , the only hope is to find an outsider willing to take a chance showcasing the best of drag racing .

I know this post will go over like a fart in church but here goes. The AVERAGE person who watch TV sports will never understand handicap racing. They are NOT car people to begin with. It just the nature of the beast. I have tried over the years to explain stock and super stock racing to my neighbors, friends, co workers, etc. to no avail. If your not into sportsman class racing to begin with its almost impossable to get someone who isnt already into it to understand or be interested. Yes a few might understand and even become a fan or want to compete but the numbers are very very very small. The class legal racers in stock and S/S racing are a very very small part of the population. Sure we get it but its something we have been involved with for a very long time or most of our lives. We as a group would love TV exposure but WE (class racers) are not represenative of the masses. Without heads up racing of some kind such as Pro Stock, Class runs, or even a Top Stock/Top S/S program the majority will never get it or look a second time. The class racers here could NEVER afford a heads up program if that is all there was. Compared to what you spend the NASCAR races and heads up programs such as Top Fuel, Pro Stock etc. spend and others are enough to keep you guys racing for a life time The average person would rather watch NASCAR (all they know is a car number) even though they know NOTHING about cars or racing because there is ONE winner. ONE Champion at the end of the year. Its a no brainer with them. Its an up hill battle because its to difficult for the masses to understand. We are a drop in the bucket compared to other venues and the number of people who turn on the TV to be entertained. Face facts and just enjoy what you do until its gone. Its might be possable for something like is on TV now on the speed channels but who would do it? I wish I was wrong but Im afraid it is what it is.

[Dave1695]

What a noval idea, race cars that we can recognize, an explaination of what is happening, driving out the back door, a recap of the winning run and no oil downs. let's bring back the good old days.

[Curmudgeon]

X-Techman , I share your cyniscism as have had the same problems with friends,neighbors etc. over many years . My idea was not to try and compete with NFL , NASCAR or basketball but simply an idea to get SOME airtime . I have noticed Speed etc do air independently produced programs covering lesser known oval track series over the years . My suggestion is that maybe one or more of the S/SS assoc's offer their combo events to TV . Interest (albeit limited) could be generated if presented correctly . The public would gain some understanding if told that's a 200hp station wagon racing a 400hp camaro , put it in terms anyone can understand . The public might like the wheelstands and handicap racing is somewhat like a car chase .

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

X-Techman , I share your cyniscism as have had the same problems with friends,neighbors etc. over many years . My idea was not to try and compete with NFL , NASCAR or basketball but simply an idea to get SOME airtime . I have noticed Speed etc do air independently produced programs covering lesser known oval track series over the years . My suggestion is that maybe one or more of the S/SS assoc's offer their combo events to TV . Interest (albeit limited) could be generated if presented correctly . The public would gain some understanding if told that's a 200hp station wagon racing a 400hp camaro , put it in terms anyone can understand . The public might like the wheelstands and handicap racing is somewhat like a car chase .

I agree.....It would be nice if someone could pull it off. I know I would watch the show.

[dynomo]

It is sad that sportsman racing never got any kind of shot at TV. A whole generation of possible future drag racers thinks of drag racing as what they see on PINKS..but.then again.they don't seem to have any problem getting TV time or entrants and spectators.I to would like say what a great job the late Steve Evans did with sportsman coverage.Bret Kepner was one guy that could have done the sportsman racer well... sad that no one capitlized on his talent The real sad part is that the whole racing community missed the boat on what could have been for all involved sponsors racers and track owners

[Curmudgeon]

A reasonably smart marketing man could still sell S/SS racing as a viable niche program . S/SS should be marketed for what they are , modified production vehicles which LOOK LIKE the car in the average garage . That should be THE selling point . Everyone owns or has owned a Nova or station wagon or pony car . How many people have something in their garage that looks like a NASCAR C.O.T. or Force's Fuel Coupe ? We as devotees of class racing are missing a tremendous marketing tool . Never would class racing replace the Pro dog and pony show , but could be marketed as a 60 or 90 minute program . As far as IHRA or NHRA doing it , don't be naive , they already have a vested interest in what they are presenting now . The only hope is for someone to see a concept and fly with it .

[FED 387]

ya need somebody with marketing MOXIE like Forrest Lucas and a few bucks too--probably lotsa bucks and get maybe Jegs/Summit/Ford/Mopar/ Automotive oriented products that viewers are gonna pay attention to & approach a netwoork like Speed or some other channel and try to get them to do a maybe a coupla shows featuring sportsman cars no .90 cars and yes some alcohol cars to show the EXTREME version of Sportsman racing before they maybe make the big step up to the PROFESSIONAL level too a really good cross section---Hell if he (lucas) or the other companies wants to buy advertising ya dont think the TV guys are gonna say no do ya??? It just might work--but ya cannot bombard the show with commercials maybe put the logos in the lower corner or bottom of the screen displayed the whole 10 min segment before ya break for a commercial....have a voice describing what is going on while the racing is being shown----always have action happening(cars racing)and dialog too

[Ed Wright]

The alky cars get some time now. I think just Comp, SS and Stock would make a good show if done right.