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

[Bret Kepner]

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

How come these fans don't know Ben Wenzel who won Indy in 1967 and is still racing the same car? How come they don't know Charlie Westcott who has taken the old super stock hemi cars to a whole new level or David Rampy who has more wins in competition eliminator than any one? How come they don't know Dan Fletcher, or Peter Biondo, or Edmund Richardson three of the best sportsman racers ever?

Greg, I swear this isn't a slam but every example you cited HAS been included in NHRA's TV coverage of both Full Throttle and LODRS events. I name both series because all the aforementioned racers have been included in both telecasts and that information was inserted courtesy of Lewis Bloom or Todd Veney.

Actually, my first instinct was to answer your questions with the question of, "How come you don't know who won the 1982 NASCAR Modified Championship?". It's no different with drag racing. Only the hardcore fans care and only the hardest-core fans retain the information.

By the way, you've already given me all the credit I deserve by not bashing me to a pulp.

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

When's the last time you saw a stock or super stock car in one of the magazines. Car Craft used to have an All Star team of sportsman drivers and tuners. They should be sending out press releases to the hometown papers, tv stations and radio stations of winners of all their races including points races.

WHAT magazines? Jim Adolph finally gave up on the Car Craft All Stars program in 2002 when nobody would sponsor it.

However, I'll take exception to your claim of a lack of press releases. The NHRA does an absolutely amazing job of sending a complete and massively detailed press release from each day of each LODRS event from each division. These releases go to thousands of print, radio and television outlets. The biggest question is why aren't those outlets using those releases? The answer would be the same I offered in an earlier reply: "Drag racing just isn't that big of a deal".

I will admit I was dismayed when the first 2011 LODRS release came today, (from Bradenton), and the opening line stated, "A local to the track, Ed Richardson, Bradenton, Fla., took the win in Super Comp...". The reason this was mentioned first is because the releases are geared to the local news outlets to feature area talent victories. However, the new writer could, (at the very least), have mentioned a few of Ed's other "small victories"!