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.

[4543]

No front end limiters, no wheelie bars, some kind of clutch limitations. Make the cars exciting to watch.

[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.

[SSGN]

Some great opinions here and to a point it is sad what is happening but change is the only thing constant today. I think class racing and the professional classes are changing and not for the best. However I don't see drag racing as a hole dying.

When I search factory stock on my apple box in youtube it will display other forms also . Look at ,Drag week, Outlaw street cars, x 275, L/S Fest and many more. The stands are packed and venues are full. I am not a fan of some but the fact is these are younger people and they are racing.

I think a lot of people don't have or want a motorhome and the thought of being stacked in a field for a day has no interest for them. Go to L/S fest and you will see more open trailers then all NHRA races combined. Just an observation.

[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.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by skills

With the Pro Stock is going, is there a way to fix it. Is there a way to pump some life into the class, with some innovation for fans and interest for drivers?

Not unless someone in NHRA with brains comes up with ideas and NHRA makes it happen !

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by SSGN

When I search factory stock on my apple box in youtube it will display other forms also . Look at ,Drag week, Outlaw street cars, x 275, L/S Fest and many more. The stands are packed and venues are full. I am not a fan of some but the fact is these are younger people and they are racing.

I think a lot of people don't have or want a motorhome and the thought of being stacked in a field for a day has no interest for them. Go to L/S fest and you will see more open trailers then all NHRA races combined. Just an observation.

Not a solution, but I wanted to interject here.
I blame NHRA for letting the above folks get away.
Look what they allowed to happen to Stock, Super Stock and Super Street.
Very few young family guys can afford to jump into what was the original form of drag racing, ...long before all the other spin-offs, including but not limited to bracket racing, Super this and that shows, even before test and tune nights.
I'm not sure if it was the result of a short sighted plan, or no plan at all.

Back to P/Stock, I mean Pro / Stock..

[Jeff Teuton]

Makes you wonder. There was an offer by a sponsor to fund a series of unblown new cars, prize money, yearly deal, and NHRA turned him down because he didn't want the blown cars also. I think that was a mistake as those cars are about one third the cost of running the blown cars. I think it would have made another heads up series worth the trouble. Did anyone else hear of this. It was Nick at American Racing Headers in New York who made the offer.