Make Divisionals Great Again

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by Mike Gray

Maybe add one more category of quickest 16 imports. It will bring quite a few of the younger generation into the mix..

That sounds like a great idea. Are they going to be made the show? If
not and they are already popular, why would they put up with NHRA, who they don`t really need.

[Keith 944]

If I remember correctly, NHRA tried to have an import class, I believe it flopped…

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

If I remember correctly, NHRA tried to have an import class, I believe it flopped…

That was the time when I was covering a lot of races. Yes, it was a mess. Off the top of my head, I'd estimate that if 50% of the cars made it to the finish line under power it was something special.

Lots of cars broke on the line or shortly thereafter as the racers and parts suppliers didn't seem to have any idea about an NHRA prepped track. Others would spit parts downtrack and there was a lot of cleanup required.

That's been a long while ago. The import thing was in its early days and it was the wild west for speed parts. From what I can see today, it has matured and along with tuners gaining knowledge the companies who are still around are making good, reliable, effective parts.

Would it be different now? I can't really say. It would be tough for a track owner to lean into this scene not knowing whether it was going to be a hit or else a huge nightmare that affects the entire event.

I think it would have the potential to make a big difference assuming a track owner or promoter has the guts and the pocketbook to give it a try.

[JWhalen58]

You guys are making this way too tough. Norwalk has been drawing crowds for their divisional races for years. I would suggest calling Bill Bader Jr up and asking how he does it.

[Rory McNeil]

I think that the locale and access to a NHRA National Event can also contribute to spectator turnout. Until a few years ago, I lived in Western Canada, and the Divisional races at Mission Raceway usually drew "Full house" spectator numbers. Now, Mission Raceway did advertise the LODRS races on TV, and called it the "BC Nationals", and over the years, had several different special attractions, one year they had a 3 car Pro Stock shoot out, which included Warren Johnson and Ritchie Stevens, other times they had wheelstanders, jet cars, Pro Mods, Nitro Harleys, Nostalgia Funny Cars, etc. For me, the best ones were when they had several years of Hemi Shootouts, which usually had at least 8 cars, and included Bucky Hess and Ray Barton making the long long from the East Coast, as well as the "West Coast Hemi" group, and the "Race for the first 9 second Stocker pass", was a really big deal, for 2 years until Bobby DeArmond did it in 2001, at Mission. There were cars from pretty much every division in attendance . Considering that the closest NHRA National event for people from the Vancouver area, is Seattle, which is 3 1/2 - 4 hours (and a border crossing) away, if they want to see anything other than the weekly bracket racing program, this was as close as they could get. If a track holds a National event, as well as a points meet (or 2), the casual fan that may only go to one race a year, will likely gravitate to the "big show", and skip the LODRS race. I am assuming that that would explain why the Divisional races at Woodburn Oregon also had decent spectator turn outs, since again, Seattle`s National event is 3 hours away. I acknowledge that many of the younger generation are not into cars, and many don`t even bother to get a drivers license when they are old enough to do so (if ever), so I really doubt that those types would show up regardless of any special features.

[Ok stocker]

Originally Posted by tommy d

Where did you get that figure? If the national average is anything like I see at our local tracks I'd say way more are staying.

I don’t know how many are staying in the sport but some go on to College or a career to make enough money to get back in when they can afford it. Not only that how many find jobs in supporting drag racing by working for companies that support the sport. Who knows only time will tell.

[1320racer]

time has already told the truth but I see some here are delusional in that they refuse to accept the facts, others have posted wishful thinking and hope but fyi, hope is not a strategy for success. There are no spectators for what we do therefore if they are the savior and what will make divisionals great again, it's already too late and over! I suggest rather than racers talking nonsense about what racers, mostly old men think will put asses in the stands in 2024 and beyond, you go to a kids little league game, pee wee football game, high school games, scout meeting, the beach/lake and ask those kids and their parents why they are not in the stands at an NHRA Divisional that comes once a year to their area, watching class racers and be prepared to have your feelings hurt when they tell you they have zero interest but hey you all can dream.

[Pistol Pete]

I think some parts of our great country will get more spectators than other parts.
It could be a various of reasons:

1. Day & Month of the year for said Divisional.
2. Other events going on the same date.
3. Maybe some people lost interest in the sport.
4. Some people might find it too boring to watch.
5. People can’t find it easy to understand handicap racing.

I believe on a positive note, if you compare the price of admission for Major League Sports compared to a day at the races, you’ll get more for your money at the Drags.
Baseball & Football games are on a average of only 3 hours long versus Drag racing
is 9:00am to 5-6-7 pm.
Just my opinion.

[Nick_Siebert]

Guys, all of these ideas of packing the stands with spectators at divisional events all across the country are completely futile. Bader's and Bandimere's are the exception, not the standard.

Until NHRA begins looking at the racers, racers family and racers support crew, as the customer at the divisional level, we will continue to have the status quo. The only real talk here would be about event purse and the event experience on a competitor level.

The reality of the matter is, for the most part, NHRA has no problem selling a perfectly acceptable and manageable amount of entries at Divisional events in the current format. Until that changes, don't expect real change.

[1320racer]

dead on with a zero!