We went to Charlotte for the 4-Wide a few weeks ago. An incredible facility, but the place wasn't half full on Saturday. If you go to this one, bring hearing protection, really. Tinnitus sucks.

All of these are valid points as the NHRA tries to suck every last dollar out of their captive audience at these events. Someone is trying to sell you something every minute of the day, from the hawkers in the pits and overpriced food and junk to the Jumbo screen and the goofballs shooting T-shirts into the stands. Plenty of goofballs in the stands too, who are there for the fuel cars and have no interest or knowledge of anything else going on. Some of the conversations I hear make my head hurt from the stupidity.

But back when the economy was booming, these places were packed and everyone complained about NHRA sucking then too. Car counts are down everywhere along with the spectators. I know lots of people who would be out there, including me, if there was money to do it. NASCAR is down, so are local tracks, concerts, everything. It's not just NHRA.

Aside from everything in the article, a big thing that made me kind of stop taking friends to the big races is the downtime. Years ago, they'd be firing the next pair of whatever pro class was running as soon as the pair in front staged. If someone broke, at most just push the pair that was in the water to the back of the field so they can refuel and cool down. They put so much attention in to the pro-racer prima donna act that it has become boring to watch. It's hard to tell someone that this is exciting when you have to wait 5 minutes between cars going down the track. I'm starting to see the same thing with the outlaw classes too, hope it doesn't end up like that. It doesn't need to take an hour to stage your car, either.

Anything ever come of the legal challenge to NHRA's non profit status?

Hate to be blunt, but the biggest reason that NHRA sucks is that the original founders are all dead, and the money men have taken over. Wally definitely turned the reins over to the wrong bunch of people - Dallas Gardner, for one... Add to that the stranglehold the current money men have made by effectively outlawing any Pro match racing between national events and you can see their greed is insidious. It's time the ENTIRE corporate board be paid $1 dollar a year each for their services, the cockroach CEO types exit, and they return to being a true non-profit and maybe then you'd see some changes. But until the bloodsuckers are gone the current status quo will remain.

You guys think the stands at NHRA and NASCAR races are empty ought to watch an IRL race. They can't give tickets away for free anywhere besides Indy.

National events are about the Pro racers. Sportsmen racers have divisionals. Anything other than Fuel is just space filler at a national event.

I'm only interested in the heads-up racing events for the most part. I'll watch Pro Stock and SS/AH on TV if it's on, or catch it on YouTube. Really don't plan to ever attend an NHRA event, not worth it.

sad sad sad...... I've read all the posts and completely agree

For a number of recent years, the handwriting has been on the wall... drag racing is dying

Besides all of the above, it's a GENERATION THING killing it too. Years ago, americans, the racers/spectators were around for the 60s car culture. That helped feed drag racing through the 70s and 80s. Many have moved on in life or passed away.. the American muscle car culture is long dead


RIP

Your right 52. I know of two SS/AH racers that didn't race last year and are not planning on racing this year because their father's were a part of the team and both passed away last year. Look at the age of the guys racing stock and super stock. Mostly 50's and up.

I think we forget that the whole race is nothing but a show like a circus. "Now in the Main Tent Funny Cars" Yea hopefully something blows up Yea, Like Warren Johnson says this is my job if I don't have a sponser I don't get paid or Race. Just watch after runs they all have to mention thier sponsers, It a big commercial why else would a company spend the money it takes to run a pro team.But that being said even bracket racing is out of hand,You look back to the 60's big name teams towed thier cars on a open trailer, Hell now days the average bracket racer has $ 50,000.00 plus truck, Huge enclosed Trailer, some sort of ATV or Golf Cart, Plus a Race Car with $50,000.00 plus in it.

I dont think the "show" is as bad as most on here, its not perfect, but still entertaining, my favorite classes are Pro Stock, Competion Eliminator, and Stock, Super Stock is ok to. The fans are all albout the nitro, so that where most of the attention lies. Allways been that way, allways will be. If your a casual fan of drag racing, the fuel cars demand most of the attention, if your a gearhead and racer, other classes are of interest. I allways get a kick out of people who say they cant tell a Camaro Pro Stocker from a Mopar Avenger, come on guys back in the 60's the casual fan couldnt tell one make from another either, thats why they allways tried to make the drivers the stars. I havent been to a national event in 3 years, but heck, I'm going to go to anaother one. The only race I dont care much for is the 4 wide, now that one makes a mockery of drag racing IMHO, anyway

I can't even begin to speak for others.. but back in the 60s and 70s, everyone I knew was at the track mainly for Pro/Stock, SuperStock ,Stockers, MP cars, gassers and altereds.. The dragsters were pretty cool if they had crazy combos like 4 engines.
It had barely anything to do with fuel cars.

In the late 70s, early 80s, fuel cars were actually in trouble and NHRA was worried they would loose that class.

I dont know about some on here but I like all of the
racing from the top fuelers to the .90 classes... so
to say you have to be a gear head to like the other
classes is wrong... just because thats what you like

Now days at the big events its the John Force and family
show... he mumbles so fast you cant understand him
anyways... and the rest of the team must have gone
to the John Force speed speaking school also... and
I use to like Force a few year back

I've said it before and I will continue to give my opinion. When I was growing up in the mid / late 80's I could walk to Martin / 131 and see match racing. I had the opportunity to see all the "names" at the time, Glidden, Sheppard, Hawley, Purdhomme, Muldowney, ..etc. The "pros" match raced, if I could ask my dad he would probably tell me that I saw the early / mid 70's Pro Stock / Super Stock racers too. I can't remember back quite that far, born in '71 but I will say that the Saturday nights with the fuel cars was fun in the 80's. That no longer exists so how do you draw a casual fan? You really can't be a casual fan, match racing no longer exists. Bring it back, let the "pros" tour and run. It is really hard to be a fan now. That is my opinion.

they dont care about spectators..
TELEVISION is all they care about...

I think the biggest issue is really no issue, just something to complain, just think if it went away ?
TOTALLY!
Would all be happy then?
you go to ball game spend money like it is water! go out eat food at more than 2x what you can make it at home
it is entertainment!
The economy for some is tough , sponsor have hard time putting money in drag racing when at best people just sit moan and complain about,,
keep moaning and complaining it will get worse i promise!

http://www.dragracingonline.com/burksblast/xv_3-3.html

some more of his Rant..lol