Just Wondering … Am I the only one who thinks that prior to the 2018 season the NHRA management had already determined the Pro Stock class wasn’t in the sanctioning body’s future plans? They concluded that flat hoods and fuel injection made no difference to the lack of popularity the class suffered from with the ticket buying fans or corporate sponsors. Before the start of this season NHRA sent an unmistakable message to their Pro Stock race teams and that message was: The Pro Stock class doesn’t attract enough sponsors, fans and entries to pay for its existence and in fact costs us money to keep it as a pro class and that isn’t acceptable for us. Only some major financial support and a guarantee of full 16-car fields from the Pro Stock team owners saved the class this year. Despite their efforts, four full time teams including those of the 2017 World Champ Bo Butner and the de facto 2018 Pro Stock Champ Tanner Gray, along with two or three other teams announced they were retiring from racing in the class.



When only 14 teams were entered at the Charlotte race that may have been the “last straw” for the NHRA. NHRA had floated the idea of allowing “Mountain Motor” Pro Stocks to join the class, even going so far as to have an exhibition of those cars at the U.S. Nationals. At Charlotte NHRA told the Pro Stock community that the Mountain Motor idea was DEAD! That there would be no changes in 2019 but maybe in 2020. The NHRA may as well have announced the end of the class at the same race.
i wonder this also why dont they enter some money races
Just Wondering … Is it a sign of the times? Bracket racing purses far exceed those offered at professional drag races. These days it is normal for 400-600 professional bracket racers to pay between $600-$2,000 in entry fees to race three times or more in a weekend. Total purses of a half-million dollars or more at one of these events isn’t unusual over three days of racing with a single winner getting a $300,000 to $500,000 payday. Aren’t NHRA sportsman racers paying entry fees approaching $300 at NHRA National events that pays (with contingencies) $15-20,000 max to win? I think in the next year or so there will be an organized professional bracket racing series that will rival the NHRA in popularity with racers and FANS! Race fans will buy a ticket to see a drag racer take home a half-million dollar winner’s purse.
http://www.dragracingonline.com/burks-blast-10-25-18.html