Curious what you guys see in the other parts of the country....

Observations from NE:
-Not that many younger folks into Drag Racing or Cars at all
-Bracket Racing is still king
-Gasser classes are shrinking
-Tow vehicles have gone to outrageous prices
-Payouts are still the same as they were years ago
-Prices of parts are getting ridiculous now
-Gasser classes are letting in more electronics now than they ever did
-A lot of the same folks win over and over
-Very little NT events here anyways
-Very little in the way of NP racing, roll racing , etc

I agree on drag racing getting smaller, I saw the same thing on private pilots and flying small aircraft when I quit drag racing NHRA class in 1988 and took up flying.
I do see more younger racers coming in from the junior dragster classes to bracket racing and some in the NHRA classes as well as in some of the NHRA index classes

Not dying out down here at all. No prep and N/T racing is king and happening almost every weekend. Lots of tracks down here compared to other areas though.
Bracket racing is dying out. More and more tracks doing away w/ their bracket programs.
Tow vehicles aren't that bad as long as you don't want to drive something new that comes w/ a mortgage payment. Down here you can still find a 10+ year old truck that hasn't rusted away though.

Drag Racing has been on it's death bed since the 70's... just ask every old timer. Another 50 years and it's going to be gone.

the only thing going around here is "airport drags", and they are only happening three or four times a year, weather dependent.
however, with that said, the outfit that runs the airport drags have presented outstanding donations to the little airport for allowing this to happen. [over 20k EACH year for the last several years, according to the local newspaper ! ]

Locally, I've not seen any drop off in attendance .. place is still packed 3 nights a week . trk mgr had something like 2200 time cards turned in over Labor day weekend

The million had just shy of 500 cars last week

Most of you guys be-itch and moan about drag racing dying but are you doing your part??? I just worked my butt off for three weeks fixing my wrecked car to make a local 2 day make up Halloween race at keystone that with Pa weather was a good chance it wasn’t going to happen. The place was packed for a 70.00 to enter 2000.00 payout race. With the cold it had my knees filling like ground up glass but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Ohhhh and just wait to hear what the turnout was for the Halloween Classic. It hasn’t been released yet but I’m guessing in and around 1200-1500 entries.

Well, lets see.....I have both of my engines in the shop in pieces right now, and purchased a third all while running my engine builder's car which is also now in the shop in pieces....So considering I screwed myself over by selling my 543 and not being at all ready for this past season, I made it out to a lot more events than I thought I would have. And by the time October comes around, I usually need a brake anyways, so I would say, yeah, we supported them....Rented two pit spots all season that only got used at the one track occasionally.

But, I will have two cars ready for next year and a third in the wings for sure....I wish it was more Nostalgia legal, but it is what it is, and those guys are a tad strict anyways....

Seems solid around here. The Grove is holding events almost daily during the year, and the turnout of people under 30yrs old is pretty strong.

I have just done NSS index racing and match racing for several years. I see decent car counts at most races I attend. Spectators are hit and miss for the tracks. Events where no prep and outlaw style cars were also in attendance drew many more spectators than nostalgia stuff only. Tracks like the noprep stuff, much cheaper for them to host. Weather is everything for a good event, with the internet nobody plans to come if even a chance of rain. Lot of my races are 4 to 6 hours from the house, and with the price of fuel, I will not take the chance to drive that far and sit in the rain. Drag racing is not dying but it is getting so expensive that it limits the people who can afford to participate. The new Dodge Challengers, Mustangs and Camero's are getting some new blood to the strip, if they have a class for them it always has several cars in it.

^^This!!^^

My local track runs a weekly bracket program, there is usually several cars there but not many spectators. They also run small tire races, a couple of street car classes, one is a daily driver deal, the other one you better be able to run mid to high 5's to be competitive. They also about run what they call beyond 660, with the starting line out just past the finish line, they race in the shutdown area. it's a flashlight start, no prep run what you brung, heads up racing that absolutely packs the place, same with the small tire no time stuff. Mostly young people will be at these events, the brackets, not so much.

I ran a 16 car street car race weekend before last, the field was supposed to be low mid 6 second cars. I was only one of three n/a cars in the field but made it down to four cars. My Dart and three supercharged late model Mustangs, I had a blast even knowing I brought a knife to a gun fight. There are some younger guys that now have a some respect for old guys in n/a cars. LOL

Finding very little of any of the above to be true..at least here in Michigan.
My local trackUS131 for years paid 1000 to win in the bracket classes, with an occasional 1200 “ special” night.
Now it’s 1500, with the occasional 2000 to win. 50 to enter when it’s 1500, 60 when it’s 2000.
Fri night test and tunes are packed with tuner kids and newer type street cars and trucks. Nice summer nights, lucky to get more than a couple passes it’s so busy. 35 dollars to test and tune. Wednesday night test and tunes tend to be less well attended and primarily more hard core racers( but it’s a weekday night..so…)
Had never heard of roll racing, but the last few years a whole weekend is devoted to a series that comes in that does it now. Not my cup of tea, but is what it is.
Junior dragsters are very popular, run in 3 different classes. Many of the kids have moved into race cars. Been cool to see.
Radial/ no prep/ grudge type events are now commonplace on the schedule, never were at all just a few years ago.
Not much gasser racing around here, so there is that, I guess. Unless they are booked in for a show.

One point I forgot to mention, bracket events are now 2 complete separate races on Saturday and Sunday. This has had the effect of having less weekends tied up in the points chase, as with two races many weekends, less weekends are needed to get this done. Which allows for more dates on the calendar for grudge, booked in shows, motorcycle event , snowmobile event, VW event, Yada, Yada.
Car counts for typical bracket weeks can range from 60 to over 100 in both box and no box, 40-50 in street , and roughly the same in juniors.
In fact, car count is so strong , it’s been taking 2.5-3 hours to get everybody through a time trial, which has resulted in 1 time trial most of the time, vice 2 like it used to be

I watched that shootout on FB three or four times and heard your name quite a few before I put it together that that was you from here…lol. Your Dart moves, I don’t think I’ve seen it in person but will next year.

Dennis

It is dting a slow death. Unfortunately out here where arguably it all began its has 1.5 feet in the grave alrrady

X2!

The remaining drag strip out here in Arizona after March '23 will be Tucson Speedway; it sucks we're losing Wild Horse Pass. Then there's Vegas or what remains in CA within a days driving distance.
There are off-track (old airport runways) No Prop events popping up from time to time here, but I have zero interest in that.

Down South.......stands & lanes are FULL! Their heads-up N/T and Grudge game is definitely keeping the track bills paid and money in racers and spectators pockets......and NOT the type money that jingles - its the type money that folds..and A LOT of it!

Thanks Dennis, I was in the left lane for the semis and made a shock adjustment that I shouldn't' have. It wouldn't have made any difference if I'd hit the shocks dead on as I was late on the tree. It was the first time I'd ever raced on an "instant green", it's different for sure. I need more power or a lighter car, LOL.

I agree with Don. Racing In Michigan is pretty good. Track prep is good. Variety of different types of events. I run Brackets, Great Lakes Stock Super Stock, N/SS. Next year some Open Comp as well. Milan runs run what you brung with many heads up classes and Open Comp 1st Friday every month. Lapeer has has plenty of grudge and no prep. Mid Michigan Motorplex, Milan, and 131 all have brackets that pay close to $1K or more most weeks. Ubly and Northern Mi have weekly bracket programs as well. Ohio has plenty of events as well. But with expensive fuel and events that are pretty good here, the travel has been less than in previous seasons. Hard to travel 5-9hrs for $1500. As far as the same racers winning. Easy answer. Become better then they are. I run foot brake, no rpm chip, 10.5 tire in trans brake classes with air shift. I don't feel overwhelmed against that stuff. As far as rigs. Still using my 95 Cummins purchased years ago for $7500 along with a trailer that came in a trade for sidework. Just have to be resourceful.
Doug

I was at the DuckX race at SGMP on Saturday, and what a show. Pits were packed, stands were full
Lots of vendor support.
The that night, we went to Gainesville. Exactly the opposite. Almost no crowd,
low car count. And the promoter dropped the ball when he called the race on account of heavy dew on the track.
Split the purses,but no rainchecks for the tickets.
If it's a good show, the people and racers will be there.

and money in racers and spectators pockets......and NOT the type money that jingles - its the type money that folds..and A LOT of it!