I believe the work being done by the on air talent in the announce booth, the pits reporters, producer and director, camera angles and speeds and production values of the NHRA/FOX shows that have aired in the last six months of this season are on a par with the old Diamond P Production broadcasts -- especially if the main broadcast of the race is a tape delay like the Monday race from Bruton Smith’s Taj Mahal of dragstrips in Charlotte. I can honestly say that race broadcast was the best I’ve seen in years. I didn’t get up from the Burk-a-lounger for the whole show.

The FS1 airing of the Charlotte race and my enjoyment of it reminded me of an encounter I had with the late, great Steve Evans some 20 years ago. I was still on tour in those days going to 15-20 NHRA and IHRA national events a year. I was (and remain) really interested in the business side of the sport on top of my well-known nitro racing addiction.

I was having bar food and a cocktail at a joint close to the track after a long day at the races and happened to sit down next to Steve Evans, who along with Dave McClelland then were the voices and faces of NHRA TV.

At that time I had written a couple of columns advocating that Diamond P and NHRA start broadcasting races live instead of the tape delay that was standard. I was of the opinion that a “live” broadcast on raceday would showcase the drama and excitement of the race and possibly attract more fans and sponsors.

That night we drank a few Grand Marniers on ice and Evans proceeded to explain to me why live broadcasts of NHRA national events would be terrible TV and bad for the NHRA. He said there was no way to really build up the drama of a final round in the nitro classes on live TV if the audience had to wait an hour and a half (in those days) between races. He had other issues regarding the inherent problems that come with live TV. He really believed that an edited tape delay broadcast delivered more benefits for the fans and race teams and the NHRA than whatever live TV might offer. I think Mr. Evans had it right then and he is still right now. – Jeff Burk  [10/17/19]

Erica Enders just missed out on a second straight win, but she did leave Charlotte with something pretty valuable: the Pro Stock points lead. It’s an exciting time for the Texas native heading into the home track race for the Elite Motorsports team.

She has qualified in the top spot at all three Countdown to the Championship races, making the quickest run in three of the four qualifying sessions at each of the past two stops, putting the team on a good path heading to Dallas.

“My goal going into Charlotte was to leave with the points lead and the second part of that goal is to never give it back,” Enders said. “We’ll do our best to keep it. We’ll go to Dallas and it’s a track that’s been good to us in the past. Our goal is to leave with another cowboy hat and belt buckle.”  (Chris Haverly photo)  [10/17/19]