Untitled Document

1999
The beginning of 1999 was actually the beginning of the end for S/E. When the racers approached IHRA about securing sponsors for '99 they were told that IHRA's job was to secure sponsors and the racers didn't need to. Many of the '98 sponsors were never contacted, and no series or other S/E sponsors were ever signed.

An extremely minimal purse schedule was announced for 1999 and many of the racers gave it up at that point. With fields falling, IHRA began to snipe at the class, including the self-fulfilling prophecy that the class was failing. During the summer, rumors were started that the field was being cut, etc. which discouraged several potential new cars. They even chose to make one of their negative announcements at Norwalk where there was 28 cars entered.

At every event S/E was putting some great races on the track, including the first female pro winner in a long time, a 5.95 ET, and many performance breakthroughs. The cars had also attracted several major corporations as sponsors.

Pro Outlaw
For 2000, IHRA changed the field to the expected 8 cars, and the name to Pro Outlaw. The car owners were encouraged to give their cars "cartoon characters" names. They were not included in the TNN pro coverage, and were given an event schedule that required 2 qualifying runs, and the first round of eliminations in a 6 hour period. No class has ever had a schedule like that.

In spite of all of this, the fields were always full and the competition was good, with record performances and several different winners.

After 5 races into this season, IHRA has announced the class is being dropped, because of lack of interest, because the fans cannot tell a P/O from a Quick Rod, etc. [Do Neal Parker and Laurie Cannister running 6.03 at 225 mph look like Quick Rod? How about Snyder and Decker carrying the front wheels to half track?]

Opinion
P/O has fast, loud cars that basically race for free. They give IHRA the cars to put on two 3-hour pro shows which is their goal. It is the only class with true diversity in a time when all types of racing fans complain about "cookie cutter" cars. It is the perfect place to develop new pro racers, already producing T/F racers Litton and Dunn, and AFC racer Terry Munroe. If the fans don't recognize P/O, how did Laurie Cannister become a finalist in the Car Craft awards, over all the NHRA drivers?

If IHRA can't sell four dragster classes, then we should expect the demise of at least one bodied class. Pro Stock maybe? After all, they have Super Stock, Hot Rod, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod. Who can tell the difference?

In a time where most of their champions either quit or go to NHRA, it is hard to understand why IHRA continues to alienate racers. They certainly haven't made many friends in T/F or P/M. You can only replace your old friends with new friends for so long. It didn't work for Ponzi and it won't work for Bill.

Pro Outlaw racers, remember one thing. This was IHRA's failure, not yours!