Drag Racing Online- "Dead-On" Vol. II No. 12-2

We have seen an alarming trend start in 2000 at National Event caliber tracks pertaining to their weekly ET bracket races. More and more tracks are scheduling concerts, special non-race events, import drags, street legal drags and cutting their ET Bracket events to a minimum. The tracks see more profit from concerts and such, but what happens to bracket racers? I think NHRA and IHRA could help out here if they required a sanctioned track to hold a certain number of sanctioned bracket races. IF the tracks want to have their National Event(s) they have to hold "X" number of bracket races. This assures NHRA and IHRA members more places to race and keeps the Divisional ET Finals stronger. If we bracket racers are the "grassroots" of the sport why do we seem to always be the racers who get stepped on? If you have an answer for that one, send it to me and I'll make sure your opinions reach the Internet through this column.

What I see in 2001 for bracket racers is the continued growth of Big Bucks bracket races. I think No-Electronics events will grow right along with the Electronics events. The B&M Series has announced they will have Regional Points races similar to IHRA and NHRA, but they will pay a lot more money and the races will all be bracket races with eliminations each day.

Class racing is undergoing a change as well. A group of racers has put together a non-sanctioned Stock/Super Stock event at Byron Dragway in Illinois that will pay at least $5,000 to win. "Thumbs up" to these guys for deciding to fix the problem rather than sitting around whining about payouts at sanctioned races. I hope their race is a success and more races will put them together in their part of the country.

Drag Racing Online has a "project car" in the works and the first article on it will be in this column next month. We want to stay current on what is going on in our sport so we felt a state of the art car was necessary. Watch for dozens of "tech articles" and features during the upcoming year.

I hope you and your family have a safe Holiday Season. I also hope you will take some time during the Christmas season to remember how lucky we are to be able to enjoy our sport in such a great country. The next time you get a time slip that has the margin of victory of less than .000, do you think you could request a "recount!" Only the bozos running for the presidency have that option, I guess.

I am glad to tell you that Jeff said I'd be back in 2001. Hope you will join all of us at Drag Racing Online as we leap into the next racing season.

Be safe and God Bless.

P.S. My Dart is for sale. Email me for specs and price.

Good Luck in 2000
and BE SAFE!!!!!
(We need the readers!)

Fill out your Bracket Report Card!