AFTER THE FALL

OK, OK, technically it's not after the Fall yet, it's still during the fall. But the events of October have definitely made a long season seem even longer. And I suspect many in the sport would just as soon kiss off the rest of Y2K and begin anew.

It's been a maddening year on many fronts, starting with NHRA's 90% limit, oil-down fine, points deducting gambit, continuing on through the never-ending rules machinations over at IHRA, and any number of other issues throughout drag racing. While the powers that be muddy their own waters, the sport seems to be at a standstill. Let's look at a few areas of concern.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER and FUNNY CAR
Recently, word filtered out that NHRA was considering dropping this eliminator from certain national events. Even worse, the divisional track promoters apparently are looking to get out from under the purse money strain the T/AD and TA/FC guys exert. It never fails to amaze me how willing sanctioning groups are to disenfranchise racers who have done nothing but support the deal, race hard and pretty much take what they are given and ask for more!

Don't even hand me the old "racer entries don't merit continued inclusion" trip. The root cause is money. Up the pay and they will show up, in numbers. I'll go even further here. NHRA should view the blown alcohol classes as nothing less than their personal Busch Grand National division. The history is already there, with many stars advancing from the alky ranks into Top Fuel and Funny Car. Gwynn, Scelzi, Troxel, Skuza, Austin -- those names ring a bell, by any chance? No, far from dropping the eliminator, NHRA should repackage the whole deal and turn T/AD and TA/FC into a stand-alone product. Don't fool yourself, it could be done.

BLACK OCTOBER
The recent spate of Top Fuel crashes should wake the sport up to an old problem. It probably won't, unfortunately. Too many old line racers still operate on a next-round-at-any-cost mentality. Maybe that was ok when dragsters ran in the 180-mph range, but it just won't cut it now. What's that old monolog from that old war movie about sending the troops out because "they were expendable"? I would hate to think anyone in the sport views anyone in that light (and they probably don't), but the level of denial currently in play doesn't speak well for those involved. Face the facts and make some changes!

MULTI-CAR TEAMS
Everyone says there is nothing to be done about the two-car team "problem." I say it's really simple. Ban 'em! Here is how it could work. Ya got two cars, ya get to designate which one answers the bell for the first round. Highest qualified, highest in points, whatever. Fill in the missing slots from the also-eligible list, and you have your race day lineup. How do you decide what constitutes a team? Common ownership or common corporate backing -- you got yourself a team! Circumvention? Don't kid yourself. Drag racing is a small town, and the neighbors would rat out the cheaters in a heartbeat! I'm probably missing the big picture here, but I doubt it!

MANY A PRO STOCK, NOW AND THEN A QUALIFIER
That's a paraphrase of an old Gospel theme, and to a racer looking up at the bump spot from 37th spot, the problem must seem Biblical in scope. Using the same argument NHRA uses to consider ousting other groups, the Pro Stock guys should be in line for a pay raise, an additional round of eliminations, at least. If you can't do that for 'em, why not book a non-qualifiers race for a nearby member track in between national events? Anything would be an improvement!

Well, that's about enough ranting for now. But while I'm at it, can anyone explain (to my satisfaction) how the 90% rule has advanced the sport? Or how drag racing is any closer to landing a REAL TV deal? Or where the oil-down dollars are really going? Or how to properly bend a chassis? Or unbend a chassis, as the case may be?

I didn't think so.

Later!!

racer4339@aol.com

photo by Jeff Burk

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