A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

Years from now, drag racing fans may well look back on the month of December 2001 as one of the most significant months ever. Some big deals have been announced -- some expected, others out-of-the-blue. Only the passage of time will reveal how much of a positive impact these developments actually have on the sport of drag racing, if they have any lasting impact at all. But as of the date of this electronic scrawling, things seem to be looking up, and on a variety of fronts.

Let's start with the "BIG ONE". NHRA has indeed signed a series sponsor, so I guess we can all breathe easier. All joking aside, at least now racers can begin to make plans for the coming year, with some assurance of what will be up for grabs, moneywise. And, truth be told, losing Winston might turn out to be for the best, in the long run. While searching for a corporate backer for the non-happening Jeff Leonard Motorsports Top Fuel team this past summer, I kept hearing a recurring theme from a significant percentage of marketing people. They, in so many words, admitted to being uneasy cozying up to a sport whose primary funding came from a tobacco company. It was as if they regarded a sport who benefited from a "vice" to be a vice itself. Something to "grow out of," if you will. Certainly not something to jump into and throw large sums of money at.

Now, with that supposed stigma removed, it will be very interesting to see what sort of sponsors step forward looking to invest in drag racing. It well may prove to make no difference at all. A lot will depend on how NHRA chooses to approach this new era. If they do the easy thing and count the Powerade money and do business as usual, the new deal will be just another deal, nice for the present but irrelevant in changing the face of drag racing. If they can manage to translate their new deal into opportunities for their racers, then the sport has a chance to advance. And by opportunities, I don't mean Retirement Tour Bonanzas for those already at the top. I mean help, in whatever form necessary, to bring corporate interest / investment to the racing teams themselves. Sorry to drag NASCAR into the discussion, but helping racers get backing is a cornerstone of the southern success story, and something NHRA could take a lesson from.

Enough about NHRA! I also like the recently announced IHRA Bracket Bonanza program. I neglected to print out the particulars on this before I started this column, but suffice it to say it is a chance for bracket racers to earn big bucks. And they may or may not have to beat the traveling Bracket Pros to get the payoff. Anytime sportsman racers get a shot at serious dollars, I say it's a good thing. Check out the IHRA web site for more info on this emerging bracket racing opportunity.

What with no racing going on right now, this is a good time to look back on some of 2001šs less appealing moments. No better place to start than the ADRA fiasco, in my opinion. Many within the sport regard nostalgia drag racing as the gnat, on the gnat, on the gnat's ass of Motorsports. Well, maybe it is, but its practitioners deserved better than what they got handed to them in 2001. A lot of folks spent large dollars tooling up for this series that never was, all out of a love for the sport. If I had a wish for 2002, it would be for some viable group to emerge and stage eight or so "real" events for these racers to compete at. Whatever you think of nostalgia drag racing, the folks who do it do so because they love to race, and I for one would like to see them get their shot.

Now on to the NHRA Pro Mod Question. I mean, what is the problem? Invite all comers to all races, charge 'em all entry fees and make 'em part of the circus! The fans want it, the Pro Mod teams want it -- there is probably even a series points fund sponsor ready to sign up. Just because somebody besides NHRA thought the class up is no reason to keep them out. After all, NHRA had no problem accepting Funny Car and Pro Stock after somebody else beat them to the punch. You see a good thing, you adopt it as your own. It's just good business!

I'll close with a lament about the Internet publishing business. When the large editor started this DRO thing, I felt sure it was the coming thing in drag racing coverage. I still feel this way, but I'm unconvinced the sport feels the same way. It's really a funny thing. In a sport that revels in spiraling technology, a change to a new way of publicizing the sport seemingly gets short shrift. The print medium still is preferred as an advertising venue, at least from what I'm hearing from various sources. All well and good, except it flies in the face of everything one hears about the business world outside of drag racing. That world says a business needs a strong presence in both mediums to succeed. Food for thought, at the very least.

Have a Happy Holiday, stay safe, and get ready for the 2002 racing season.

Later!

racer4339@aol.com

photo by Jeff Burk

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