Besides the initial investment problem, other difficulties loom large. The two biggest obstacles are location and television. Both are solvable problems. It's a cinch NHRA would not let any new group with such an ambitious agenda access to existing NHRA sanctioned race tracks. So there will have to be some new tracks built. Fortunately, or not, America is blessed with a seemingly unending supply of people interested in developing whatever ground they can get their developing little hands on. Instead of a new minor league hockey arena, why not a new multipurpose motorsports facility? Including, of course, a drag strip. And right along with that, why spend millions stealing a money-losing sports franchise from some other city? Why not invest in drag racing? Not every city can be the next NASCAR host, but there does appear to be room for expansion in drag racing.

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Besides, you could get by with building as few as four new tracks, and still be able to host an eight race series. NHRA doubles up at some sites -- why couldn't a new guy do the same?

Now let's get to the television thing. It's the easiest part of the equation in my opinion. Here's a question for you. How many channels will your television eventually be able to bring in? And the answer is, NOBODY KNOWS! You see, there are these things called telecommunications satellites, and people keep launching more of them. It's an expensive practice, so the launchers need to sell access to the satellites. Access translates into more programming hours, which (in my mind at least) spells an opening for a new drag racing group to make it's own successful launch. Along with the satellite proliferation is a corresponding increase in programming outlets. Wheels TV, Speed TV, Horsepower TV - none of it existed 15 years ago. Who knows how many channels will need programming in the next several years? Throw in the upward-spiraling technology at the TV set part of the equation, and the access possibilities seem endless. Why shouldn't all that access translate into more drag racing programming?

Starting a new 1320 group would be a monumental undertaking, to be sure. Maybe in the final analysis, it would be just another pursuit of a diminishing return. Kind of like a Cripts-n-Bloods tangle over turf. How many drag racing fans are out there, anyway? I happen to believe there are plenty of fans to go around, and that new ones can be developed. New business relationships too! I'm optimistic that way. Somebody needs to do something to expand the sport beyond it's current "800-pound Gorilla that gets all the money" state of being. NHRA has shown it can "grow" NHRA, but it continues to come up short when it comes to growing the entire sport.

Later.

leonard@dragracingonline.com