MUSINGS FROM THE QUARTER POLE
5/8/06
 |
ach year, the first Saturday in May means it's time for the Kentucky Derby. Long before the advent, or even the idea, of motorized contests, the Derby established itself as the world's premier proving ground of horsepower. One hundred-plus years after the first Run For The Roses, the Kentucky Derby remains the preeminent spectacle of it's kind. This, despite the fact that there are other horse races that pay more money, and the media adopting the annual Breeder's Cup Day at season's end as the "official" championship of thoroughbred racing. The Kentucky Derby trumps all primarily because the American Public holds tradition and history dear, and opens its collective wallet accordingly. That one can bet on the outcome bolsters the interest level, to be sure.
Drag racing, by contrast, has only been around fifty or so years, not long at all, historically speaking. Maybe, when you consider the fifty year thing, drag racing isn't doing so badly after all. In my lifetime, televised drag racing went from one show (the Winternationals), aired a month after it happened, to being able to see the entire NHRA and IHRA national event season, with time delays ranging from a few hours to a few days. And, via other programming outlets, there is even more drag racing available to those who have the time and content provider options to seek it all out. All that is well and good, but drag racing still seeks a larger audience and more impact on the American psyche. It lacks a Kentucky Derby of its own -- sorry, US Nationals fans--and you could probably get a higher name recognition percentage from the man on the street by naming jockeys or horses than you could by naming drag racers. Maybe both issues are problems that can be solved merely by another fifty years of nitro passing under the proverbial bridge. All of us would like our favorite sport to take its "rightful" place in the national sports hierarchy, but we may just have to wait it out, so to speak. In the meantime, wouldn't it be a gas to be able to wager on the outcome. I don't mean just event winners, I mean on every heat, every eliminator, all day long. Now that's something the general public might get behind. Alas, that is just one more thing that will most likely never happen. Sigh!
Girl Power has officially arrived in NHRA professional drag racing. Melanie Troxel seemingly sets a new first-ever whatever each time NHRA opens the gate, and would have an even bigger point lead if not for two inexplicable foul starts. As it is, she leads all other Top Fuel drivers by 139 points with one-fourth of the events completed, and may prove to be tough to catch. If she does prevail, the Daily Drag Racing Form past performance note will read " ... quick pace early, clear at the wire, much the best."
Hillary Will has had a moment or two as well, primarily in qualifying. Which brings to mind the "How Much Does Danica Patrick Weigh" flap from last year's Indy Racing League season. As you may remember, several of her competitors groused that the only reason Danica was so quick was that Danica weighed less than they did. The IRL car spec for overall weight included the driver, and they felt her weight advantage translated into an on-track advantage. Maybe they were just being weenies, maybe they actually had a legitimate point. I'm not sure how this would play out in NHRA nitro racing, but I'm sure someone will raise the "issue" at some point. Maybe I'll send them a DRO
No Whining decal if they do!
In Funny Car, Ron Capps is looking positively Presidential! He has a smaller points lead to what Melanie Troxel does in Top Fuel, but looks very accustomed to being the top dog. It's way too early to draw any final conclusions, but Mr. Capps may be on the verge of a long run at the front of the Funny Car class.
Pro Stock looks to be more of the same, as Greg Anderson and Jason Line hold the lead over Erica Enders. She is only 95 points out of first, but making up any appreciable ground on the Greg and Jason duo may be difficult. Enders has done much to further the "cause" of women in motor sports, but she may have done even more to establish credibility to the junior dragster program, as a viable platform for young people to advance their drag racing careers. I for one wouldn't mind a bit seeing her win a race or two in 2006.
Things look to be going well over on the IHRA front too. Clay Millican is no longer a lead pipe cinch to win every race in Top Fuel and that makes it a better show for the paying customer. That the IHRA fans get to see nitro funny cars in 2006 makes it all that much better. True, John Force hasn't made an appearance, but did you really think he would? His fortunes, and most of the other leading lights in funny car are firmly hitched to the NHRA tour, and they won't be diluting their efforts on that front to race at IHRA venues. But for my money, that's just fine. Instead of the same old, same old, you get Jack Wyatt versus Vinnie Arcadi in a funny car final round. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life! I remember well the words of my mentor, the late Steve Collison, as he explained why he didn't like to cover NHRA pro racing -- "...It's the same guys, race after race!" It was true then, it remains so today. Kudos to IHRA for providing a place for some for the sport's independent nitro funny car racers to showcase their ability.
By the time this hits the Internet, the first ever Nostalgia Pro Comp Association event should be in the history books. It will be interesting to see if this group can undo the damage done to the nostalgia drag racing movement by the ADRA a few years ago. I shouldn't indict the whole group, as it was primarily the actions of one man that sank the boat. I still have my demo copy of the tape produced by the legendary Dean Pappadeas of the Fallon, Nevada ADRA event. Once you get to the sound and look of the nostalgia nitro dragsters, funny cars and altereds, it's a great tape. Whenever I get to thinking about chucking my involvement in drag racing into the trash can, I play that tape, and I feel a whole lot better!! As to the NPCA, they have a dedicated group of racers (not promoters) at the helm, and seem to have the true best interests of nostalgia drag racing at heart. Circuits and movements come and go, but here's hoping the Nostalgia Pro Comp Association can stick around a good long while!
Has anyone tried to watch the drag racing reality show? I can't remember what the title of the show is. That's how bad it is! Maybe it's because it happened last year. Or maybe the people of drag racing translate to television just as poorly as the sport itself does. Drag racing is a ton better in person than viewed through the filter of the boob tube, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that behind-the-scenes stuff is just as uninspiring. I hope everybody involved got paid, because I doubt if the programmers will make the same mistake twice. Bore me once shame on you. Bore me twice, shame on me!
In closing, let me make a plea to all nostalgia funny car teams, nitro and alcohol, for some information. I would like to compile a COMPLETE list of who has cars capable of making a lap. I need names, photos, car info, team member info, where you are headquartered, etc., etc., etc. I want to do what I can to re-popularize funny car match racing, but I need the raw information. There is little cohesion in how the public is being made aware of this form of racing. I plan on changing that, if I can. Help me out, guys and gals! 
|
|
