THIS JUST IN FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSE
7/7/06
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ometimes it behooves one to take a trip, have a different experience or two, and get away from the usual daily experience. You know, see some new territory, mingle with the natives, etc., etc. I did just that this past Fourth of July weekend, venturing out to nearby (fairly) Kansas Speedway, about forty minutes west of my home base. My wife's cousin had purchased a ticket package -- the only way you can buy tickets at Kansas Speedway -- so he could attend the IRL Indy car event. He had no interest in the NASCAR trucks, Busch race, Nextel Cup or ARCA race, he just wanted to see Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick run. Go figure. The short version: I acquired the extra tickets and made my way westward.
This date on the Kansas Speedway schedule is "renowned" for the heat the paying customers must endure to see the action. It was more of the same this year, as the thermometer hit 97 degrees, with an unreliable breeze and scant cloud cover teaming up to put a whuppin' on the eighty thousand-plus spectators. Yep, with the exception of a day at a long-ago IHRA race in St. Louis, it was as hot as I've been in recent memory. If the ticket hadn't been free, I would have opted out of the whole deal. But the fact that eighty-thousand folks did show up, and did their best to watch NASCAR's third tier series do battle got me to thinking about a number of things. I even did a few informal interviewers of my fellow perspirers-of-the-day, just to gain some perspective on the oval track scene. I even wore my Drag Racing Online shirt as an ice breaker.
Most often, I would ask the unwary what they liked about oval track racing in general. Most cited the sustained action that oval racing produces. You also had the usual percentage of crash fans, and truck owners who were big on the brand identity angle. When asked what, if anything, they specifically disliked about drag racing, they cited the stop and go nature of eliminations, the wide variety of racing equipment and differing methods of determining winners, and as a kicker, a lot of them said there didn't seem to be much to drag racing. As in, it didn't take much to be good at it. Now you and I know this isn't so, but that may well be the perception the general public has of our sport. This is not a comforting thing to be made aware of, but there it is anyway.
The other overriding factor in drawing so many fans to the track, on a day that fairly screamed "Don't go outside!" was simply it was a NASCAR event. As far as the general buying public is concerned, if it ain't NASCAR, it ain't s#*&!! And the bad part is I don't think this problem is fixable. By that I mean to say drag racing couldn't change enough things about itself -- unless they start going in circles and crashing on a semi-regular basis -- to ever become the number one motor sport, at least not in the minds of the general public.
The coup de grace of the whole weekend was the facility itself. Granted, Kansas Speedway is a taxpayer-supported facility, and enjoyed the full support of the Wyandotte, Kansas, government, whereas virtually every drag strip on God's green earth is a private business entity. Whatever the built-in advantages it enjoyed during its creation, it is a nice facility. Without question, it is a much more fan-friendly place than Heartland Park in Topeka, before or after that track's recent renovation. There are more concession stands, more first aid facilities, and everything is where it should be. And if you can't find what you need, there is a sign and a person who can help you out. In short, it's a pleasant place to come to be relieved of your cash.
In my opinion, drag racing would be well served if it would stop worrying about building more luxury suites and start doing whatever it can to improve the overall effectiveness of its physical layouts. Build better restrooms, put up a sign or two so the pilgrims can find their way about, scratch out a shady spot or two for those who need it. If I learned one thing at Kansas Speedway, I learned that a segment of the American population has plenty of disposable income, and they will part with it IF the experience is enjoyable. But they will not make the trip if they have any doubts about what they will be sinking their money into.
And while drag racing is fixing up their facilities, I think they ought to stop trying to fix up the on-track action. Fiascoes like the 85% rule and the nitro rev limiter have not accomplished their objectives, so get rid of them. Build better oil containment systems, do whatever, but put the percentage tune-up back into play and make nitro racing sound like it should again. The people that currently run the sport sometimes act as if the sport is just too loud and rambunctious. That's what people like about it!!
Mostly, I just think drag racing ought to quit worrying about becoming Number One, and try to remain somewhat true to its heritage. No matter what NASCAR has going for it, NHRA has the fastest and quickest race cars on the planet, even if they do "only" travel in a straight line. You would think all the great businessmen at the top of the food chain could make that fact well known among the public at large, wouldn't you. Heck, beating the eight hundred pound gorilla may not be doable. If that proves to be the case, do what you can to improve the buying experience for the fans you do have, powers that be!
One other thing that struck me at Kansas Speedway was the number of people I talked to who described themselves as ex-drag race fans. They had as many reasons as last names, and they themselves couldn't quite identify the exact reason for their discontent. When pressed, several said they "...just couldn't identify with drag racing anymore." One man, who used to crew for South Dakota top fuel driver Bob Struknes, said something to the effect that professional drag racing wasn't something the common man felt was attainable anymore. In his view, if there wasn't at least the illusion that a man could reach the upper levels of the sport, there was little or no reason to follow it. You know, he just may have a good point! Later! 
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