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NATIONAL EVENTS ARE FOR
PROS
Jeff, I agree with you 100%. The NHRA national
events are for the professional racers, period.
The professional classes are set-up for the
enjoyment of the spectator; the sportsman
classes are set-up for the enjoyment of the
participant. I also agree with you in that
the sportsman classes are not necessary at
an NHRA national event, and I believe in our
lifetime we will see professional classes
only at the NHRA national stops. I didn't
say I agree with this scenario, I just think
TV dollars will dictate this. I also believe
the average spectator sees Pro Stock and Pro
Stock Bike as pseudo sportsman classes. The
majority of fans at national events head to
the pits after the nitro classes run to see
the fuel cars being maintained between rounds
.
Again, I don't agree with this scenario,
but it is a cold, hard fact that the nitro
classes are 100 to 1 the most popular at an
NHRA national event.
Tony Baker
VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER
Good to see an article explaining the facts
of commercial life to weekend racers. Many
people do not realise where they fit in to
the scheme of things!
Terry from Australia
THANKS. (WE THINK)
YES YES YES--you are right (for once) While
sportsman racing is the backbone of the sport,
it is not the heart and soul.
Bud Grogg
IMAGINE THERE ARE NO SPORTSMAN
Let's say for the moment that there were
no sportsman racers at the next NHRA National
event, or for that matter the next four races.
I guarantee you the front gate numbers would
fall. I guarantee you the concession stand
numbers would fall and, better yet, I guarantee
you the sales at the manufacturers row would
take a major hit. Now, let's add all that
up
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and
tell me that NHRA would not have to increase
the fee at the front gate or reduce the "Pro"
pay out. After the forth race most, if not
all, of the manufacturers would be burning
up the phone lines to NHRA complaining about
the lack of business.
I've heard this same argument for the past
46 years, that the Sportsman racers are a
pain in the butt and that they only lose money
having them there. How come we're still there?
One more thing, drop all the Sportsman racers
from the National events and I guarantee you
the Divisional (Grade Point Qualifying) races
would be a wasteland of empty spaces. We run
those races for the grade points ONLY, 'cause
it sure ain't for the purse!
This may surprise the hell out of you, but
not everyone spends that kind of money just
to see two beer cars run each other in the
final! Don't take this personal, but dropping
the sportsman racers is a really BAD idea!
There are a lot of other places I can spend
my hard earned $15,000 each year and not be
treated like a redheaded stepchild.
Bob Mendenhall
Lakeside, Ca
WELCOME, SUZY
A great addition to the site.
Al Booton
THIS IS HOW THOSE UGLY RUMORS
GET STARTED, BUT AT LEAST HE SIGNED HIS NAME
Why is it that Tommy Johnson always loses
to Ron Capps? Funny how Tommy ran all 4.80's
without tire smoke until he meet up with Capps
and went right into tire smoke.
I wonder if there are any team orders?
Bob Baldwin
Norwalk, Iowa
