Jeff, I just read
your rant about ESPN'S coverage and
I too agree! The at-home watching drag racing
fan/viewer should be getting more of what
it is like at a race because that's what draws
the person that knows nothing about the sport
to go see a race! If someone that does not
understand NASCAR and watches it on TV the
guys doing the show make you feel that you
are almost right there, but if you had the
same person watch a drag race on ESPN they
would more than likely turn the channel and
watch ice skating or something like it.
I feel that if the media and drag racing
hardcore fans let the NHRA and the IHRA and
anyone else who is doing the coverage know
how bored we are with the coverage we might
just see as much drag racing on TV as we do
NASCAR, maybe even talk shows, news shows,
etc. I know in the years I have been involved
in our sport of drag racing, filming with
the Jackson Bros. and crewing with a few different
NT/F'S and a couple Comp cars, it's always
the same old story -- "When will they start
showing more of the races on tv and less of
John Force?" My answer to those people is
when you start contacting the NHRA or IHRA
and start complaining about it!
That's my 2 cents,
Brian Christiansen
Jeff, I think one
of the big problems are that the times
they put the races on stinks..... Either late
nights or early mornings... As for me I am
a diehard drag racing fan and they need to
put a Nielsen Box in my house and the numbers
would change. On the other hand I think NHRA
is just becoming too much like a business
and not taking care of the fans and the racers,
the tickets, food and sovereigns are just
too much. $6.50 for a $.38 cent hamburger.
If you bring the fans to the track, they will
watch it on TV. That's my thoughts.
Peter Bjordhl
The coverage is
okay but way too many commercials and
like someone said earlier why isn't the sound
of the cars much better. Marty Reid is okay
but I probably would use someone with more
drag racing knowledge. My experience says
use a hardcore drag racing fan/racer.
Thanks.
David Anderson
I completely agreed
with (Darr's) article about NHRA/ESPN's TV
coverage being horrible. One thing you didn't
mention that makes it completely unbearable
is how it never airs on time. As I am writing
you it's 2:45am pst and the Houston qualifying
show just ended 1 hour and 15 minutes ago.
Why does ESPN treat the NHRA as a second class
citizen and why does NHRA put up with it.
I set my TIVO to record the races and 6 out
of 10 races I miss the end because the show
started late. Also I noticed this year that
they have pushed back the qualifying show
to a very late time slot. I just read that
NHRA renewed the TV contract through 2006.
I see this as a huge mistake I think FOX sports
could do a much better job at covering the
events and would treat the NHRA like a first
class citizen not just filler in-between women's
college basketball and cheerleading competitions.
Sincerely,
Nathan Jones
Since a lot of the
country doesn't have cable and even
less get ESPN 2 and since rating are so bad
maybe its time for a change.
Whatever money their pouring down the ESPN
black hole instead of spending all of it trying
to get all the races on, why not pool all
the money and see how many spots they can
buy on FOX? If they could only buy two or
three races they would be so much better off
than they are now, it would be unreal. Just
look at what FOX has done with news, shows
and especially with what they have done with
NASCAR.
Maybe after a couple of years of being on
FOX another network would actually pay to
get the remaining races.
Thanks.
Johnny Claridge
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