3/30/05

YOU BRUTE

Okay, let me get this straight..People piss and moan about NHRA's management team all the time, right? They are too "corporate", too "bottom-line oriented", etc. Now, Bruton Smith has indicated he wants to buy the NHRA, lock, stock and barrel. The same Bruton Smith who has made his billions (yes, billions) in the "corporate" world, and this is all of a sudden the greatest thing since the internal combustion engine?

The man says in his interview with your e-zine, that: "I like to make money and I believe that drag racing will make profits for my company. That's why I have an interest in buying the NHRA." He professes no love for drag racing, hell it doesn't sound as though he thinks anything at all of it, it's simply a product to be sold or a brand to be marketed (sound familiar?)

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He also says: "Also, there wouldn't be any doubt in the racer's mind who is in charge. You can't let the players run the game." I think that statement should spell out where the racers sit on the list of priorities, which by the way would be very similar to NASCAR's (#1 Event Sponsors, #2 Sanction Sponsors, #3 Team Sponsors, #4 Fans, and finally #5 Racers {as long as their desires or needs do not adversely affect any of the first 4 groups}).

Now, I'm not particularly happy with some of the things that NHRA has done or is doing, but Tom Compton and his crew don't even know the meaning of the word "corporate" in comparison to Bruton Smith. Anybody who thinks that his buying the sanction is going to be the end all to beat all, I think, is seriously deluded.

Charlie Nichols
Imperial, CA

MUSCRATE LOVE

I really enjoy Jay Roder's muscrate articles and hope to see many more. Thanks.

Al Mossage

ROEDER REPLIES

COOL! A fan! I'm working on it, boss man! Discovered the number two main web is no longer "one" with the rest of the block. Article is in the works; I've been real busy in the shop. I KNOW, I need to get my priorities straight and get to racing! My one and only fan spelled my last name wrong; story of my life! -- Jay Roeder

MORE OPEN COMP RESPONSE

In response to the guest editorial on Open Comp racing, I agree 100 percent. I am getting ready to start my second year in Open Comp with the NMRA and Fun Ford. I have previously raced in NHRA Comp eliminator, and brackets, and I have never had as much fun as I am having now. The only drawback I have is racing a really slow car and waiting 8 or 10 seconds on a pro tree. Aside from that it is the best class to come along in years.

John Morris
NMRA O/C 9470