IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE FINISH LINE

I consider myself a "core" motorsports fan - but my favorite has to be drag racing, bar none. And I'd have to say you hit the nail on the head when you compared the nail biting, last lap pass at the end of the Coca-Cola 600 and the 'leaned out' sprint to what turned out to be a yellow flag finish in the Indy 500 - they were both really exciting... but really only during the last 10 laps or so. That's the problem with roundy-round racing - it's often very boring until the very end and even then sometimes it's a sleeper.

The beauty of drag racing is that every time two cars, regardless of class, line up against each other - there's excitement. Between the tune-up, the track, the reaction times, possible parts failure/breakage, and the pressure of points won and lost - there's a lot on the line. Let's face it, it's pretty rare that one lane is completely superior to the other - but it does happen. Despite that though, some crew chiefs find a way to win - remember Larry Dixon and Dick LaHaie in the final in Seattle two years ago? How about Gary Scelzi and Mike Neff last year (I'm terribly sorry, but I can't remember the venue...some fan, huh?)? The point is, even when the lanes aren't equal, there's still the excitement of a potential upset every time two cars line up in the stage beams.

I watch other forms of racing, but nothing gets my heart racing like drag racing, live or otherwise - but live is much, much better. Even with the changes that have taken place over the years - it's still the best thing goin'!

Gordon 'Flaps' Carlon
San Diego, CA

RE: OH, JUST LOTS OF STUFF

Once again Jeff, you've hit the nail squarely on the head. Topeka was just another event that supports your position on electronic traction controls for fuelers. It seems like every other event for one reason or another produces at least one bad lane. This may be the only reason that the likes of Chris Karamasines or Luigi Novelli have a chance to go a round, but I'm with you....smokin' the hides off and/or crossing the center line is NOT real racing. As far as the "circus coming to town" I've heard the rumor that Clear Channel will be funding company owned 16-car fields in IHRA fuel in 2007. Surely our sport is destined to be ranked up there with Tractor Pulls, Monster Trucks, and Swamp Buggy racing. All I can say is...more wheelstanders, more jet pops, dirt and fumes... more T-shirts shot into the stands, more war of words between the Kalittas and Schumachers, more chicks in Pro categories, more multi-car teams tanking for the points leader, more mindless rantings from Force, more "in car" camera angles for Summit and Jegs, more carbureted Pro Stocks in a fuel injection world, more cookie cutter Funnies with windshield id's, and much more chunking Goodyears......AND I'M OUT.......rack 'em!!

Jack Issi
Pittsburgh, PA

SEEKING TRACK-PREP INPUT

You make a couple of good points, Jeff. But I will say sitting at the track and watching the guys and gals groom the track when we should be watching racing got older with each passing year. It's always seemed strange that during qualifying (Fri-Sat) the track is in near constant use and a developing problem becomes apparent pretty readily, yet on Sunday when all the marbles are on the line we just "go with what we have". Has anyone suggested to NHRA that maybe an hour (or more) before pre-race festivities on Sunday someone should make a test run down each lane? I realize this still leaves room for doubt if the tires spin (did they miss the setup and blow the tires off, or is the lane really fubar?), but at least that raises the possibility of identifying the need for grooming before beginning of eliminations.

I would also like to see some comments by folks that actually do track prep. Are there things to do ahead of the event to season both lanes, and once it has begun, to prevent a lane going south (for example, cover the track at night)?

Kevin G
Vallejo, CA

THESE KIDS TODAY...

You are right on, go to any NHRA race and see who is still in the stands at the end of the day. I have been going to national races since 1965 and it use to be that everyone stayed until the last race of the day and then ran to get to the parking lot only to set for 2 or 3 hours just to get out.

Go to any national event today and the stands are half full. In Columbus I was walking through the pits and in front of the Kalitta pits were three young men taking pictures of Jesse James. I noticed he was talking to Connie and when I pointed this out to the guys, they didn't know who Connie was and really didn't care. The good thing about today's racing, you don't have to fight for a seat at the 1000-ft mark anymore.

Keep up the good work.

Tom Horst
Washington Court House, OH