IHRA FACES CHALLENGES IN 2003

Since Bill Bader took over early in 1998, the International Hot Rod Association has been a veritable hive of activity. It has moved its headquarters, added and subtracted several race venues, expanded its national event schedule, increased series sponsorship, and apparently is on course with its biggest contingency package ever. Not a bad record, so it seems.

On the other hand, IHRA has endured criticism at times for things like maintaining secrecy in its decisions, charging its pro teams entry fees, scheduling too-distant events, canceling significant race classes, over-manipulating the rulebook, and even safety-related shortcomings. Some of these complaints may have more merit than others, and many have been addressed and resolved already, but a few do remain as issues of concern.

Still, I don't think anyone can argue IHRA is not better off now than in 1997. But of course, in any organization trying to satisfy so many disparate interest groups -- in this case sponsors, pro and sportsman racers, media, fans, majority owner Clear Channel, and even the IHRA officials themselves -- there's always going to be a few naysayers. That said, this should be a watershed year for IHRA. How it responds to challenges faced in 2003 may well dictate its long-term outlook for continued success or eventual failure.

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First, IHRA has to get a handle on its marquee Pro Mod class. Say what you will about Top Fuel being the premier class in the sport; Pro Mod is what drives an IHRA national event. Absolutely, fans love Top Fuel. There is a definite buzz when the nitro burners come to the line -- even when there's barely enough to fill the eight-car field -- and those guys certainly deserve a lion's share of the purse based on operating costs alone. But the buzz is just as real -- and far more sustained -- when the noisy and colorful Pro Mod show takes center stage.

I don't think IHRA can afford to lose that buzz; it's what put it on the covers of magazines and into the minds of drag racing fans worldwide. With NHRA sending a clear signal that it still covets the Pro Mod class, IHRA needs to step up and do whatever it takes to retain the star power it has developed over the past decade or so. Otherwise, it's going to end up with just another Triple-A series on its hands after all the best teams depart for the big leagues. In this case, money talks. There's no question that NHRA currently offers wider exposure for Pro Mod's heavy hitters, but I suspect if purses and championship payouts increased for the IHRA series, we'd see more and better teams refusing to make the switch.

This also relates to the entry fee issue. I realize Bader's argument is that all racers, pro or sportsman, are treated equally by IHRA and that's why an entry fee is required from all pro teams. It's a noble concept and certainly should be applied in terms of personal treatment, technical inspections, and rules interpretations; but the fact is, fans don't show up at national events to watch Modified cars (oops, sorry, that's one of the canceled classes) turn seven-second laps. They're there to watch the pro classes -- the pros are the show -- so it just makes no sense to make pro entries pay for admission; especially not when there's an alternative where professional racers feel they're treated better, whether true or not.

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