Anyway, after a quick tour of the pits, we
staked out a primo spot along the fence at the eighth-mile
mark about a half hour before first-round eliminations were
set to start. It was interesting to be there with a neophyte
fan, as Don noticed things I knew, but didn’t necessarily
pay close attention to anymore. For instance, he was fascinated
by the staging lane procedures, impressed at how NHRA staff
kept the lines moving and by all the racers seeming to know
their turn and where to go even before being asked. He also
pointed out the white lines on the track, freshly painted
overnight to make it easier on the eyes, not only aesthetically,
but also no doubt for “optical data” gathering
purposes.
As fans, we agreed that Larry Dixon does the
best burnouts in Top Fuel, while Del Worsham has taken over
from John Force as the Funny Car burnout king. Force, though,
clearly received the greatest ovation in Sunday morning’s
driver introductions, followed by Gary Scelzi and Tony Schumacher.
Between eliminations, we joined the throngs
in meandering through the pits, witnessing a thrash here
and packing up there, the fate of each prior round clearly
reflected. I took note of how many fans—obviously
diehards—were carrying their own gas masks(!) or at
least wet cloths in order survive the nitro experience at
each warm-up session. Don, not surprisingly, was wholly
unprepared, and it was quite hilarious to see him staggering
away the first time, tears streaming down his face and gasping
for breath. I know it sounds mean to laugh, but you had
to be there.
Eventually we gravitated
once more to the general admission seats high up in the
top-end stands, where we were surrounded by knowledgeable
and enthusiastic NHRA fans. I watched one man dutifully
record the scoreboard numbers from each Sportsman pairing,
writing them down in a thick, lined notebook with perfect
penmanship. Beside me was a father-and-son pair from nearby
Philadelphia, with the boy filling in the event program’s
ladder as each pro class took to the track.
Earlier I spoke with two teenage boys from
Delaware, who made a three-hour drive that morning just
because they wanted to see what Top Fuel was really like,
and I came across a distant cousin of Greg Stanfield, rooting
for his Pro Stock relative from the cheap seats. The racing
was fun to watch from up there; cleaner too, compared to
getting covered by rubber and soot at the starting line.
Don, already grasping the nuances of drag
racing, commented on each run being different and how the
unpredictability was exactly the attraction. In other words,
he realized it’s a far cry from NASCAR. Then he suggested
a four-lane track would be even better, which I found interesting
since as a first-time viewer he hit on one of the recurring
suggestions to improve “the show.”
We also got to see a little history when Erica
Enders became only the second woman to win a round in Pro
Stock. And I realize Warren Johnson isn’t known as
a leaver, but when he was so late against son Kurt in the
second round, the immediate consensus was he took a dive.
Nobody there needed to know the numbers. I heard later that
W.J. may have started a second career as an actor when he
explained away his late start on TV, but I think I speak
for everyone in the top row when I say we know what we saw.
The day ended with a spectacular tire-smoking
final in Funny Car, with Tony Pedregon out-pedaling his
old boss Force to earn his first event win as a team owner.
Defending champions Schumacher and Greg Anderson just did
what was expected of them with wins in Top Fuel and Pro
Stock, respectively, while Angelle Sampey returned to the
winner’s circle in Pro Stock Bike. And the fans loved
every second of it.
Overall, according to the view from the stands,
the NHRA and Maple Grove Raceway both deserve A-plus grades.
The beer was cold, the food was hot, the restrooms were
clean, the traffic was bearable, and the racing was awesome.
What more could a fan want?
Race safe,
