Like it or not, rules are important in any
sport, not only to set the playing field, but to keep everyone
in check. Just imagine the Olympics if all performance-enhancing
drug limitations were lifted. It would lead to unlimited
competition—the 100-yard dash on nitro—perhaps
entertaining for awhile, but ultimately destructive to the
sport and its entrants.
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The same can be said for nitro racing. Without
the restrictions already in place, does anyone doubt we’d
currently be seeing exotic, mega-buck chassis materials,
multi-speed blower overdrives, and computer-assisted clutches
with traction control?
Unfettered research and development may have
been fine when most of these cars were built by hand with
only the racer’s wits and skill with a wrench or torch
to help him, but now every tiny increment of speed is gained
through computer-assisted design carried out by engineering
geniuses and backed up by time in a wind tunnel—which
all costs an obscene amount of money to maintain.
Leaving the teams to themselves eventually
would increase costs to the point that all but a few would
be forced to quit. And then the same people who are complaining
about NHRA putting the brakes on spending and development
would be up in arms over “the little guy” being
forced out of racing and the monotony of watching a field
of just a few team cars duking it out. In my eyes, NHRA
has recognized a problem and is doing the right thing by
at least trying to protect the racers from themselves. 
