So the notion of controversy could be a tremendous help to NHRA. Think about it, I told Light. Motorsports gets little space in the daily sports section. Of that small allotment, NASCAR grabs most of the attention. IRL usually gets next billing, and even CART usually merits more attention. NHRA's exciting stories often receive agate-font "note" status on the bottom of the story -- an afterthought.

Given that and the fact that already-distracted readers retain a small percentage of what is offered to them in the daily newspaper anyway, NHRA shouldn't cringe at controversy. (By the same token, it shouldn't seek it. That, too, would be a disheartening sign.) Whatever the issue is, I guarantee, readers soon would forget who said what or even the topic. All they would recall is reading "something about NHRA." If they can get it straight that NHRA isn't about Charlton Heston and the Second Amendment and guns and rifles, NHRA will be making strides.

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(Go ahead. Argue with my theory. Find some survey statistic that proves me wrong. Find one that says readers pay strict attention to every detail they read in the paper -- or one that even says busy Americans are diligently reading the paper and its sports pages thoroughly. And better yet, analyzing them and directing their life's efforts according to what they read on those pages. Just remember what a professor of mine used to say: that persuaders often use statistics like a drunk uses a lamppost -- more for support than illumination.)

In the meantime, NHRA should embrace the legitimate efforts by all publications to excite people about its sport. Drag racing is a sport rich in personality and sensory overload. We all try to convey that in our own ways. Let it happen. What's the worst that will result? That a story might spark interest in a new fan? Maybe a policy that needs changing will be changed and make the sport better for the drivers or fans or even the sanctioning body. Don't be afraid of change. Successful businesses are ones that adapt to changing times.

Reporters -- for national or local publications, for print or Internet -- are storytellers and history-keepers. Without them, NHRA wouldn't be able to relive its traditions and honor its pioneers.

Oh, and look out -- I'll be in Gainesville.