Let me preface this by just telling a little bit about myself. I am 21 years old, I grew up going to Maple Grove, New England Dragway. Since my family moved south, I frequent zMax Dragway, Mooresville Dragway, and North Myrtle Beach Dragway. I love drag racing. I love all forms of motorsports, but I always find myself going back to drag racing. This isn't meant to be a "stir the pot" kind of thread. Or a "here's how to fix the NHRA" or "here's what's wrong with the NHRA." I simply want to hear your opinion on drag racing, or the NHRA in general. Do you still enjoy it? What do you like/dislike about NHRA and drag racing? In short, I just want to talk drag racing!
It seems all the talk is about the strip at Las Vegas being converted into a 4 wide racing facility, I have been reading more hate than normal for the NHRA and the "poor state that it is in."
Lets just use the new 4 wide track as an example because it is a current hot topic. Bangshift.com made a post on facebook talking about the new facility.
(For those unfamiliar, bangshift.com is like a gear head news and entertainment site. They pull content from everywhere, and cover basically anything with an engine, both past and present. Their editor in chief Brian Lohnes can be found announcing automotive events all over the country, including NHRA events.)
As you can see, this had quite the reaction. I could only take a screen shot of some comments, as there were nearly 100. But there were very few even remotely positive comments. Another hot topic that garnishes quite a reaction is the new "rule" to let teams run any powertrain they'd like, despite the "brand" body they run.
Some other hot topics include but are not limited to: (not saying I agree/disagree with these, just showing some examples of topics that get people fired up)
Fuel cars only running to 1000 feet
Body's on pro stocks, pro mods, and funny cars
Fan attendance, TV ratings, "bad" Fox Sports coverage
Among many others. I could go on all day.
Now lets get to the opinion section...
Don't get me wrong, I think there are some issues with the NHRA, and drag racing in general. I certainly don't agree with all the NHRA's choices as a sanctioning body.
With that being said, I just can't bring myself to hate the NHRA. I see so much criticism, so much hate, it just seems that you can't make a racing fan happy anymore. I just can't have those feelings for the NHRA for some reason.
I can't ever attend a national event and have a bad time. I can't possibly be angry while I sit in the stands and watch 4 fuel cars do burnouts and then proceed to rotate the earth on launch. I also can't be upset while I hear a 500 CID pro stock engine scream. Its impossible for me not to smile when I see a young child with an ear to ear grin as they get an autograph from their favorite driver. I still enjoy standing feet away from a fuel car while they warm them up in the pits (although I dearly miss when they whacked the throttle to bed the clutch in). I love nitro and race gas fumes (although my nostrils, lungs and brain cells probably don't). I love walking around the pits (especially where the sportsman cars are). The same goes for just about any track that I visit. It is nearly impossible for me to have a bad day at the track. Whether I am racing, watching, or just hanging out in the pits with friends.
I just can't bring myself to think at any point in time while I am attending, watching on TV or even looking back at an event "Man this sucks. The NHRA sucks. I don't plan on coming back here, boycott the NHRA! Drag racing is done for!" Am I just a crazed fan? I don't think I am, I just love drag racing in general, I love the NHRA.
Hopefully you gathered some of my thoughts from this long winded and more than likely incoherent ramble.
What do you think?
It seems all the talk is about the strip at Las Vegas being converted into a 4 wide racing facility, I have been reading more hate than normal for the NHRA and the "poor state that it is in."
Lets just use the new 4 wide track as an example because it is a current hot topic. Bangshift.com made a post on facebook talking about the new facility.
(For those unfamiliar, bangshift.com is like a gear head news and entertainment site. They pull content from everywhere, and cover basically anything with an engine, both past and present. Their editor in chief Brian Lohnes can be found announcing automotive events all over the country, including NHRA events.)
As you can see, this had quite the reaction. I could only take a screen shot of some comments, as there were nearly 100. But there were very few even remotely positive comments. Another hot topic that garnishes quite a reaction is the new "rule" to let teams run any powertrain they'd like, despite the "brand" body they run.
Some other hot topics include but are not limited to: (not saying I agree/disagree with these, just showing some examples of topics that get people fired up)
Fuel cars only running to 1000 feet
Body's on pro stocks, pro mods, and funny cars
Fan attendance, TV ratings, "bad" Fox Sports coverage
Among many others. I could go on all day.
Now lets get to the opinion section...
Don't get me wrong, I think there are some issues with the NHRA, and drag racing in general. I certainly don't agree with all the NHRA's choices as a sanctioning body.
With that being said, I just can't bring myself to hate the NHRA. I see so much criticism, so much hate, it just seems that you can't make a racing fan happy anymore. I just can't have those feelings for the NHRA for some reason.
I can't ever attend a national event and have a bad time. I can't possibly be angry while I sit in the stands and watch 4 fuel cars do burnouts and then proceed to rotate the earth on launch. I also can't be upset while I hear a 500 CID pro stock engine scream. Its impossible for me not to smile when I see a young child with an ear to ear grin as they get an autograph from their favorite driver. I still enjoy standing feet away from a fuel car while they warm them up in the pits (although I dearly miss when they whacked the throttle to bed the clutch in). I love nitro and race gas fumes (although my nostrils, lungs and brain cells probably don't). I love walking around the pits (especially where the sportsman cars are). The same goes for just about any track that I visit. It is nearly impossible for me to have a bad day at the track. Whether I am racing, watching, or just hanging out in the pits with friends.
I just can't bring myself to think at any point in time while I am attending, watching on TV or even looking back at an event "Man this sucks. The NHRA sucks. I don't plan on coming back here, boycott the NHRA! Drag racing is done for!" Am I just a crazed fan? I don't think I am, I just love drag racing in general, I love the NHRA.
Hopefully you gathered some of my thoughts from this long winded and more than likely incoherent ramble.
What do you think?