Having grown up in an Era where National Records were in the 8's, I find the specialization process that the sport has gone through quite amazing.

Today, there are so few competitive "Teams" in the Nitro classes. If the Shoe, Force, Snake, Kalitta and Worsham teams skip an event, there won't be an event. Atleast not one with near a full field in either class.

As many of thoese teams are owned by old timers, I feel the sport can be in jeopardy, once these guys move on. JMHO

AHHH, the good old days, when a racer showed up with a station wagon or a dullie pulling the trailer, with a couple of free crew guys. Now each has to have 3 or 4 semi loads of stuff for each ride and at least 6-7 crew guys to handle the car.

yeah, and stock car racing was a couple of guys and a flat bed trailer, at best. and the drug store on the cornor was a mom n pop operation, there was no Wal-mart, and there was nothing but AM radio, and no Interstates...

your point?
There will Be someone to fill the gap, if and when

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Mike,
All you have to do is take a stroll through the lowly sportsmen pits. You will find hundreds of high-profile rigs owned by very knowledgeable racers who could easily migrate up through the ranks. Oh, they're not driving station wagons pulling open trailers either.

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"The Doctor"
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There also were also 30 or 40 Cars there. The point is that it seems as though nearly all the eggs are in one proverbial basket.
As far as someone filling the gap, what are they waiting for, if they exist? I'm serious, about there being an uncomfortable truncation of competitors. As we speak many good drivers are parked due to lack of rides. JM$.02
BM, I can appreciate what you're saying, but the $'s to run Nitro competitively are much higher than Alky. Guys like Manzo would have moved up years ago if they desired.

If and when what?

The current state (multicar teams) of Nitro racing has priced most teams & sponsors out of the market. NHRA is a day late and dollar short on fixing the problem.

This is a business people and its not a good one to be in unless you have money to burn.

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If NHRA can throw away tradition then I can throw away my tickets.

I say "do away with multi-car teams"

Better not try Open-wheel (IRL) or Nascar if you think Drag racing's gotten to expensive!

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Shift for Brains!!!!

Like Ferrari's 200+ Million Racing Budget?
I'm sure everyone here loves the Big Numbers and quick times the Nitro Cars are knocking down. But because of the excellence in performance, the cost has risen to the point where Nitro Classes are more like a "traveling show" as opposed to the competition class they were in the past. I'm just concerned that the return on investment will make the classes limited to a very few who have the $'s to run them, who also have the expertise to make them run well.
Are they making them so specialized that only a handful of Teams can field competitive machines, and what does that hold in store for the future of the sport?

Mike, if you yearn for the days of old you may as well follow Goodguys or some other Nostalgia circuit. Pro Drag racing won't ever go back to the 60's, as much as some here would love it to.

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Shift for Brains!!!!

JS, I'm looking to the future, not the past. I'm concerned about how this is going to play out, as DR doesn't make anywhere the money that these other motor sports do.

If and when Ashley, Robert and Eric decide to leave the family business, If and when the NHRA decides the Pro Show isn't bringing in the Gate they want. If and when, Evan decides to pull out of NHRA...

If and When, we decide the NHRA isn't the only game in town...

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I think you were right on as far as it being a traveling show as opposed to the competition it was in the past. However I think most motorsports are that way now. Sure there are competitors competing, however the actual "goal" is selling products for sponsors. I always remind myself that all radio and TV shows may STRIVE to be the best they can be, they really are simply vehicles for the ad salesmen to use.

I know what you are saying as far as the teams taking up so many of the spots. I think that is a REAL concern. If they have the big sponsors they make plenty of money. As they lose those it gets real tough to field a team (and not really worth it).

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Let me go on record as saying I started this thread to feel out the general opinions of us who love the sport. If the BIG money dries up, even if it is just for some of the teams, it could have serious effects on the Classes. JMO.
Teams like the Skuzas are sorely missed.

Here's my take.
This thread is an important one because we all recognize that there are problems in our sport notwithstanding the great strides it has made. It is also an important thread because we have people posting here whose ideas and acumen can be useful in finding solutions for some of those problems.
I think we could help maintain full fields in the PRO ranks and ensure an adequate supply of talented newcomers, in part, by supporting the Alcohol ranks better and by holding "alternative" race meetings. So, for example, the National event regulars are setting the world on fire on the East Coast on a hypothetical weekend. That same weekend, in the Pacific Northwest, a booked in 8 car Top Fuel show is supported by an NHRA sponsor. The cars competing in that latter event might not be "top rung," but the talent and attitude of the teams would be professional and they would have the chance to win against competitors with similar dollar limitations. Of course, some of these fellows would be first round ducks for a while. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Much the same could be accomplished by an accomodation between the NHRA and the "other outfit." You know the one, Dougzilla's "Hillbilly" group.
My favorite class is TAFC and I support CIFCA, in part, because it provides a market for former TAFC machinery (thus, cutting the cost of TAFC) and it provides a place for we humble weekend warriors to race Funny Cars. If you think I can afford to race to TAFC with guys like Manzo - think again! At this point, I'm entering the fourth year of my one year plan to race in CIFCA. I can dream, though, and if I ever won the lottery . . .
Cheers,
Ed
What are your suggestions. I am sure that, as usual, they'll be better than mine.