Now What?

Big changes at IHRA & NHRA? Maybe, maybe not.

By Jeff Burk
6/8/04

"O Mod" is coming to NHRA in 2005; Bill Bader is leaving IHRA; Clear Channel is going to change IHRA into a drag racing version of Monster Truck shows in 2005!

These rumors -- and I stress rumors -- have almost everyone connected with Pro Modified, the IHRA and the NHRA way up on the tire. The Bader/IHRA rumor got so far out of hand that IHRA and Clear Channel issued a joint statement to try and put the rumors to rest. Unfortunately, it fanned the rumor flames higher rather than put them out.

On the NHRA side, the rumor has Pro Mod team owners and sponsors Jim Jennard of Oakley, AMS Staff Leasing's Dave Wood, and Texas land developer and Pro Mod team owner Tommy Lipar putting an offer on the table at NHRA that would ensure a 16-car field, a bigger purse, and a well-funded points championship for next season. Supposedly the program would be much like what the NHRA Pro Mod exhibition series is now except with more money, more exposure, and unique rules.

I'm inclined to believe that both the IHRA and NHRA rumors have some validity, but not enough for people to start changing their racing plans for 2005 based upon them.

First, let's look at the NHRA Pro Mod situation. I want to caution everyone that in the past NHRA has never shown any inclination to make Pro Mod bigger and better, regardless of the amount of money or sponsorship that a group might bring to the table. I think that the bottom line is that the professional class racers (especially the Pro Stock teams) in NHRA

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are afraid that a more visible Pro Mod class will siphon away potential sponsorships, money and TV time they should get (When was the last time a Pro Stock team got a non-automotive major, as in big money, sponsorship?) and they actively campaign against the Pro Mod class being anything but an exhibition class.

I have been told by people involved of an instance where NHRA gave a group of potential Pro Mod backers a dollar figure that would be required for them to allow a 16-car field. The group met NHRA's dollar figure and were ready to sign a contract but NHRA backed out of the deal at the last minute with little or no explanation. I've seen nothing in the years since that incident that would leave me to believe that NHRA management has changed their views about Pro Mod or its future at NHRA national events.

So, before everybody gets convinced that NHRA is going to welcome a Pro Mod extravaganza into their national events that would compete with their Pro classes, I suggest you stop, take a couple of deep breaths and take a long look at NHRA's history with the Pro Mod class. As I said at the top I'm not optimistic that NHRA will allow another act to come in under their big top and steal the audience away from their established stars. I really hope I'm wrong -- I really do -- but I'll remain a skeptic until I see the official NHRA press release.

Now, about the rumored departure of Bill Bader from IHRA and changes in IHRA's race format supposedly mandated by IHRA majority owner Clear Channel Entertainment. This one has had the racing community on fire for a month and even sucked in the Burkster pretty good.

I started hearing rumors as far back as January that for 2005 IHRA was going to change its national event format to more resemble the Monster Truck shows that Clear Channel puts on at arenas.