He’s wondering if it will be a happy new year

1/24/2008

Just Wondering… Will Evan Knoll’s action result in minimum or short fields in 2008? By my count there are about 13 or 14 Top Fuel teams coming back for 2008 to run the complete 24-event NHRA series and two teams that say they will run 12-14 races.

Just Wondering… The AAA, who sponsor John Force and several NHRA tracks, have announced that they won’t renew their NASCAR commitments at the end of the 2008 season. Is that good news or bad news for the NHRA? 

Just Wondering… Does anyone think that since Europe racing mandates no lead or low lead gasoline and Canada is trying to ban the use of leaded gasoline that the U.S. racers and sanctioning bodies won’t eventually be faced with similar problems? It is just a matter of time.

Just Wondering… Why don’t the NHRA and IHRA start phasing out leaded gasoline in favor of alky right now? They could have a five-year plan to give everyone plenty of time to get ready, but we ought to be burning nothing but alky and nitro in drag racing.

Just Wondering… Why don’t all of the sanctioning bodies at least allow Pro Stock, Comp, Modified, Stock and Super Stock cars to burn alcohol if they wish? It wouldn’t be difficult to do.

Just Wondering… Why NHRA doesn’t work a deal with the fair board at Pomona so that they can have a week of testing at Pomona prior to the opening race of the season? A week or ten days of testing and racing in Southern California where the major networks, print magazines and other media are headquartered could turn into drag racing’s equivalent of NASCAR’s Daytona race.

Just Wondering… Do racers and fans realize that ultimately the SFI or PRO or any other organization has no authority or a mandate to make and enforce rules for the NHRA? Those groups can make recommendations, but the actual specs and rules are ultimately decided on and enforced by the sanctioning body and no one else.

Just Wondering… Will the NHRA issue weather and track surface temp minimums so that everyone will know when it’s too cold to race? The aviation industry has weather minimums below which aircraft are grounded.

Just Wondering… Did you know that on January 31 the shareholders at HD Partners vote to decide if they will go forward with the purchase of the NHRA’s “Professional Assets”? Don’t worry, though, it is just an SEC-mandated deal. There is no chance the deal won’t be approved.   

Just Wondering… Does anyone really believe Evan Knoll’s claim that he paid the NHRA $700,000 for the title rights to two races and paid the IHRA nearly $5,000,000 to be involved? It just doesn’t make financial sense.

Just Wondering… While we are on that subject, if Knoll could pay that much money to those two sanctioning bodies why didn’t he just pony up the 1.5 million that the Baders wanted for their 25% share of the IHRA?
 
Just Wondering… With the supposed recession of the economy will the major sanctioning bodies roll back their ticket prices?

Just Wondering… Again on the recession issue, if it does occur doesn’t that make the ADRL races -- where they give away free tickets -- look even better to both casual and hardcore race fans?

Just Wondering… If those in authority really want to help the economy why don’t they roll back the cost of fuel? Forget a rebate, give me $1.00 a gallon gas for a year.

Just Wondering… Am I the only one who can’t wait to be sitting in the stands somewhere with a beer and a dog, under a blue sky with nitro burners screaming by? I’m completely over bad weather and not going to the drags.
 
Just Wondering… What’s the over and under on how long the Julie Russell case will drag on? I checked the court records today and the three parties’ legal beagles are still dueling.

Just Wondering… Why they didn’t NHRA put elevators in the “Executive Suites” at the Pomona Fairgrounds? Man, there are a lot of steps there on a hot day.

Just Wondering… How much longer will John Force drive after he proves his point and gets back between the tubes?

Just Wondering… Will Bruton Smith build or acquire more drag strips in the near future?

Just Wondering… Will Dean Papadeas ever come out of semi-retirement and make the definitive Pro Mod DVD? 

jeffburk@dragracingonline.com

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