So Many Things to Wonder About

Just Wondering ... This subject has been beaten to death already, but why did the NHRA management decide to enforce a rule that made them look like a bunch of bullies picking on one of their own? Look, I understand that the NHRA has had a long standing rule about IHRA signage/sponsorship at NHRA National Events on race cars and that rules should apply to everyone regardless of his or her status. That rule was put into effect back when the IHRA actually represented a legitimate “threat” to the NHRA.

But this year the IHRA currently has no official national events, sponsors or pro race teams other than the Summit Racing-backed Sportsman Series. What threat did the decal on Larry Dixon’s dragster that had the IHRA letters on it present to the mighty NHRA -- especially if that sponsor’s money helped insure a full Top Fuel field at one of the NHRA’s “majors”. Perhaps that sponsorship money allows him to attend the next NHRA event or repair the motor he slag-heaped Friday at the Gators?

Why on earth then would the NHRA management punish one of their long-time stars who is struggling to put together a Top Fuel team to race NHRA national events and got a competing sanctioning body to at least help finance his NHRA Top Fuel car? Instead of making Larry Dixon cover up the World Series of Drag Racing decal the NHRA should have thanked the IHRA for supporting Larry Dixon and the NHRA program.

Just Wondering ... Will Larry Dixon just leave the covered sticker on the car for the next race? No rule against that is there? Sticker Gate!

Just Wondering ... The three-day crowd at Gainesville was extremely impressive! Is there a chance that there were more spectators attending the three days of the Gatornationals than the total number of tickets sold for the Winternationals and Phoenix race combined?

Just Wondering ... Why did the NHRA suddenly sell their National Trails Raceway facility in Columbus, Ohio, to the group that bought and saved the NHRA-sanctioned Topeka track? I cannot remember that last time the NHRA sold a major asset.

What I’ve heard from several reliable sources with NHRA connections is that ticket sales and gross revenue for the Winternationals were among the “worst in the history of the race.” My sources say the Topeka group made the NHRA a “lowball” offer to buy Columbus in 2016 that was not unexpectedly refused by NHRA management. However, right after the Winternationals were concluded NHRA accepted the Topeka group’s offer. Draw your own conclusions.

Just Wondering ... Want to know one of the reasons that the NHRA tech department decided to allow Nitro F/C teams to use the 32-degree headers they all have for the rest of the 2017 season? Tuners I’ve talked to say changing the header angle and the subsequent loss of downforce required re-engineering the car, fuel system, clutch management, weight distribution and other drivetrain components to take advantage of the new headers. I’d guess that all the teams now have cars and tune-ups that are designed around the 32-degree headers and changing back to the old headers for a half year would be very expensive to all teams.