...continued

Hopefully that will change for Pro Stock for the 2016 NHRA season. The massive chassis and power-plant changes the NHRA tech committee mandated for next season changes everything. Shorter wheelie bars, EFI instead of carburetors and a 10,500 RPM limit will cause the Pro Stock crew chiefs and drivers to leave their tuning notes at the house on raceday ‘cause no one currently racing in the class has any data on the new combination.

For the first time in many years NHRA Pro Stock action in qualifying and on raceday in 2016 will be totally unpredictable -- and that is something the class and the sport sorely need these days, especially in the pro classes.

Just Wondering... Exactly what more do fans want from drag racing that will make them buy more tickets to NHRA national events? The just completed NHRA Finals offered drag fans drama, record performances and championships on the line. Yet the crowd at Pomona was light compared to years past. I have no idea what the answer is. The NHRA and their track operator/partners must find the answer to that question.

Just Wondering... Whom from the current ESPN broadcast team will make the NHRA Fox broadcast team next season? My sources say Dave Reiff will be back as host/lead announcer and stat-meister Lewis Bloom has been hired by the NHRA to help shape the content of their broadcasts both live and taped in 2016. I hear Bloom has already relocated from NYC to LA.

Just Wondering... Can the Fox coverage of NHRA drags be done in a radically different manner than what the ESPN producer and directors are currently delivering?

Just Wondering... How Erica Enders-Stevens couldn't be considered to be one of the best drivers Pro Stock drag racing has ever seen? Her driving accomplishments over the past two years equals that of any of her more famous, intimidating, and winning peers in Pro Stock like Bob Glidden, Rickie Smith, Lee Shepherd and Greg Anderson.

Just Wondering... Wouldn't you love to know what TV production company reps told the heads of some racing series that convinced them motorsports fans will watch a race report in October 2015 about a race completed eight months earlier? Maybe the series owners just needed to tell sponsors the series would be shown on national TV?

Just Wondering... Could the fact that the RPM Pro Mod group has yet to release a 2016 schedule mean that it's better than 50-50 that RPM will add more races next season? Or does it mean the RPM group has yet to give NHRA the half-million buck check (plus guaranteed race sponsorships) required by the High Sheriffs to make the series happen in 2016.

Just Wondering... How many fans actually follow the NHRA Stock, Super Stock, and Comp classes? How many actually understand how the cars are classified? And while I am on the subject, why are the class indexes set so artificially high that virtually every entry can run well under the index? I would seriously like someone to explain it to me. Shouldn't it be a special moment for the drivers or their fans of S, SS or Competition Eliminator racing to see a car go under the "index" for a class? Many times at NHRA national events even with 100+ entries, most if not all cars are able to easily go way under their class index.

Just Wondering... Would it make the 2016 NHRA Pro Stock competition even more interesting if in addition to the current set of new rules the NHRA also mandated the use of drag radial treaded tires?

Just Wondering... Why does Toyota spend all of their sponsor/advertising money sponsoring Top Fuel and Funny Car teams but doesn't have a single factory car in any of the doorslammer classes? What does it say about the NHRA fan demographics that the TRD folks haven't at least look at getting involved with a Pro Mod, Stock Eliminator or even Pro Stock program? According to NHRA VP Graham Light, the NHRA would welcome a Toyota Pro Stock team.

Just Wondering... Have long smoky burnouts (always crowd pleasers) in the nitro classes gone the way of dry-hops and "whacking" the throttle to seat the clutch on the warmup?