From what I’m hearing from various sources if there is a 2017 IHRA series it won’t be a “national event” schedule that would include Nostalgia Funny Car and Mountain-motored Pro Stock. One reason for no professional national event schedule might be the millions of dollars those IHRA events have lost in recent times according to a statement by CEO Chris Lencheski earlier this year.

On the other hand, the IHRA/Summit Series for sportsman racers events usually makes the IHRA and its tracks a profit. What I hear could happen next year is that the IHRA could morph into a series of national events for their sportsman racers with continued support from Summit Racing Equipment and that would consist of six to eight big money “national event” bracket races.

So far, NHRA president Peter Clifford’s decision to spend tens of millions of NHRA funds so the NHRA can have their own television production company is a miserable failure. First and foremost, except for early in the year when the ratings benefited from Fox putting the NHRA races on right after the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the viewer numbers are around a .02 to .03 of a Nielsen rating point.

Second, the crew NHRA hired to produce the national event shows are in open revolt against NHRA Chief Content Officer, Ken Adelson, and taking their grievances to the National Labor Relations Board and OHSA. And third, from all accounts, NHRA is spending more money producing the TV shows than they were when they paid ESPN to do it.

The NHRA made the decision that they could do the job that ESPN had been doing for more than 15 years much better. They could do better shows, increase viewership, cut costs and actually make a profit. That has not been the case.

What NHRA did is reminiscent of what inevitably happens when businessman/racers at a track that goes broke and closes decide it just needs better management and since they have a successful HVAC business they can take that experience and use it to make the failed racetrack successful. They almost all fail and as a result the drag racing landscape is littered with racers who went broke trying to be track operators. The NHRA management could do themselves a favor and pay attention to history.

Just Wondering ... What are they learning? Do pre-teenaged kids really need the pressure of racing for a six-figure purse in NHRA-sanctioned Jr. Dragster racing? Seems like a formula for putting a ton of pressure on young kids and not a lot of fun. I think kids 5-12 shouldn’t be allowed to race for anything more than a trophy. If we are going to let children under 12 race for money -- in essence getting paid to drive the car -- why not allow Pop Warner football teams or little league baseball to pay their kids to play? Because then it isn’t fun and games anymore.

Just Wondering ... Has the PDRA replaced the IHRA as the sanctioning body of choice for tracks, sponsors, pro doorslammer racers, and fans in the Southeast U.S.? I think the answer is yes. It has been the most stable series for fast door cars the last three years thanks to the Scruggs family. This year the PDRA schedule has all of it races at tracks in the southeastern U.S., where a majority of their racers live and race. It’s no contest!

Just Wondering ... What is up with the sudden increased popularity of the “Free Ticket, pay for parking” race promotions? Kenny Nowling has returned and announced a seven-race schedule, continuing his no admission fee ADRL series. Tulsa Raceway Park management Todd Martin and Keith Haney have three free ticket events every year and according to them the races are a financial success. I read a press release recently from Rockingham Dragway’s Steve Earwood saying that his upcoming Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event would be a free ticket event. A trend?

Just Wondering ... Am I the only one who wishes the NHRA would make a bigger deal out of the Factory Stock program? I cannot for the life of me understand why the NHRA management wouldn’t take a flyer on the ONLY NHRA class they have that enjoys significant factory backing from Ford, Chevy, and Mopar. Cars that can actually be bought from your local new car dealer! What motorsports sanctioning body needs a class with direct participation from Detroit’s “Big Three”? Evidently not the National Hot Rod Association.

Just Wondering ... If the NHRA didn’t have the money or revenue to increase the purses for their racers for at least the past couple of decades, where did they get the funding to have their own production business? Couldn’t they have at least given the racers a token purse increase?