Dragzine

The NHRA’s newest racing venture, NHRA Unleashed, has been a hot topic amongst the organizations’ critics since the announcement of the series’ inception early this year, and with its inaugural event in Atlanta in the books, public opinion doesn’t appear to have changed. Much of the criticism stems from a general public disdain for the organization that all but founded the sport and its common lack of respect for the blue collar racer as it chases profits and NASCAR’s tail with its flashy money-maker categories. The very racers they are now trying to attract are those that didn’t seem all that important just a few short years ago, and that doesn’t well with many. The series is new, its fresh, and it can succeed, but NHRA just might have to step out of what they are use to if they want a piece of the pie.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nor can a successful motorsports show. Pinks and the subsequent Pinks All Out have been hugely successful, but it didn’t start out that way. The show began with the simple concept of two people racing for one another’s car in front of small audiences, and from there gained momentum…snowballing into a show that has had racers with fame and fortune in their minds battling to the death for an entry and a packed house nearly everywhere they film. And the tickets aren’t free.

The ADRL spent several years at smaller venues, clawing its way up the drag racing food chain before reaching its current position as a legitimate contender to the NHRA. One of the first mistakes that NHRA may have made with the Unleashed series is the choice of venues. Let’s take Indianapolis and Columbus for example: these two events may draw some spectators from the Michigan area, but these locations are not known as small-tire, heads up, doorslammer regions. The racers aren’t there, and at this point, the fan aren’t either. Sure, money is saved by utilizing tracks that you own, but start where you know you can draw a crowd. A base hit isn’t a home run, but it can still get you across home plate.

Keith Szabo won Limited Street at the first event in Atlanta

The NHRA, which over the course of the years has become very much a business entity, may have to shed their domineering, corporate approach and put on the cap of a true event promoter if they want to see this through to success.

- When Donald Long throws up 20 grand for southern-style, all out battle between radial and true 10.5 equipped race cars, that’s exciting.
- When two gentleman line their cars up and race for pink slips, that exciting.
- When a game show is conducted where you guess the quarter mile time of an unknown car, that’s exciting and engages the viewer.
- When someone conducts a no-track-prep race, that’s exciting.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that an organization that prides itself on safety – or any organization for that matter – conducts a race in which is there no track prep and both of the guardrails are knocked down. I’m simply making the point that you have to ‘wow’ the audience if you hope to gain a great following and fan, racer, and sponsor interest. That doesn’t mean Tom Compton has to put on an oversized gold necklace and shoot knockoff Jeopardy videos, but they must find a ‘wow’ factor that grabs the attention of the occasional – or even completely new and clueless – fan. It has to be more about the entertainment, less about the racing.

Jody Voyles topped Neil Hawkins for the Modified Street crown in Atlanta

Now more than ever, racers, fans, and most of all, the promoters and leaders of these organizations need to kick their biases and work together toward a common goal. The NHRA has already brought in the experience of ORSCA’s Johnny Fenn, and there’s no reason more associations – regardless of the magnitude of their nature- can’t be formed for the betterment of everyone in the sport. The economy may be leveling out, but car counts, sponsors, and entire racing series continue to dwindle. Support it and cultivate it, or it just might be gone tomorrow.