NHRA’s Geno Effler Chimes In On The “Street Outlaws” Debacle

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The National Hot Rod Association has taken a proverbial beating on Facebook and other social media outlets ever since word got out that it had mailed letters to the cast of Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws show informing them that their NHRA Competition License would be revoked if they participate in the hit reality show. The internet, as it’s known to do, leapt immediately to judgement, crucifying the world’s largest motorsports sanction as “money hungry and jealous”, in so many colorful words. Knowing the association was sporting a glaring black eye, Dragzine reached out to allow them to rebut. You may be surprised to find yourself nodding in agreement as you read the following.

NHRA VP of Public Relations and Communication Geno Effler. Photo courtesy of NHRA

NHRA VP of Public Relations and Communication Geno Effler. Photo courtesy of NHRA

We spoke with the NHRA’s VP of Public Relations and Communications, Geno Effler, this morning. What he said on the topic clarified NHRA’s stance, and we think it may help you understand as well. The most obvious question most fans would ask was the first topic discussed with Effler: Why? Why send these letters to the show’s participants in the first place?

“Since the NHRA was founded, one of our core principles has been, “Dedication to Safety”. It was even our motto for many years, and it runs through the core of the NHRA today,” Effler stated. “One of our goals is to get racers off the streets and onto the track, which is safer for all parties involved; racers, crew members, and spectators. We reached out to [Street Outlaws production studio] Pilgrim Studios as soon as the show hit the airwaves in 2013 to express our displeasure with the show’s content.”

“Recently, however, we noticed more and more cars participating in the show featuring NHRA decals and competition numbers that are easily visible. This is what prompted us to take action. We cannot have the NHRA associated with a program that, at it’s core, glorifies street racing while we are supposed to be trying to get racers off the street.”

If you’re able to take off your internet-mob-rage tinted glasses and think about this objectively, what Effler is saying makes perfect sense. The NHRA works with its local-level tracks on programs such as the Jr. Street program that allows young race fans age 13 to 16, admittedly those most easily enticed by street racing’s allure, to hit the strip with an adult riding shotgun and get some seat time in the controlled environment of the track. For the NHRA’s message of “Take it to the track”, having their logo shown on cars racing on the street, be it closed to highway traffic or not, is just plain counterproductive.

…we noticed more and more cars participating in the show featuring NHRA decals and competition numbers that are easily visible. This is what prompted us to take action.

Effler also addressed one issue which many fans threw in the NHRA’s face: They [Street Outlaw] race on a closed off street with a safety crew on hand. (For those who are fans of the show and didn’t know that, they do, in fact, close off a section of highway, bring in lights and safety crews and restrict the area for the most part. Sorry to spoil the realism if you thought they just rolled up, unloaded the cars and raced.

Effler stated that while that may be the case, there are still several major factors that aren’t ideal for a safe drag race to take place, namely retention barriers that keep the car on the track in the event of a crash or loss of control. As we’ve seen several times now on the show, a few of the cars have ended up in fields beside the roadway. Luckily, those ended well, but one of these high-horsepower rides barrel-rolling into the utility poles that line the road could certainly have life-altering, or even life-ending, consequences.

Effler also points out that most public roadways have a crown, a peak in the center to help rainwater runoff quicker. This can lead to control issues for any car, but is exacerbated by the speeds these cars reach, likely nearing 140 mph, as they approach the finish line, and the wide-and-skinny tires the cars race on, which do not behave like the radials on your mom’s Park Avenue.

Many fans of the show also took up the “Street Outlaws gets more viewers and the NHRA wants to try to quell the popularity of the show” argument. When asked if that had any bearing on the NHRA’s decision, Effler scoffed at the notion. “For us to think we could effect the popularity of the show, be it positively or negatively, by mailing out a couple of dozen letters is absurd.” he claimed. And he’s right. Besides, what would the NHRA gain by trying to reduce the show’s popularity? NHRA doesn’t air on Monday nights, so it’s not as if the viewers might turn off Street Outlaws and turn on NHRA Drag Racing.

so3Getting to the actual reason the letters were mailed, Effler explained, “The letters were sent as a precautionary measure. We haven’t revoked any licenses at this time, and the cases will be reviewed in the future.” Eppler also made it clear that he is well aware of the “lag” in television production, and stated that there wouldn’t be any repercussions if an NHRA competitor appears on next week’s episode. The NHRA just wants to let the show’s participants know that they’re going to take action, and the racers can’t claim ignorance if or when that happens.

Effler also addressed a question posed by many on both sides of the debate: What exactly entails “participating” on the show?

This would not apply to individuals who may have appeared on the show in face alone, only those actively participating in the illegal act of street racing.

“By participating, we mean someone taking part in an illegal street race, or their car [i.e. a car owner with a hired driver] taking part in a street race, then that would be somebody we mailed a letter to. This would not apply to individuals who may have appeared on the show in face alone, only those actively participating in the illegal act of street racing.”

And so there you have it, race fans. While the outrage was intense – and made for some hilarious memes – it may have been misdirected. Effler even mentioned one fan who was so completely misinformed that he called the main NHRA offices in Glendora incensed that they had the nerve to tell him that since he was a street racer, he couldn’t attend NHRA events. Clearly, that’s not even close to accurate, but as we have seen so many times, social media as a whole often plays judge, jury and executioner without ever hearing evidence from the defense. The NHRA has definitely been raked over the coals this week, but maybe if everyone slows down and examines both sides of the story, the reasoning behind the letters becomes clearer that perhaps it was justified.

About the author

Jeremy Patterson

A former bracket racer, Jeremy, known by many as "Taco," stepped out of the seat in 2005 to focus on his growing family. A few years ago, he returned to the sport, this time as a photographer and a journalist.
Read My Articles

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