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Who in the heck is Kyle Corruthers?I read the letter that Kyle Corruthers submitted and I was amazed at his comments about Warren Johnson skimping on safety. I think it's a bunch of bull and whoever made such a statement should be identified. Those are just allegations you don't say about a professional driver such as WJ. I have personally been to many test sessions with WJ and have never seen anything like that. Who in the heck is he anyway? That letter was way off base. Shame on him for writing such a thing and shame on CompetitionPlus.com for running such a thing. - Carl White, Stroud Safety
We are all gearheads...You have managed to put into words what many of us old timers have felt for some time. I have been involved in drag racing since 1964, and the sport (NHRA especially) has become something I cannot even relate to. To be frank, I don't watch it on TV because watching the same half dozen guys race the same half dozen race cars against each other each week is boring. In it's quest to become an "entertainment industry" rather than a motorsports sanctioning body they have throw the baby out with the bathwater. The doorslammer racers, friends, and family that I have raced with for over thirty years are no longer welcome at many events, with the powers that be attempting to replace them with die cast collectors armed with Visa cards. The extra rounds of Stock/SS have been replaced by basketball drill teams and skateboarders. The gear-heads that I grew up watching in T/F, F/C and Pro Stock have now been replaced by PR handled media types managed by "managers" with MBA degrees to untapped the potential of each "profit center". NHRA itself, once a racer's organization, is now a run by marketing people with the racing itself being a sideshow. Judging by the TV ratings and air times, it is obviously not working. IHRA has been able to by and large keep its focus, which is where most of the old gear-heads have gone, but the potential is there for that to get out of control as well as they continue to grow. Your editorial is spot on. For many of us, the sport we grew up with, devoted our lives to, and continue to eat, sleep and breathe has become something we cannot even relate to. Many of us still participate, and follow the rank and file venues, but NHRA Championship drag racing has become as distant as World Cup Soccer. Thanks for your assessment. It is long overdue that someone with a soapbox picked up on this. - Steve Reasbeck
I couldn't agree more with your latest editorial. The sanctioning
bodies Despite how some people disrespect him, Wally Parks courted the gear-head in the old days. But when he retired from the day-to-day operation, the bean counters jumped in. And I really can't blame the bean counters for a second. They did exactly what they were hired to do. I go to IHRA events to see the pro mods, the last bastion of true, creative, crazy racing that's not cookie cutter. Besides that, I only go to Bakersfield and Bowling Green. Those nostalgia races are where the gear-head is still king. - David Burlington
In some aspect or the other I have been in drag racing since I was about 11(not listing my age now but its a few years later). I love the sport, wither driving, or watching or working, but in this day and time with so many jobs going overseas, people cant afford to bring a family to the races, the cost per day is just too high at the national level, and the local tracks have gone up on some of their gates also. And the entree fee has also gone up, all of this makes it hard for the gear-heads and their family to go as often as they used to> Now they have to pick and choice as to which ones they can afford to go to. I know the bodies want to make a profit but don’t try to
do it all in one weekend or one day, keep the price down and you
will still make a profit, more people will show up so the profit
will not fall that much if at all. - Rick Covington
He did say it was an easy question...Just one simple question. Why can't a track owner choose both NHRA and IHRA. Most races only come thru one weekend a year. Wouldn't the sport get a boost from the fans seeing several big races come to town. The track owners have other sanctions race thru the year (Chrysler
classic. super Chevy, import racing, Big money races, even concerts)
Columbus has NHRA in the spring. Why not IHRA some other month.
Norwalk could host an NHRA race. I've raced Top Dragster at some
really questionable 1/4-mile tracks. IHRA and NHRA are trying to
step over each other. The owners could make improvements, quality tracks, and better races. More fans. The whole world would be a better place!!!! Or not. What's best for the sport! Please let me know if I've (SHOOK THE TIRES) one to many times. - Chris Gabbard
One simple answer - EGO. - Editor
Just like being at the races...
You make it so easy to keep up with what is going on at the track. Thanks so much for doing it so well! - Al Booton
We try to say we do it for the
money, but since there's very little of that - we must do it for
the love of the game. - Editor Wonder if he's a fan?I think NHRA is a poor excuse for an organization. I know they have to cater to sponsors, but they do so at the cost of the racers. Not cool. While the logistics are nearly impossible to imagine, I'd be curious to see how things would change if the "Members" aka hostages were allowed to vote on some issues. What's the point of being a member if you have absolutely no say? Hell, the only reason I'm a member is for my license. If their was an independent licensing org, I'd drop my support in a heartbeat. - Danny Humphrey
Cruzer rules!Your Pendregon aticle was fun to read. Last week my brother and I were talking about those great races between the Cruzer and Force. We both stood watching in front of the television with the excitement of a Super Bowl overtime. We're going to Columbus, Ohio in June with hopes of seeing another
match up with these two champions. I think everyone feels and knows
its just a matter of a little time for Cruz to get back on top.
- Randy
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