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Riding that rumor train… |
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I sat back and listened to the rumors that have recently permeated the scene regarding the IHRA and its president Bill Bader. At first, I didn't want to believe the rumors had any bit of creditability, but I've worked in this industry long enough to never discount any possibility, no matter how vague or incredible it may seem. Of course, this then made me think just how detrimental, if not devastating, the purported changes could be to the sport we've come to love and regard. Over the years, we've heard that the best part of the IHRA's existence is that they have served to keep the NHRA in check. You had better believe that one to be the gospel truth. No matter how much I might second-guess the IHRA's decisions from time to time, I know their place in the current hierarchy of the sport is vital. There are skeptics that may say that the NHRA is the major league and the IHRA is nothing more than the minors. If that case holds true, what would major league baseball be without its farm system? Then there's the arrogance factor. If you think it's hard on the NHRA side now, imagine where it would go if they suddenly became the only game in town. If you're a sportsman racer, you might better get acquainted with bracket racing at your local track. If you're a low-buck nitro racer, you'd better take up badminton or work on your match race schedule. That is…if the rumors are true. Bader contends they aren't. He's not going anywhere, but he doesn't deny that the game plan may change. By my calculations, the first two years were to be tough years. And, they were. There were a few bridges burned along the way…but the show continued on. Then, there were three more years of maturing. In some ways, Bader and his show did. In others, there was teenage mentality shown…but the show continued on.
That brings us to today's growth and there's a push to do just that. The IHRA continues to sign up new member tracks and finds ways to condense their show into a more efficient presentation. In my years of being involved with the IHRA, I have never been witness to four consecutive national events all being finished by 5:30 PM on Sunday. Heck, if I saw two I was on Cloud 9. That kind of effort comes with delegating authority and that's exactly what Bader has done. It came at the perfect time. Bader turned to right hand man Aaron Polburn to look over the publishing end of things with his Drag Review publication and the moves made this year have made it something other than the laughing stock of the industry. Still the microphone man that holds no punches, Polburn can whip the crowd into a frenzy when the only thing they've witnessed is a 5.15 oil-spewing Top Fuel run. But that's okay, in this world of fighting for the entertainment dollar, sensationalism is a good route to take. Bader then appointed a former protégé, Scooter Peaco, to the position of competiton director and gave him the outline to make the show more efficient and he did just that. He may seem on a power trip at times, but that's okay. That's what the job demands. Being the man on top of leveling the playing field is the job admittedly no one wants. But, someone has to take it. Indeed, everyone is a critic on the outside looking in. No one is a critic on the inside looking out. It just never ceases to amaze me why Bader decided to give up a seemingly quiet retirement in Idaho to put up with the crap he has in the last few years with the IHRA. He did it to keep the sport of drag racing in check. Admittedly, I think he's found it to be much more difficult than his previous position of running Norwalk Raceway Park . If he hadn't taken on this gig, the sport would be in much worse shape than it is. Drag racing is much better now with Bader than it ever could have been without him. If the rumors play out and he is ousted by majority owner Clear Channel in their drive to do away with open competition as suggested, some might say good riddance. Those of us in the know…know otherwise. As for the changes, sometimes we fail to see this as a business. Having a three-day national event for the professionals makes no sense whatsoever in the IHRA's program. It certainly doesn't bring in the crowd. If the IHRA decides to go to one day of qualifying and one day of eliminations for the professionals, by all means give it your support. It's better than a booked in match-race show. If Friday becomes a sportsman only day, then give it the thumbs-up. The sportsman drag racers are the ones that need to worry the most. If one sanctioning body has their way, there will be no sportsman drag racing. If rumors come true for the other, you will no longer be needed as filler. The day it hits will be like getting run over by a southbound freight train. As for me, I'll be the guy riding out this rumor train and hoping it gets derailed before that dreadful day comes. What do you think? Drop us a line at CompPlusEditor@aol.com .
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