Can we finally address some difficult subjects that the NHRA hierarchy
would not only prefer we didn’t discuss, but would like us to ignore
completely?

I’m not wondering about anything. I know these are subjects that
we can no longer pretend aren’t impacting NHRA in a potentially
damaging manner. Well, in all candor, these subjects probably aren’t
bothering NHRA in the slightest. Rather, they’re “bothering” the
competitors sharp enough to pay attention and alas, the sanctioning
organization can no longer count on a racer’s need for speed to blind
him or her to the fiscal realities of major league
motorsports. Competing at the top level of drag racing demands a
monstrous expenditure of dollars, and anything that doesn’t produce
positive results for the sport has the potential of actually holding
investment in drag racing back.

In the last year or so more and more competitors have been outspoken in
their total disdain for series sponsor POWERade. Those same competitors
wistfully recall the 27 years that Winston sponsored the series, and
long not necessarily for the return of a tobacco sponsor (obviously not
happening), but for any series sponsor who would show the kind of support for NHRA drag racing that Winston did.