Just Wondering while watching the last NHRA race at Virginia Motorsports Park….again

Just Wondering … Why the stick and ball media who cover NASCAR making such a big deal about 50 years-old Mark Martin winning a few races and contending for the their championship? It’s no big deal in my book. Ten years ago in 1999 when John Force was 50 he won eleven national events and a Winston World Championship in Nitro Funny Car. That same year, at the ripe old age of 56,  Warren Johnson won seven national events and the Winston World Championship in Pro Stock. If Mark Martin or any of those NASCAR guys get close to that record when they are 56, then I’ll start to be impressed.

Just Wondering … Why the NHRA doesn’t bother to report the speeds as well as the ET’s of  Comp, Super Stock and Stock racers? For some of us knowing how fast a Super Stock racer who records an 8.11 E.T. went is just as important as knowing Mike Edwards’ speed when he ran a 6.509 in Pro Stock.

Just Wondering … If the speed of a Top Fuel, Funny Car or Pro Stocker are truly unimportant to the point that  setting or breaking the speed record in those classes aren’t worth awarding points, then why put them up on the boards at all?

Just Wondering … Could there be a shift in the force? A Pro Mod team got the NHRA’s best appearing award at VMP! Could a Pro Mod get named best engineered next? Could this be a precursor of NHRA considering adding Pro Mod as a professional class?  If Mr. Burgess waves enough money at the NHRA management, I’d say yes.

Just Wondering … How can the mainstream media and Corporate America really take drag racing seriously as a business or a sport as long as ESPN continues to pre-empt the NHRA broadcasts for virtually any other sports event? I believe that Tom Compton cut the best deal he could when he negotiated the current ESPN contract. But for NHRA’s own good and that of its sponsors, it is time for Tom to renegotiate the deal. A 2 a.m. broadcast of qualifying hurts NHRA drag racing’s image  more than it helps.

Just Wondering … Am I the only one who hopes that Angelle Sampey gets a Top Fuel or Funny Car ride? I think her post-race interviews and quotes could rival those of the great Shirley Muldowney -- and drag racing needs someone to take the burden of great interviews off the ol’ truck driver, John Force.

Just Wondering … Will Alan Johnson and Al-Anabi team owner Sheikh Khalid Al Thani step up to multiple Top Fuel and Funny Car teams in 2010?  My money is on yes. Especially if two or three of John Force’s or Don Schumacher’s teams finish in the top five in points in T/F and or F/C. World championships, not wins, are what is important to the owner of the Al-Anabi team and sponsorship money isn’t an issue.