It’s a new year, the start of a new decade and the Burkster is still wondering

  Just Wondering … What’s next? NHRA made rev-limiters mandatory then shortened the racetrack to 1,000 feet and still the nitro cars are going over 330 mph. Is it really that hard to make rules that will slow down these cars?

 Just Wondering …I’d bet my house that NHRA had the same kind of season in 2010 that they did in 2009 season when NHRA’s gross receipts went down about $14,000,000 compared to 2008. We won’t know for sure until we see the 2010 tax return after Oct. 15. So, my question is how does adding two more suits to the NHRA Board of Directors help NHRA management stop the bleeding?

 Just Wondering …On that same subject, just how much “fat” was there in the NHRA budget in the past if losing $14 million in revenue in 2009 didn’t put them out of business or at least in serious debt?

 Just Wondering …Will the recent purchase of Memphis Motorsports Park by one of the owners of the IHRA track at West Palm Beach mean the NHRA will try to return to that track with a national event or will Memphis become an IHRA-sanctioned track and get a Nitro Jam?

 Just Wondering …Will the lack of a series sponsor and the escalating price of building and racing an ADRL Pro Extreme Pro Mod bring an end to the last truly unlimited class in professional drag racing? My hunch is there will be some kind of minimum weight rule coming to that class.

 Just Wondering …Without a series sponsor how long will the ADRL continue to not charge its racers an entry fee? I’m guessing ADRL racers will be paying to race this season.

 Just Wondering …Will the outrage of some NHRA sportsman racers regarding the increase in entry fees translate to fewer entries in 2011?
The answer is yes for the true sportsman racers and no for NHRA’s “professional” sportsman racer. The net result will be a continuation of the   trend of fewer and fewer sportsman entries at NHRA national events.