WHAT ARE EVAN KNOLL AND IHRA THINKING ABOUT AFC?
I need a soap box so I'm using yours. Here's the deal. IHRA and Evan Knoll need to wake up. If Knoll thinks that by throwing money at the series he's helping, well, he's not. First off, the guys that run NHRA get paid to run NHRA; if they want to cross over that's their dime they are running on. If they think for a minute these guys are going to skip NHRA dates to go to an IHRA race on their dime. . .what, are they crazy?
Secondly, it looks like the writing is on the wall when it comes to the IHRA Alcohol Funny Car class. At Epping other than the Pro Stocks, Alcohol Funny Car was the only show in town. Every qualifying session and on race day, those were the only races with two cars going down the track and not oiling it.
The media doesn’t care, heck, they don’t even both covering the class or they get a few lines and that’s it. There are so many racers in that class that work hard and don’t get any credit for it, the nitro class in IHRA is a joke, that’s why they dropped funny cars so long ago. It looks like Evan Knoll brought back the class that will kill AFC and everyone says he does so much for the sport.
One last thing...IHRA doesn’t care. They only want the class if someone else will pay for it, Knoll apparently isn’t. Every other class is already Torco Race Fuels blah, blah. Apparently there was a sponsor out there for our class but IHRA won’t say they want to keep the class so the sponsor won’t pony up the money (would you pony up the money if you didn’t know if the class you wanted to help save was even going to be there).
Ok, so here's what I am saying: help save the class, there are plenty of stories there...help cover them and make us look like the professionals that we are.
Nick Bell
Williamston, SC
IHRA LIKES RACERS
I sure hope IHRA steps it up so they can become a major player now. More people want what IHRA has now. NHRA wants power, money, and tv. IHRA wants racing and fun. They have good tracks and good people running it. They are a great place to race. They like their racers; NHRA just wants their entry fee.
Keep up the good work.
Randy Schulze
San Antonio, TX
ONE AWARD WE’RE NOT GIVING OUT
Just my opinion, but…if DRO was considering a NHRA jerk of the year award I vote for Mr. Don of DSR. I was upset with Force when he let Densham go; but that was a “family” related change. Dumping Bazemore this late in the season is just plain poor form & hurt the sport!
Mike Leffert
PUMP UP THE POWER
If the NHRA did as much work in promotion as NASCAR does they would be a lot better off. I still don’t see on ANY Powerade stuff official sponsor of the NHRA.
Jeff Kames
THE ‘60S WERE ALL A BLUR, MAN
Re: ‘69 Hawaiian, the mini charger...45 years later, I think Larry's off by a year. The weekend in question was May, 1969. They were using Mazmanian's red ramp truck, and the car ran 7.3's at each track... and it wasn't even painted, just blue metallic gel-coat, primed rear spoiler, and white shoe polish lettering... low et and top speed all three days. I was at the 'dale and the county... heck, SS/DI and Drag Racing USA both had articles on that weekend.
Karl Stalcup
Norfolk, VA via OCIR