Rumors I heard about the future of NHRA drag racing, GM, and NASCAR
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Rumors I heard about the future of NHRA drag racing, GM, and NASCAR
Maybe all, some, or none of this will pan out but since I got this info. from a guy with deep connections with NHRA and NASCAR I am willing to bet some of it is true. I am not going to name my source but I can tell you he is interested to see if anyone adds to the information he has given me. If you have something to add or have heard about any of this, please chime in. I have not searched the net yet to see if anyone else is reporting on this so feel free to post a link if you have seen something.
Here are some of the interesting things from our conversation and in no certain order:
Many know that NHRA Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson is campaigning his final year racing in Pro Stock. Some realized he removed these decals from his cars several races ago regarding his farewell tour. Some even reported on it but with no great detail.
Here is where the rumors start.
It is rumored that GM has offered Warren Johnson a high position within GM heading up a division dedicated to shift GM back into drag racing full force. Now this would be great and something GM should have done long ago since Warren helped develop many widely used high performance parts for GM of which GM never compensated Johnson for appropriately. (There is more to GM slighting Warren years ago but that is not as relevant.)
So if this happens GM will finally recognize (and compensate) WJ the way they should have years ago. And while I am no fan of GM I am a big fan of WJ and his profound knowledge of Pro Stock / Drag Racing.
This then brings up some other interesting things to ponder. GM is supposedly going to make a big push back into NHRA (with WJ's help) so does this mean GM is going to start phasing out their presence in NASCAR ? The rumor is yes ! GM has not been getting the return on NASCAR that they had hoped for (in car sales) and with their push into the truck market, back into sports cars (not to mention the rumored return of the Camaro and Firebirds), and cut in cars like the Monte Carlo (NASCAR type platforms) it is plausible. Maybe a stretch but stranger things have happened. Not to mention the next generation NASCAR body scheduled for use in 2007 is not going over well.
Something else to consider is Bruton Smith has been making waves about purchasing the NHRA. (He owns a few NASCAR tracks in case you do not know of him.) Is it possible that Bruton sees the writing on the wall about NASCAR starting to loose some of it's base to organizations like the NHRA so that is why he wants to buy in now ? Hmmmmm... Bruton is a smart business man.
Market research by GM and some other big automakers show drag racing is starting to get popular again and that NASCAR (the convoluted mess it already is) is starting to slide quicker than expected. Advanced ticket sales and RV rental spaces for 2006 are already off to a slower than usual start.
I am a fan of the NHRA and NASCAR but I certainly can see how NASCAR is staring to turn people away on many levels. It would be great to see drag racing come back (with factory based cars) and have the big automakers out spending money to get back into the sport. The only problem I see is the dwindling amount of drag race facilities across the country thanks to local politicians and urban sprawl.
It would be great to see some of this pan out. If you stop and think about some of these things there are many ways that make it plausible. The off season for drag racing and NASCAR should be very interesting this year to say the least.
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Here are some of the interesting things from our conversation and in no certain order:
Many know that NHRA Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson is campaigning his final year racing in Pro Stock. Some realized he removed these decals from his cars several races ago regarding his farewell tour. Some even reported on it but with no great detail.
Here is where the rumors start.
It is rumored that GM has offered Warren Johnson a high position within GM heading up a division dedicated to shift GM back into drag racing full force. Now this would be great and something GM should have done long ago since Warren helped develop many widely used high performance parts for GM of which GM never compensated Johnson for appropriately. (There is more to GM slighting Warren years ago but that is not as relevant.)
So if this happens GM will finally recognize (and compensate) WJ the way they should have years ago. And while I am no fan of GM I am a big fan of WJ and his profound knowledge of Pro Stock / Drag Racing.
This then brings up some other interesting things to ponder. GM is supposedly going to make a big push back into NHRA (with WJ's help) so does this mean GM is going to start phasing out their presence in NASCAR ? The rumor is yes ! GM has not been getting the return on NASCAR that they had hoped for (in car sales) and with their push into the truck market, back into sports cars (not to mention the rumored return of the Camaro and Firebirds), and cut in cars like the Monte Carlo (NASCAR type platforms) it is plausible. Maybe a stretch but stranger things have happened. Not to mention the next generation NASCAR body scheduled for use in 2007 is not going over well.
Something else to consider is Bruton Smith has been making waves about purchasing the NHRA. (He owns a few NASCAR tracks in case you do not know of him.) Is it possible that Bruton sees the writing on the wall about NASCAR starting to loose some of it's base to organizations like the NHRA so that is why he wants to buy in now ? Hmmmmm... Bruton is a smart business man.
Market research by GM and some other big automakers show drag racing is starting to get popular again and that NASCAR (the convoluted mess it already is) is starting to slide quicker than expected. Advanced ticket sales and RV rental spaces for 2006 are already off to a slower than usual start.
I am a fan of the NHRA and NASCAR but I certainly can see how NASCAR is staring to turn people away on many levels. It would be great to see drag racing come back (with factory based cars) and have the big automakers out spending money to get back into the sport. The only problem I see is the dwindling amount of drag race facilities across the country thanks to local politicians and urban sprawl.
It would be great to see some of this pan out. If you stop and think about some of these things there are many ways that make it plausible. The off season for drag racing and NASCAR should be very interesting this year to say the least.
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I typed a pretty long response, but decided it was pretty off topic and deleted it, lol.
It was basically a rant on Nascar destroying itself with limp wristed, complacent, PC drivers and "stock" cars that don't resemble ANYTHING you can go buy at a dealership in any way shape or form
It was basically a rant on Nascar destroying itself with limp wristed, complacent, PC drivers and "stock" cars that don't resemble ANYTHING you can go buy at a dealership in any way shape or form
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gm is already with the import crowd on the drag racing.but i would love to see g.m come back into nhra and see cars that are more of a stock then carbon fiber bodys and such.when i was younger i liked nascar this is when the cars looked some what like the cars they where based of.now they are all close to the same with diff nose peices and rear bumpers and there is to many restrictions on them i think all forms of raceing need to go back to how they where in the late 60s and early 70s when the cars raced on sunday where really the cars u could buy on monday..
i've also heard that w.j is trying to get nhra to run fuel injection he says these are suppost to be prostock cars.well the prostockers in the early days ran what was coming out the factory.when was the last car to come out using a carb.we need to run fuel injection and other things.
also i would like to see top fuel open up let them run a bigger engine and turbos an diff blowers this is what made the classes so fun to watch in the early years.
i've also heard that w.j is trying to get nhra to run fuel injection he says these are suppost to be prostock cars.well the prostockers in the early days ran what was coming out the factory.when was the last car to come out using a carb.we need to run fuel injection and other things.
also i would like to see top fuel open up let them run a bigger engine and turbos an diff blowers this is what made the classes so fun to watch in the early years.
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There have been some repeat replies to my thread on other sites I linked this story to and it was concerning most do not see NASCAR slowing up.
Do a little searching on advance ticket sales / RV reservations at track and see what you get. I watched many NASCAR races this year that had less than full grandstands of which I have never seen before. And the new business attraction they are bringing to the sport via tv ads, endorsements, etc. are just chasing away the core group which in the end is going seriously effect the sports following. A perfect example and something to think about is why did NASCAR add the lucky dog b.s. and the new points system ?
Don't get me wrong I would like to see NASCAR stick around but to me at the current pace it is going to implode on itself because they are dumbing it down to appease sponsors and the masses.
Do a little searching on advance ticket sales / RV reservations at track and see what you get. I watched many NASCAR races this year that had less than full grandstands of which I have never seen before. And the new business attraction they are bringing to the sport via tv ads, endorsements, etc. are just chasing away the core group which in the end is going seriously effect the sports following. A perfect example and something to think about is why did NASCAR add the lucky dog b.s. and the new points system ?
Don't get me wrong I would like to see NASCAR stick around but to me at the current pace it is going to implode on itself because they are dumbing it down to appease sponsors and the masses.
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It kinda makes sense with what you're saying Scott. The NHRA is a much cheaper proposition than NASCAR as far as running a car, sponsoring a car, and more importantly, building a national facility.
The question I have is are NASCAR ticket sales sliding because of reduced popularity or the gas crunch? The gas crunch will affect the NHRA just as much as NASCAR. Obviously the NASCAR boom was a fad, and all fads must end. I agree with Bill that NASCAR is replacing the inbred rednecks that gave the sport character with the "cheese and wine" crowd of mid-west pansies.
The question I have is are NASCAR ticket sales sliding because of reduced popularity or the gas crunch? The gas crunch will affect the NHRA just as much as NASCAR. Obviously the NASCAR boom was a fad, and all fads must end. I agree with Bill that NASCAR is replacing the inbred rednecks that gave the sport character with the "cheese and wine" crowd of mid-west pansies.
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Yeah, spending the money on making better cars might help them more in that arena. The only GM cars I would buy are the Vette and the GTO. Pretty much every car guy I talk to agrees, including former GM guys who got fed up after they axed the f-body and aren't as rabidly fanatical. In every other segment there are much better cars from other manufacturers for not much more money. Everything from minivans to sport compacts to midsize sedans, GM is one of the last companies you'd consider, down there with Kia in quality, design, and technology.
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It looks like GM is backing and betting big on the Eco-Tech in drag racing.
"With the Saturn Ion RedLine coming out in 2004, it gave some time for GM to think about what upgrade options would be available. Then the Chevrolet came on broad with the Cobalt SS version. Now coming into 2006, the performance packages are being laid out this week. SEMA is the big launch for Sport Compact and GM Tuners website http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersource/html/home.htm
Upgrade packages are being released for the EcoTec 2.0L SC boosting power to 250+. Limited Slip Diffs are being offered as RPO options for 2006 in Cobalt and RedLine. These LSD's are for the F35/MU3 GETRAG 5 speed transmission. This transmission is rated extremely well in load ratings. GM must of tested this transmission very well to offer LSD's with full warranty in place still. The GVW on this F35 is 5000 lbs. You can view alot of details at this webpage... Pictures are also on this page of the engine and transmission. Comparsion of the gear ratios also available."
"With the Saturn Ion RedLine coming out in 2004, it gave some time for GM to think about what upgrade options would be available. Then the Chevrolet came on broad with the Cobalt SS version. Now coming into 2006, the performance packages are being laid out this week. SEMA is the big launch for Sport Compact and GM Tuners website http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersource/html/home.htm
Upgrade packages are being released for the EcoTec 2.0L SC boosting power to 250+. Limited Slip Diffs are being offered as RPO options for 2006 in Cobalt and RedLine. These LSD's are for the F35/MU3 GETRAG 5 speed transmission. This transmission is rated extremely well in load ratings. GM must of tested this transmission very well to offer LSD's with full warranty in place still. The GVW on this F35 is 5000 lbs. You can view alot of details at this webpage... Pictures are also on this page of the engine and transmission. Comparsion of the gear ratios also available."
