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The latest update as of March 15, 2009
Back for more. Yes, it's been a one-day gap between updates, but there are other things in life besides drag racing. So, where were we? We left off with 64 Funny Cars didn't we?
For now it's just an idle daydream, but I was truly shocked by the number of competitors in the Nostalgia Funny Car ranks at Bakersfield last weekend. 31 blown f@#%ing fuel floppers for a race in early March. Incredible!
True, the majority (17 out of the 29 cars that attempted to qualify) were from California, but the numbers are there. Imagine the turnout of competitors for a big money, big prestige race like the Bill Doner-promoted extravaganzas of yesteryear. Add in a contingent of top alcohol funnies and a platoon of slower nostalgia-style blown alky cars from the International Blown Alcohol Association, and there's the makings of an honest-to-goodness 64-car field.
Unlike the heyday of such events, the logistics of putting together such an event might prove insurmountable with the number of competing events that would siphon off possible entrants, the cost of travelling to the event, and the cost of making the two or three passes required for the show. Add it all up, and a considerable financial investment would be required of a promoter, but the possibility to put on a show with one of the most storied titles in drag racing history is truly there.
To make it work, two or even three tracks working together, coordinating dates and booking in the racers, could pull it off and generate a profit with the proper promotion. Any takers? Anyone brave enough to give it a shot?
Where to next? The situation at IHRA, the refuge for lower-dollar fuel cars (only long ones this year) and non-PSI blown alky funny cars (not any more, as they're off the roster this year). Let's leave this one alone until later in the week, as I've got to get up to speed on just what's happening over at the "I" and how it's interacting with the formerly upstart ADRL. Formerly, as in they're getting bigger and stronger all the time and preparing to do some serious damage to at least one of the bigger associations in the doorlsammer categories.
How about the latest attempts at parity between the injected nitro and blown alcohol dragsters in NHRA? Is two percent less nitro in the tank going to make a difference? Based on the results from Gainesville today, with all four semifinalists burning the yellow stuff, and running pretty quick and fast, with cumulative bests of 5.26 - 277.49 for the injected cars, and 5.41 at 265.01 for the blown guys, I've got to give it a provisional NO. The east coast is known more for A/FD's than B/AD's, but a tally of 16 injected vs. 6 blown cars is quite a difference.
By comparison, the season opening Winternationals showed a total of 12 injected vs. 7 blown cars, with a best blown performance of 5.27 - 270.54 against a 5.38 - 264.55 best for the A/FD's. Hmm, so which style is going to dominate this season? Injected, blown, or neither? Let's wait a few months for the verdict, and see how the cars perform in different air, track and geographic situations. For now, let's assume that any race where Shawn Cowie, Chris Demke and Jim Whitely are entered will favour the blown cars, while their non-attendance will automatically give the nod to the injected guys.
Looking at the Gatornationals results in the pro classes, a few upsets are catching my eye, with Bobby Lagana going to his first ever NHRA semifinal and Tony Schumacher going out in the second round for the second time in three events. On the brighter side, Top Fuel rookie Shawn Langdon in the second Lucas Racing entry, is quietly putting together a pretty decent first season in the pro ranks, with a round win in each of the last two events.
On the flopper side, Bobby Tasca is in the final round, and hasn't had a first round loss this year, while last year's world champion, Cruz Pedregon, hasn't advanced past the first round yet this season. Contrast that performance with NHRA rookie Matt Hagan's three round wins and steadily improving performances at the first trio of races this year.
FLASH: Bobby Tasca just won his first NHRA national event, defeating Tony Pedregon in the final round. Congratulations to entire Tasca team. Good showing from one of the new-ish guys.
Too bad it's such a long wait for Canadian drag racing fans to see the NHRA Gatornationals on TSN (unless you've got access to ESPN/2) as the broadcast isn't scheduled to air until Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 AM (P.D.T.). A full week and a half after the event. Strangely enough, the following event (the Spring Nationals from Houston) goes to air less than a week after its conclusion, then we're back to the week and a half-plus delay for the Las Vegas race. Oh well, be happy with what you get, as racing broadcasts have come ahead lightyears from the days of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" and their three, four or even six month delays before broadcasting the skimpiest highlights of events.
And that's all we have time for today, as the competing interests of work and home will keep me from any more writing for the day. Tune in tomorrow evening for the next update. Until then, let's keep the shiny side up!
PS: To see yesterday's update/rant/blog, click here.