Exactly 3 of last years Top Fuel and Funny Car finishers are at Indy this weekend, that is 3 in each class. So you chase points all year and earn a top 10 number and cannot afford to race the next year. Just exactly what doesn't the top brass at NHRA understand. And it has pretty much been that way the last several years that only half or so of the prior years top teams are racing the next year.

It’s not that they can’t afford to race. Everyone one of them is a multi millionaire. They are also smart business men that won’t provide entertainment and product endorsement to the masses on their dime. Corporations pay or they park their racing operation as John Force has.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim:
Exactly 3 of last years Top Fuel and Funny Car finishers are at Indy this weekend, that is 3 in each class. So you chase points all year and earn a top 10 number and cannot afford to race the next year. Just exactly what doesn't the top brass at NHRA understand. And it has pretty much been that way the last several years that only half or so of the prior years top teams are racing the next year.

Did you fact check this? Because I count 6 top ten finishers in T/F, and 8 in Funny Car...Langdon is in T/F though instead of Funny Car.

There's a strong message when John Force Racing suspends racing mid way through the season. Kalitta, Schumacher and Force are at the age where retirement becomes a consideration. When they retire Fuel Drag Racing will dramatically change.

These three Icons made Fuel Drag Racing what it is today, I doubt that it (Professional Fuel Racing) would ever fully recover from their loss.

Sportsman Racing will go on but the NHRA will either change or not survive. Our annual fees won't keep them in business, not at the current expense level.

Bob

And you think that all 3 got where they are being stupid. All 3 have people that run their companies. All 3 pretty are out of the day to day operations but are involved because it’s their business that they enjoy

I doubt that any of them are "Stupid" (don't know where you got that from). My bet is that they are heavily involved in the day to day operations, especially Force and Schumacher perhaps a little less for Kalitta because of his other business obligations. Each enjoy the action, the atmosphere and being in charge. You can see that by their actions/re-actions on the starting line. Each hire great Drivers, Crew Chiefs, PR folks and other Department heads.

Bob