Drag racing - On TV and Popularity

Tim M

Tim M

PRESIDENT, Member # 015
GCC Member
Location
St. Charles
First Name
Tim
Last Name
Mauldin
Was reading and article in one of my magazines about drag racing and comparing it to other motor sports. The article talked about the popularity of drag racing compared to NASCAR, F1 and Indy Racing. The article surmised that Drag Racing isn't as popular because it is tape delayed and it explained the reasons why. The biggest reason why live drag racing doesn't work is when engines blow up and leave oil on the track. Apparently, it takes a long time to clean this up (Kerry, Mike and Paul can probably speak to this). The author gave some reasons for the blow ups as compression ratios, horsepower and speed. Same reason they shortened 1/4 mile racing to 1000' feet.

Interesting article, I know that is the reason I don't watch it, it's not live. I really could care less if someone goes 300mph as long as it is a good race. Save the high speeds to the jet powered cars. Go back to 1/4 mile racing and involve more stock vehicles too. What do ya'll think? How could drag racing succeed at live TV? I realize that drag racing draws over 300,000 on a weekend attendance, but how many actually watch it on TV?
 
Crowds come to watch top fuel and nitro funny cars, these people have many loyal fans and yes its very hard to do live. I manely go to watch pro-stock 500 c i naturally asperated. Most can,t believe it but they are more high-tech and truely harder to drive. No just stabbing the gas peddle and hitting brake. Nhra requires they must be manually shifted. Look at the times they run within 100s of a second through the 1/4 mile and any of the top 16 could win with a little luck.
 
PINKS saved the sport from going off the air for good. In fact, I thought I heard that they owners of the show actually bought a racing series. I liked the show at first, but have lost interest a bit.

Sports on Live TV is an extremely expensive endeavor. Several million dollars of equipment, crews, pre-production, schedules, weather, and network airtime are all factors. So, money is a big factor. But bigger than that - it has to be a show. That's a huge point. It has to have a building excitement, to a big finish. Then at any given moment, someone blows an engine and you have to vamp for 20 or 30 minutes. Not good. People change the channel. Imagine a football or baseball game that has 3 or 4 30 minute stoppages. Additionally, the racing lasts for several hours or all day. Can't do that on TV.

If they could develop tracks with 4 lanes so that the action is constant regardless of accidents - you may have a shot. As a guidepost - the college football game this past week was the highest rated program EVER on cable TV. And, the number one rated cable network is always ESPN. Here in St. Louis, the highest rated cable programming (of all the channels) is always Fox Sports Cardinal Baseball. So, live sports is a money maker - but it has to be a lot of money to keep it going. Drag racing just can't pull that sort of viewership.

In fact NASCAR is struggling. Their ratings are way down, as well as track attendance. Sponsors are pulling out or renegotiating their contracts. The owners will have to adjust their rules, and finals to maintain the empire they have built. That's a daunting task in itself and they may not be able to do it.

The restrictor plate was an answer NASCAR developed some years ago. It kept the racing tight for the entire event. I know they said it was a safety issue but that was only half true. Save the fact that at speeds over 200mph accidents = death ... and that's not good TV. Anyway, a huge factor was that when the leader puts 2 or 3 laps on the field the audience left. Additionally and more macabre, with tight racing - there's more wrecks - and the audience increases.

So, if you could develop a drag live event with:
1) Building drama to a big ending
2) No or very few interruptions
3) Constant action
4) Complete event within a few hours

The best closest this is still PINKS.
 
Charlotte already has 4 lanes for drag racing - http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/dragway/

Pinks did an episode there, and they used all the lanes until towards the finals where they went to two lanes. And, they were able to prove your point of continuing action through oil layed down on the track. I wonder though about safety for the cleanup crews.

Mike, you are right, I'll bet they are much more technical to drive. I kind of compare drag racing to hockey, hard to watch on TV, but exciting to be there.
 
Charlotte already has 4 lanes for drag racing .

Yep and the big boys don't seem to care for it and can see reasoning for heads up racing. Think about you being in the drivers seat and 4 cars go down ??? from your seat your in the far left lane ???? who won.
 
All I know about drag racing is that it is a hot, long day. But if you are a participant you do not notice any of it. One of the greatest rushes I have ever had was getting to drive a slingshot rail back in the late '60s. Second was in an orginal 427 Shelby Cobra..I couldn't possibly drive the slingshot on the street so I opted for the Cobra. And it is still a rush when the wife is not with me....my left side ribs take a beating if I launch with the wife in the car.

As far as watching drag racing, I do occasionly attend. The heartpounding 8000hp controlled expolsions are still exciting to me. I cannot imagine 4 of them side by side.
The sideways torque on the 1-2 shift is better than Viagra.
 
I believe the american drag racing league were the ones who are renting the track from what I heard.
 
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