NHRA

[Speedway]

Coming off the NHRA US Nationals, I am curious of everyone's opinion on the sport of NHRA drag racing - a subject that gets very little attention here on SportsJournalists.com. Have you covered a race? attended a race? If so, how was the experience? What is your opinion of the sport's current and future place in the overall motorsports/sports landscape?

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

I've attended a couple of events. They're quite exhilirating when the vehicles speed down the track. Unfortunately, for every five seconds spent watching them travel at ridiculous speeds you spend five to ten minutes baking in the heat. It's a sport tailor-made for tape-delay on television. They can go in and edit out all the downtime so that you see nothing but one race after another.

I wouldn't be opposed to attending another event. It just won't be at the strip in Ennis.

 

[buckweaver]

Drag racing is one of those events you have to go to once in your life. There's nothing quite like it. The sights, the speed, the smell (of course), the sounds (don't forget your earplugs), the way your chest reverberates as the cars are revving up. Just an exhilarating experience, even if you're not a gearhead, which I'm not at all.

Still, in my opinion, easily the most accessible "major" sport to cover, as well. From John Force, who really sets the tone for everyone in the sport with his engaging personality, down to the most anonymous crew members, there is little of the pretension in the garage that you'll find everywhere else. Covering NHRA will spoil you rotten, most days.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I shot photos at a race in Topeka a while ago. Probably the most insane sports event I've covered. It's so loud you can actually feel it. One thing I hadn't known before is that they have to go out occasionally and scrape the rubber from the tires off the concrete. The event was capped with a jet engine car. Every piece of paper at the track ended up on one of the fences.

 

[Bob Cook]

I've attended a couple of events. They're quite exhilirating when the vehicles speed down the track. Unfortunately, for every five seconds spent watching them travel at ridiculous speeds you spend five to ten minutes baking in the heat. It's a sport tailor-made for tape-delay on television. They can go in and edit out all the downtime so that you see nothing but one race after another.

I wouldn't be opposed to attending another event. It just won't be at the strip in Ennis.

Echoed. Went to the U.S. Nationals once. It was fun to do, but I wouldn't race (no pun intended) to go back. Although as a reporter (I covered them one year), it is almost amazing how much access you get compared with other sports.

As for the U.S. Nationals, it's a damn shame they tore down the Clermont Drive-In across the street.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

A buddy here at work tells the story about going to his local drag strip when he was in high school. A car takes off and the blower explodes off the top of the engine. Few seconds later, he hears this insane scream right behind him. Looks around, and a guy has a chunk of engine sticking out of his thigh. Good times.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Funny ... I figured this thread would be about the feud that broke out between the Pedregons and the Forces at Indy yesterday.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4453304&categoryid=2755879

1stADD:<blockquote>Force was in the semifinal against one of the drivers who works for him, Robert Hight. Hight was 11th in points and needed to beat Force in the semi to get into the Countdown to 1 playoff. In 10th place and needing Hight to lose against Force, was Cruz Pedregon, last year’s season champion and Tony Pedregon’s brother.

Both Pedregon brothers predicted in advance that Force would tank his semi so that Hight would get the final Countdown berth.

When Force smoked his tires and Hight did indeed win to knock Cruz out of the Countdown, things turned ugly.

At the far end of the track, Tony, who had just lost to Force’s daughter, got out of his car and started berating the 14-time Funny Car champion.

Force, threw his cap and glasses to the ground, returned fire and the two went grill to grill screaming at each other. For several minutes without letup.

Pedregon called Force a cheater and Force said that Pedregon was just mad because Ashley Force Hood had just kicked his butt.

They had to be separated several times by team members and NHRA officials.

In separate TV interviews afterward they continued ripping each other’s integrity. Tony Pedregon, who had driven for Force for eight years and won a championship at John Force Racing, said he knows that Force issues team orders. Force said he gave Pedregon a job and taught him how to drive and should know better.

Pedregon: Force cheats and he should be ashamed of himself.

Force: I’m not going to play that game.

Perhaps the seamiest part of it all was former driver and current TV analyst Mike Dunn lining up with the Pedregons and accusing Force of cheating. For like 20 minutes. Dude.

Did Force tank? Only one person knows for sure.</blockquote>http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/nhra-the-big-go-was-an-incredible-go-sunday-in-indy/

 

[exmediahack]

Yup, covered the races in Kansas a few moons ago for TV. Loved the experience although I can't say I really understood the sport.

Most unusual part:
Kenny Bernstein sent me an autographed glossy at the station, thanking me for interviewing him after a race. A race he didn't even win. Not even sure how we got or even remembered my name.

The only reason that is important is that, 13 years later, I still remember it.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Easiest interview in sports: Press the record button, ask John Force how things are going this weekend.

Second easiest: Darrell Waltrip, same process.

 

[imjustagirl]

Did Force tank? Only one person knows for sure.

With all due respect to Pedley, whom I love...EVERYONE knows. A reaction time of .209 when his average is a .06 or something? Getting out of the groove immediately? Rolling over to the wall?

At least Force should know to fake it a little better.

 

[Bubbler]

As much as I love auto racing, I just can't get into drag racing. I don't really like sprints in any sport, be it track, swimming, horse racing, etc.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

Easiest interview in sports: Press the record button, ask John Force how things are going this weekend.

Second easiest: Darrell Waltrip, same process.

Hardest: First time with Ward Burton, same process

 

[playthrough]

Like Buck said, it's something you gotta see once. The words "TV doesn't do it justice" might have been invented for NHRA drag racing.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

It really is something that's fascinating to see once. Attended the Winternationals when I was in high school. My dad insisted on a spot near the starting line.

Was cleaning small chunks of rubber out of my clothing, lungs and nose for days.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Easily the best part of my job. I cover a few events each year and while couldn't technically be called a regular, but do enough that many of the drivers and team owners recognize me even if they don't know exactly who I am.

I covered my first event in 1996 and have been going ever since. In short, I love it. I never get to go to the U.S. Nationals because of college football commitments, but I stayed glued to the TV on Monday.

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

Easiest interview in sports: Press the record button, ask John Force how things are going this weekend.

Second easiest: Darrell Waltrip, same process.

Hardest: First time with Ward Burton, same process

Plus you have to have a decoder ring to understand what he's saying. There was a site several years back that was a "What if Wawd had a blog" type thing. Everything was written phonetically the way Wawd would have said it. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Ashy Larry]

Yup, covered the races in Kansas a few moons ago for TV. Loved the experience although I can't say I really understood the sport.

Most unusual part:
Kenny Bernstein sent me an autographed glossy at the station, thanking me for interviewing him after a race. A race he didn't even win. Not even sure how we got or even remembered my name.

The only reason that is important is that, 13 years later, I still remember it.

you don't understand the sport? It's 2 cars......the car that crosses the finish line first wins.

***I pray you meant you don't understand the appeal of the sport.

 

[Ashy Larry]

Perhaps he meant he doesn't understand the mechanics and intricacies of the sport -- all the parts and pieces that go into making one dragster run faster and smoother than another.

Most non-gearheads, including myself, don't really get that stuff, either.

maybe.....but he certainly didn't portray that message.

You probably noticed I gave him the benefit of doubt that he actually didn't understand the sport.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Easiest interview in sports: Press the record button, ask John Force how things are going this weekend.

Second easiest: Darrell Waltrip, same process.

Hardest: First time with Ward Burton, same process

The real problem there is translating it from Virginian into English.

 

[Moderator1]

I've covered a number of events and enjoyed it every time.

NASCAR these days, trying to get a driver: Get in touch with PR, get runaround, get more runaround, don't get driver or get him on a conference call or something or a two-minute walk-and-talk at the track if you can get there.

NHRA, trying to get a driver: Get in touch with PR. "Sure, here's his/her cell number."

NHRA people seem to enjoy having the media around, or at least they act like they do.

I've done stories on Force and both Pedregons. I bet that "donnybrook" was fun to cover.