First NHRA race of the season....
 

Any NHRA fans here? The new points system should make it interesting. Wonder if TF dragster will dip into the 30's before the end of the season? Looks like ESPN will be covering Ashley force 70% of the time. Hope she does well. I would like to see her against John in a final. Anyone heard the scoop on the new mono-strut wing? Interesting stuff.

Yes,Ashley certainly is a draw...I heard after she ran on Friday,the grandstands about emptied.I think NHRA is trying to get "hip" and "trendy" overnight but if they're not careful,I think it's absolutely possible to over expose even John Force!

Having Ashley qualify for her first AA/FC race was huge plus for her team...heck,even the great Kenny Bernstein could crack the quickest F/C field ever.

The mono-strut is closer to reality,I think the NHRA just wants to test some more to be certain everything checks out...I know Hot Rod Fuller & Rob Flynn tested it extensively in Vegas with the Valvoline car.

No surprises... seems like most of the teams started where they left off last year with a few stuggles / mistakes and bugs to be worked out.
I was disappointed in the coverage though..... I felt like I was watching the John & Ashley show.... Its big news dont get me wrong, but so is Whit switching over, Bernstein and Jeg returning etc and I feel they didnt get that much media attention compared to the Force family. Hopefully it'll calm down and they'll pay attention to the racing and not the drama.

I agree, there is a lot of news out there, but from an NHRA standpoint, they would like to get some of the non-racing audience that watch A&E's Driving Force which is running a second season. I was looking for all of the new stuff with Bazemore, Bernstein, Jeg, and many of the other driver/crew chief changes. I am sure it will even out over the next few events. JR Todd was pretty impressive with a string of 4.4x's

Very glad to see the NHRA season kick off. Looks like some interesting changes and happenings this year.
Saw this on the wing - http://www.nhra.com/content/news.asp...18208&zoneid=8 - will be cool to see how it does. Bad part is the real testing needs to be a tire blow out at 330mph. Anyone feeling froggy?:question:

Mark

Ok, so I really liked the intro. I have heard the intro song but do not know who plays it? Welcome to the Show? And yes, I think Bruce is exactly correct as I see it. Got to introduce new none drag racing fans to the sport that saw Driving Force.

I don't care what they do as long as they ditch the stupid freakin points system. They give trophy's at each race, the championship should be about a season. I HATE the idea of a playoff, HATE it.

But I still love it, and someday I would just love to have a Pro Stocker. Not even to compete in NHRA, just to screw around with!

Forget. I found it. You can find anything on ARES.

Saliva

Ladies and Gentlemen

Video footage of new mono-strut wing..

http://www.1320tv.com/racevideos/pre...20at%20Phoenix

:D I LOVE DRAG RACING ( Theres nothing like the sound of 8000hp )!!!:D I went to pomona at the end of last season, and also went to Bandimere! Both times there were enormus crowds around the force family rigs in the pits. Ashley is fun to look on tv and its great she's getting into funnycars. I glad its getting more popular, but I agree that they need to promote more than just the force family.

Ahhh..The smell of NITRO is finally back!! It was great to watch the season opener. I have to admit (although I like Force) it was getting old hearing about Ashley in every other sentence. Hats off and good luck to her and the whole team what they are embarking on, but there are plenty of other people that should have shared the spotlight IMO. What about Bazemore now in Top Fuel, Kenny Bernstein back in a Funny Car, Dixon's New Sponsor, Lucas Oil Alliance with Evan Knoll that took Mike Ashley & Melanie Troxel out of Schumachers Camp? And that's just in the Fuel classes.

I'm with Bruce, JR Todd is going to be a force to reckon this year. They started just where they left off last year. Alan Johnson is the man no doubt and what he pulled off last year was just amazing. I guess I'm just tired of seeing Tony Schumacher. Seems like an arrogant azz IMO. As far Funny car...Where the hell is Skuza?? I know his deal fell through. I would really like to see him back out there. He always did well with less than everybody else. Would be nice to see him get a full ride and see what he can really do. His old Crew Chief Brian Corradi is doing an awesome job over there on Mike Ashley's car. Hopefully we'll see Skuza out there again soon!! Should be interesting to see Toliver back out there. He needs some good help over there - he fell apart towards the end of the WWF era & didn't amouont to much with Schick. Hopefully he'll do better.

Pro Stock...Hands down the most technical and closest qualifying class out there. So many good drivers and teams out there. I don't care who wins - as long as it isn't one of those Summit Cars!! :lol: I want to see it get mixed up this year.

I'm with you also Frank...I hate the new system!!!

That's my .02.

Looking forward to a good year & making it to a few races.

Brent

Taking a bunch of the guys up to Gainesville for the Gatornationals. Time to burn those notrils with some fresh Nitro...

Don Garlits ran a wing similar to that a few years ago.

Pic from 4 years ago, he may have tried it before that;

http://www.south1967.com/images/Gass...dragster_b.JPG

I found a pic where he was running it back in '92. NHRA has taken awhile to catch up, :lol: .

I heard that he had run one. Good picture!!

Just a side note guys for those that watch NHRA.
A new team last year has moved here to Pigeon Forge, in fact are renting shop space from me. Their name is Coghlan Motorsports. They were semi sponsored by Volvo Trucks last year and are currently looking for some good sponsorship, but still plan on running about 5-10 races on their own dime this year. They did pretty good for their first time out last season and could be serious competition if they could land sponsorship. I hope to go to a couple races with them this year and will keep everyone updated on their progress. :thumbsup:
I also got keys to the shop. If someone happens to be in town, we could make a lap on the strip.......:lol:

Bill, Are they a Top Fuel operation?



Kurt



www.autokraft.org

Sorry , YES!
Troy Buff is their driver.

Here is their website link
http://www.coghlanmotorsports.com/

Now Bill, what if I get arrested in Pigeon Forge driving a stolen top fuel dragster on the strip????????????????

Oh, forget it, I forgot I have the hook up!

It's good to know the commissioner!

I am not worried about a ticket, just concerned about the left turns at each end of the strip. Maybe a throttle controled spin will work...:yes:

Got back from the Gatornationals this weekend. Every time you see that stuff it just gets you all cranked up. Many upsets, underdogs and even the qualifying was nuts. Weather conditions were spectacular. I know you want to corner too, but anyone on here interested in going to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing school for a couple of days ?

I want to go to Roy Hills Pro Stock school so bad I can't stand it. I have droped every hint in the world to Lisa about what a great B Day present that would make. Some day (in my spare time) I would like to get a ex Pro Stock car and set it up to run Top Sportsman.

I am with you Bruce, i get all fired up after being at the races. The street racer has been parked since Pigeon Forge, but I think I will dust it off this week.