IHRA FUNNY CAR’S FUTURE?
Wed, 2008-10-08 16:28
The IHRA’s Nitro Funny Car class hasn’t been cancelled yet but it’s clear the class isn’t on solid ground either.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn confirmed that unless the class secures title sponsorship he doesn’t see the eliminator remaining on their agenda.
“The bottom line is that we need funding for the class,” Polburn admitted. “If the funding isn’t found, we will not run the class.”
No time line has been established to determine the future of the class. Unless funding is established, the nitro flops will be gone after 2008
The IHRA’s Nitro Funny Car class hasn’t been cancelled yet but it’s clear the class isn’t on solid ground either.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn confirmed that unless the class secures title sponsorship he doesn’t see the eliminator remaining on their agenda.
“The bottom line is that we need funding for the class,” Polburn admitted. “If the funding isn’t found, we will not run the class.”
No time line has been established to determine the future of the class.
The Nitro Funny Car division returned full-time to the IHRA in 2006 at the request of Evan Knoll but the class reportedly became expendable in 2008 when many of Knoll’s sponsorships disintegrated.
The IHRA was recently acquired by circus promoter Kenneth Feld as part of his Live Nation Motorsports purchase. A sense of uncertainty has permeated the IHRA’s future since the acquisition.
Polburn believes bigger and better things loom on the horizon for the IHRA, but details remain unknown at this time.
“The people who just purchased the IHRA will see drag racing for the first time in Rockingham, N.C.,” Polburn explained. “Until the Feld family and their executive group see it, touch it, feel it and smell it, and understand it, we are just going to be patient.
“Then we’ll see how they feel about it and view our future. I think that’s the right thing to do. When a guy spends the kind of money that he did to purchase Feld Motorsports, it’s the right thing to do. We are putting various scenarios into place for review.”
The decision regarding Funny Car’s future will be a collective one between Polburn’s group and upper management.
“I must repeat, without funding it can’t happen,” Polburn reiterated.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn confirmed that unless the class secures title sponsorship he doesn’t see the eliminator remaining on their agenda.
“The bottom line is that we need funding for the class,” Polburn admitted. “If the funding isn’t found, we will not run the class.”
No time line has been established to determine the future of the class. Unless funding is established, the nitro flops will be gone after 2008
The IHRA’s Nitro Funny Car class hasn’t been cancelled yet but it’s clear the class isn’t on solid ground either.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn confirmed that unless the class secures title sponsorship he doesn’t see the eliminator remaining on their agenda.
“The bottom line is that we need funding for the class,” Polburn admitted. “If the funding isn’t found, we will not run the class.”
No time line has been established to determine the future of the class.
The Nitro Funny Car division returned full-time to the IHRA in 2006 at the request of Evan Knoll but the class reportedly became expendable in 2008 when many of Knoll’s sponsorships disintegrated.
The IHRA was recently acquired by circus promoter Kenneth Feld as part of his Live Nation Motorsports purchase. A sense of uncertainty has permeated the IHRA’s future since the acquisition.
Polburn believes bigger and better things loom on the horizon for the IHRA, but details remain unknown at this time.
“The people who just purchased the IHRA will see drag racing for the first time in Rockingham, N.C.,” Polburn explained. “Until the Feld family and their executive group see it, touch it, feel it and smell it, and understand it, we are just going to be patient.
“Then we’ll see how they feel about it and view our future. I think that’s the right thing to do. When a guy spends the kind of money that he did to purchase Feld Motorsports, it’s the right thing to do. We are putting various scenarios into place for review.”
The decision regarding Funny Car’s future will be a collective one between Polburn’s group and upper management.
“I must repeat, without funding it can’t happen,” Polburn reiterated.
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