I’m always amused when I hear drag racing fans, racers or officials talking about how, in the history of the entire high speed universe, there never has been a strike or a boycott of an NHRA national event. If you believe the conventional wisdom, pro racers simply don’t have the fortitude to effectively rage against the establishment.
It’s an interesting theory and there’s a lot of data to support it. I mean, it is really hard to get pro racers to agree on anything. Sit in a meeting with four or more pro racers and they can’t even agree on refreshments and drinks.
However, the declaration that there’s NEVER been a boycott of an event run by the guys my partner always has called the High Sheriffs, simply isn’t true. I know, because I was there. So was my press relations partner, Dave Densmore. The year was 1981 and the site was State Capitol Raceway outside Baton Rouge, La.