FEEDBACK ARTICLE: AS WE SEE IT: THE ADRL AND ITS GROWING PAINS  
I have been going to drag races 45+ years NHRA, IHRA, ADRL and by far the ADRL is the BEST show around.

NHRA and IHRA are doomed if they don't change there ways. Just look at the grandstands which sanctioning body has stanging room only (ADRL)at the races and which ones are 30%-40% full (NHRA IHRA). The Fans know why can't the other sanctioning bodys see it! - Tom Jordan

FEEDBACK ARTICLE: AS WE SEE IT: THE ADRL AND ITS GROWING PAINS  

I have been going to drag races 45+ years NHRA, IHRA, ADRL and by far the ADRL is the BEST show around.

NHRA and IHRA are doomed if they don't change there ways. Just look at the grandstands which sanctioning body has stanging room only (ADRL)at the races and which ones are 30%-40% full (NHRA IHRA). The Fans know why can't the other sanctioning bodys see it! - Tom Jordan

7-31

It is easy to pontificate on what should have been, after the fact. It is much harder to be the person who has to make the decisions and to stick by that decision, right or wrong, or no matter what shade of gray in between.

I was not at the ADRL race, so I won't pontificate what should or should not have been done. All I ask is that racers, fans, press, and anyone else who has an opinion, just take a step back for the situation and look at it from all sides.

From what you described in your commentary, I can see that Bubba Corzine, and Kenny Nowling need to have the wisdom of Solomon to help take ADRL to the next level. We should ask God to help them, because they certainly could use all the Divine Help they can get.

The same goes for EVERY sanctioning body! - Dale Tuley


I think bending the rules for certain classes or for high profile competitors will never be received well by those who try to follow the rules. How fair can rules be if not meant to be followed by all competitors? Were all classes qualifying lanes closed when the first car of the class fired up for their burn-out? It would be interesting to know the average time per car per class to complete their qualifying session. It did seem even though there was only one qualifying session on Saturday that eliminations did not begin much sooner than normal. Where did all that extra time go? Does anyone class require more time
for clean up or other problems? If so, maybe those problems need to be addressed. - Michael Wilson


I am a Cheif Steward with ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) and we face the same time constraints every race meeting we hold.

We have set session times for qualifying and racers will always push the time limits to the extreme.  Saying that … there always is a line in the sand that you have to make.  If a racer is only 2 minutes late, well, ok let him go through. 

What about the next guy that is 3 minutes late, then 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 minutes late?  It is human nature to push the limits but there has to be a cut off.

The main consideration these days is spectator entertainment, which boils down to a 3 hour attention span.  Give them entertainment for 3 hours and they will be back next time, bore them for 5 hours and you won’t see the semi interested spectators again, you will only have your hard core customers.

Anyway, that is my thought on your latest article on ADRL, you can be racer friendly to a point where it costs you money. - Wayne Downes


I attended the VMP ADRL weekend and had a great time. Your point about the wait for Jason Scruggs to make the lanes is well spoken, but I have a different point of view perhaps. To see a race team who had been through so much (many teams would simply have packed it in after the crash, much less having an engine expire) come back and run low e.t. of the event, AND GET BEAT on a holeshot no less, totally worth the wait . I heard no one complaining in my section of stands ( first row, right at the tree ) before and certainly not after the run saying the fans could have used the time to leave before the traffic jam isn't relevant , the jam was going to occur no matter if the event
was over at 10:30 or 11:00 pm. I stayed for a few minutes of the winners circle party, left the track about 11:45 pm and went out the front gate at 12:30 pm the traffic was handled very well, especially taking into account it was the largest crowd they had ever seen. I think ADRL and VMP did an outstanding job. There is always room for improvement, but as for me, give me the ADRL and give me more of it. - Wayne Austin



I have never attended an ADRL race so let me state that right off, would I attend one, sure if one was closer to home.  Having said that I think all this hype about record crowds is SOO Misleading!  I don't think I've ever seen in any article regarding the ADRL that the Tickets are FREE! My point is all this proves is people will flock to anything in droves when it's free!  What does that prove to the media, that free tickets is the only way to generate interest in the Sport of Drag racing anymore?

Can you imagine if NHRA had a FREE day at any Natl. event, and what the Crowds would look like? - Joe Sherwood



Thanks for your well thought out piece. 

I attended the ADRL Memphis race.  It was beyond its billing.  I have to say for the first time in many years I did enjoy attending and working a race.  However, I could tell that not a lot of thought was put into how the pit area was laid out.  There were a few manufactures at the race and for the most part they were in one area, there were a few scattered about the pits.  Pit layout is one area the ADRL is going to have to work on.  This probably has as much to do with delays in getting to the lanes as anything.  I've always thought the calls over the PA for a particular class was for the fans and not the racers.  I know the NHRA has people responsible for getting the racers to the lanes.  I don't know if the ADRL does this or not, I do know you can't depend on a PA announcement to get racers to the staging lanes.  Kenny Nowling has done a great job, as well has the rest of his staff, in getting the ADRL to its current level.  I'm sure they will figure this out before a small problem becomes a big one. - Dean Harvey



I have often struggled with the same type scenario. Running a sprint car club for three years, you as the Promoter are faced with late showers to tech, late show ups for heat races, and the possibility of a crash that would shut you down for 30 - 40 - 50 minutes. Until one night being in the flag stand for what seemed like hours because of a poorly prepared race track and numerous accidents. I was about to go white green checkered. A fan came up to me and said I'm already here, I paid to see a complete show. You have given us a good race, a couple of good car flips and no one was injured. Let’s go all the way. The track owner has plenty of beer, he is making money let’s race. - Doug Hoffpauir



 

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