I received several pm’s re interest in starting an NHRA Free Republic Event Thread for each of the last three NHRA races. So here ya go for this weekend, and I/we updated the NHRA piece on my FR Profile page in the “Racing” section. Will see how much interest there is here at FR for a NHRA Event thread and then go from here. - Enjoy, FlA
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Unfortunately, I don’t know much about html markup or webpage layouts but luckily I have a great helper (TAB) that does. Hey, I only recently learned what an FR Ping and Ping List was, ugg. I appreciate in advance all help in keeping the NHRA Event Threads going by all you “ground-pounder” racing fanatics. While I have an extensive NHRA and motor sports racing background (my ex-wife said I had a lot of class…. it was just all low), I’m not familiar with this particular NHRA event or Virginia Motorsports Park. I look forward to posts from people that are knowledgeable. In addition to info about this weekends event, I/we put together other related and underlying reference posts, of possible interest, to kick-off this thread.
With NASCAR running at legendary Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday, it may over shadow this NHRA event. But the television coverage doesn't overlap, so Sunday is a great "armchair drivers" day for motor sports adrenaline junkies. I usually attend Daytona and Talladega NASCAR races (mostly the early season races), but had too much on my business plate to try and attend this weekend’s UAW-500, and the weather looks dicey.
=== NASCAR ===
UAW-Ford 500
Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, October 7, 2007
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ABC Television Schedule (Times ET)
Pre-Race: Noon-1:00 pm
Race: 1:00-5:00 pm (Live)
=== NHRA ===
Torco Racing Fuels Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Sunday, October 7, 2007
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ESPN2 Television Coverage (Times ET)
NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 am
Final Eliminations 7:00 - 10:00 pm (Delayed)
FlAttorney says >> ESPN's NHRA television race coverage is greatly superior to ABC's NASCAR coverage. ESPN-NHRA's television announcers Paul Page and veteran Top Fuel and Top Funny Car driver Mike Dunn, as color commentator, do an outstanding job in the booth. They have an in-depth knowledge of the sport and neither yap your ears off like most hyper talking bozo sports announcers. Further, the quality and fairness of NHRA drag racing is far superior to NASCAR. Unfortunately, NASCAR racing gets worse every year with its overhyped, overprocessed, overmarketed degradation of the sport along with inconsistent NASCAR officiating and rigged races. Luckily there is enough of the old-guard super legends still active in NHRA racing to maintain the integrity and quality of the sport.
On the subject, many of these active NHRA legends do not like the NHRA’s new POWERade “Countdown to the Championship” format. Frankly, I don’t like it either and it’s just mass marketing hype, imo. But like many, I am withholding final judgment until after the end of the season. I also don't like NASCAR's Nextel Cup "Chase for the Championship" format. I don't think that a playoff-style format fits motor racing, but maybe I'm showing my age. The only reason for the new NASCAR Championship format was in the hope of increasing television ratings late in the season. But ratings are worse since Nextel became NASCAR’s sponsor in 2004. I don’t think NHRA’s Championship format will help their television ratings either. Basically, all I care about is fair and competitive heads-up racing and to hell with all the hype and bull. I think most veteran race fans and racers share this view.
