FlA Says: The 2009 NHRA season didn’t get off to a very good start. Hope it's not a bad omen like 2008. From Thursday to Monday, it was rain, rain, and more rain. There was only one round of pro championship qualifying on Saturday, and weather only allowed one round of eliminations on Sunday. Monday was another washout, and then the rain left to allow pro eliminations on Tuesday.
But, if you were like 2009 sidelined Top Fuel drivers Rod Fuller and Hillary Will, the Winternationals gave you plenty of time to work on your romance back at the hotel. I got a kick out of them on NHRA Race Day. Talk about major JBF looks *lol*.
On Thursday, during Stock Eliminator qualifying, John Irving hits and destroys the Christmas Tree after one of his rear wheels falls off immediately after he hit the throttle. Someone call the battered Christmas Tree hotline and report this guy.
On Saturday, the rain halted long enough to get in one round of pro championship qualifying before it started again. Qualifying was difficult with many cars having trouble getting down the track, along with several nitro engine explosions and fires. For the only qualifying round, there was a major problem with the timing clocks in the left lane. For a number of runs no final MPH was recorded. Also, several final E.T.'s were wrong based on incremental track ET's. NHRA set the final eliminations field with the questionable numbers but awarded no points. But hey, how about that Doug Kalitta in his nitro banana boat.
Southern California. . . the birthplace of NHRA. Many lost legendary drag strips on this map. Later this season, I/we will do a narrative and photos tribute post(s). The last twelve months there has been several great articles on these legendary SoCal drag strips.
I need to end the pre-season and '09 Winternationals posts on a high note *rummaging through my drag racing blown babes photos folder*. Here we go. . . . . .
American Drag Racing League
03.06.09:
National Guard ADRL events to air on VERSUS The National Guard American Drag Racing League will air television coverage of its 2009 tour on VERSUS, a national cable sports network available in more than 75 million homes. VERSUS will televise 11 one-hour programs throughout 2009 that feature the National Guard ADRL tour’s unique brand of 21st century drag racing action. All 10 national events will be televised along with a special one-hour season finale that covers the Speedtech ADRL Battle for the Belts. -
Schedule The first event will air on March 29 and will feature coverage of the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V from Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.
In each episode, viewers will be taken inside the National Guard ADRL family of racers with on-going storylines, features on the series’ many colorful personalities, easy-to-understand technical segments, as well as stories that spotlight the dedicated team members working behind the scenes. Following the season opener on March 29, additional airdates (all episodes will air Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern) are May 3; June 7 and 21; August 2, 16 and 23; September 6 and 27; November 8 and 22. Dates and times are subject to change.
"Airing our events on VERSUS is an important step in the evolution of the National Guard ADRL and we are enthusiastic about this opportunity to deliver our television product in a way that appeals to a national audience, attracts new fans to the National Guard ADRL, and is highly entertaining for all," said Jeff Fortune, Executive Vice President of the National Guard ADRL.
Each episode will be shot in high-definition (HD) with 5.1 sound and hosted by veteran drag racing commentator Brian Olson with ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling providing the color commentary. Drag racing historian and television personality Bret Kepner will handle both finish line and pit interviews.
FlA Says: The ADRL recently got my attention because of the below links on the NHRA vs. ADRL fiasco. I understand the ADRL's President reached a temporary agreement with NHRA so they could hold their March 6-7, 2009, ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V at Houston Raceway Park and not put the track owner in a bad position regarding the upcoming NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. I have not reviewed this situation to understand who is right. However, NHRA thinks God gave them the right to control nitromethane use in all forms and organizations of drag strip racing. Matters became nasty last season with the wholesale nitro shortage and legendary mega-team owner Don Schumacher fined $100,000 by NHRA(largest fine in history) for having four barrels of unauthorized nitromethane fuel in his pit area - Articles: (1), (2)
In my well supported opinion, NHRA is involved in nitromethane predatory price gouging. All NHRA nitro teams can only buy from NHRA's one authorized supplier, which there is an "interesting" relationship, and their prices are ridiculously unreasonable compared to other suppliers with the exact same nitro. Last season, nitro hit $29.75 per gallon. Nitro dragsters consume 8-10 gallons per full power run. Further, I have never liked Graham Light who is NHRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. He's a bureaucrat and the key reason NHRA has serious drivers safety issues. Graham hit an all-time low with his conduct in this Schumacher fiasco. In the media, and without warning, the clown tried to chop Don off at the knees. What I like about Don Schumacher is that he doesn't kiss NHRA's royal rump, like some other NHRA legends and team owners who will remain nameless.
02.25.09: NHRA threatens ADRL, Houston Raceway Park with loss of sanction and '09 Spring Nationals
03.03.09: ADRL and NHRA in Turf War
-- I am glad the writer wrote this statement: "The last thing the NHRA needs is another… out-of-court settlement like they had with… Darrell Russell’s widow." <> The NHRA clearly had culpable liability in (Texan) Darrell Russell's horrific top-end Top Fuel dragster crash, June 27, 2004, at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. Madison, IL. In my opinion, Graham Light personally tried to cover up NHRA's liability. One year after Darrell's death, his widow Julie sued NHRA et. al. in a Texas civil court alleging negligence, fraud, and civil conspiracy. And, Julie had plenty of legal muscle that assist her on a pro bono basis. NHRA eventually settled out-of-court to avoid a trial and public exposure. ~ fla