Opinion:
After receiving my copy yesterday of NHRA’s National Dragster, I see what Paul was talking about. We will only receive the publication on a bi-weekly basis. Of course membership fees will remain the same!
They say they will have more tech articles but I have to believe the current very limited Sportsman coverage will be cut even more to make way for the professional ranks and the Mello Yello ads.
I view this as nothing more than another cost-saving venture by NHRA at the expense of the Sportsman membership. It perhaps is a indicator on how NHRA is doing financially, but that’s just pure speculation on my part. But I predict in a few years the mailed edition will be dropped entirely and their publication will only be available online. Hard to share that version with your neighbors and friends to expand the racing audience but what do I know? – Roger
NHRA NOW – Posted January 24, 2013:
Jeff Burk had this to say regarding NHRA’s financial issues in his January 10, 2013 piece:
“…The most depressing story was that NHRA President Tom Compton continues to have issues turning around the fortunes of the National Hot Rod Association. The NHRA’s best year ever in total revenue was 2008 when, according to their tax return, the NHRA grossed more than 122 million dollars. Their 2011 tax return shows a drop in gross revenues to $98 million compared to gross receipts of $104 million the year before. No one I’ve talked to thinks the 2012 numbers will be better than 2011. For the first time in almost a decade the NHRA dropped below the $100,000,000 level in gross receipts l’m Just Wondering who (if anyone) should shoulder the blame for that kind of poor performance? And perhaps more importantly what is being done to reverse the trend?…”
You can read Burk’s entire article here:
http://dragracingonline.com/burksblast/xv_1-1.html
They just want more for less. Cost of racing is high as is fuel and the safety stuff is expensive also. All of which is part of the sport, but they can control entry fee’s and membership fee’s and they choose to increase all of it! And they wonder why car counts are down across the nation both at the national and divisional level…