When Performance Trumps Performing

January 18th, 2012 by Drag Illustrated

By Ian Tocher (Originally published Aug. 2011, DI #56)

Drag racers are their own worst enemies when it comes to performance versus performing. Almost without exception they’re willing to sacrifice showmanship in their pursuit of speed and unfortunately the major sanctioning bodies typically encourage and reward the decision. Sure, lip service is given to the idea that “drag racing is show business and we’re competing with Little League Baseball and NFL football and concerts and movies for the consumer’s attention,” but in the interest of reducing downtime and running on schedule, anything that might create a disturbance is discouraged.

Currently, that contradiction is nowhere more prominently on display than in the ADRL, where much of the buzz and excitement of the early years has been lost to the pursuit of perfection, on the track by teams and prep crews, and in the tower by series officials.

Not so long ago each ADRL race brought with it not only the anticipation of record runs but the somewhat sinister realization that someone’s car probably would be going home in more pieces than it arrived. It was just the nature of the game when you brought together dozens of fearless drivers and race teams dedicated to “swinging for the fences” on each pass down the ADRL eighth mile.

The fans knew it, the officials knew it and most significantly the racers knew it; the only unknown was who’s car as they rolled in on Thursday would be headed for the chassis shop for repairs by Saturday night. Would it be a series newcomer, intent and maybe a little overzealous in their desire to break into their first ADRL field? Or would it be a regular, perhaps a legend of the sport even, who gets just that little bit too far out of shape before aborting a run gone bad in a hurry? It made for a compelling show.

Now, I’m not arguing for guaranteed carnage or wishing for life-threatening and wallet-emptying accidents at any drag race; however, it’s indisputable that the potential for disaster sells tickets. Consider how popular the NFL would be without the big hits, or why Professional Bull Riding has risen to such prominence, or even what would happen to NASCAR if every race went clean and green.

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