Now that the open-wheel factions have agreed to unite — a splendid move that required submerging egos on both sides — will drag racing catch the spirit?
Imagine The World Series of Drag Racing — or one umbrella organization.
Pit the NHRA champions against the IHRA champions. Throw the American Drag Racing League Pro Modified stars in against the IHRA’s best. Invite the Europeans and the cream of the Caribbean crop, and include the racers from Bahrain (yes, drag racing is popular there) and Australia. Bring ’em all on! Then when some driver calls himself a “world” champion, he’d be right.
“It’s a great idea. It’s never going to happen,” IHRA President Aaron Polburn said, running the words together in one quick blur.
Is Polburn a party-pooper? No. He’s just being realistic. We’d probably hear Budweiser loyalist Brandon Bernstein order a Miller Lite at dinner before we’d see NHRA deign to compete head-to-head with IHRA counterparts or anyone else.
Let’s face it: The IHRA often regards the NHRA as its snooty cousin, and the NHRA likes to position itself as the world’s elite drag-racing sanctioning body.
However, the collapse of the NHRA’s HD Partnership proposed-purchase deal was especially grim news, after Brut left the sport, Torco cut back drastically on its team sponsorship and team owners Don Prudhomme and Chuck Worsham each had to jettison a Funny Car because of funding concerns.
So that’s NHRA’s problem, not IHRA’s. Well, yes, technically. But cross-promotional ventures could strengthen the sport, but diluted interest on either side doesn’t help.
Now might be an excellent time for NHRA and IHRA to merge. The IHRA officially could become a developmental series for the NHRA — and a link between sportsman and premier-level pros. IHRA could become the drag-racing equivalent of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. And the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series could unite all sportsman-level racing, saving teams money.
IHRA is a viable operation as it is now. Its track operators are content. Its racers live within their means. IHRA administration is racer-friendly. None of that needs to change.
But what’s wrong with joining forces with the better-funded group to reap even more benefits and earn more media attention? Most metropolitan daily newspapers devote little attention to motorsports, and what space they do allot to it is NASCAR-centric. Millions love drag racing, but millions more have no clue. Why not try the strength-in-numbers approach?
What’s the biggest hurdle to a serious discussion about a merger? All that comes to mind is one three-letter word: ego.
Anheuser-Busch’s Tony Ponturo wasn’t ashamed to be associated with NASCAR’s top touring series, the Triple-A level of stock-car racing, if you will. As he faced the final Busch race before Nationwide took over as series sponsor, Ponturo said, “Successful sponsorships are ultimately defined by the connection brands are able to make with the fans…When this relationship began 26 years ago, both Busch Beer and NASCAR were somewhat regional brands. Together, both became national brands.”
 So what if IHRA were to become a feeder series? Busch execs didn’t think they were “settling for less” with their sponsorship. They were proud to be associated with the younger, up-and-coming drivers.
And, of course, Anheuser-Busch was building a brand and making money with this corporate connection. An enterprising sponsor could find the same value with IHRA.
 That Busch example was from NASCAR. The point is that NASCAR has its tiers: Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Craftsman Truck Series and regional touring series. The benefit is that stock-car racing in America has structure. It has marketing partnerships. Its grassroots-level racers feel connected to the stars of the sport, who often pop in for a race or two for fun and to promote their sponsors.
 Drag racing could have that, too. What would be wrong with that?