10 Predictions for 2020
/NHRA Nitro classes will suffer
This is a hard thing to wrap my mind around, but based on the information that I have and the drivers that have spoken on this, I believe that NHRA will have a hard time fielding full fields in both nitro classes during 2020. These are the classes that demand the most investment from sponsors and the classes that see the most television time. The nitro classes are what drive the ticket prices as well. If the NHRA can’t get full fields, they are going to have to evaluate what can be done to bring greatness back to nitro and get 20+ rides to show up every weekend.
No Prep Domination will continue
What can I say? Years ago, I was very vocal that the No Prep racing on the stage that it has gotten to would just be another fad in the industry and quickly fall to the wayside. Well I swung and missed on that one. The fact is that these drivers know how to treat fans and draw a crowd. Constantly reinventing themselves, branding themselves, and putting on a show worth the money. I think that trend will continue in 2020 and for the foreseeable future.
Mid-West Pro Mod & PDRA will have banner seasons
I have spent plenty of time with both organizations over the years, and my prediction is that both will have banner 2020 seasons. They have both put the proper people in place to become successful and continue to grow. Both series are smart enough not to step all over each other, and they both offer amazing racing for their fans to consume. By far the best pro mod racing for the money in the entire country.
DXP Street will become the next X275 class in popularity
Donald Long, love him or hate him, is one of the most intelligent people in the industry. He has made a name for himself over the last decade by putting on some of the best races we have ever seen or covered. Whether it be RvW or now the DXP Street class. For the last three months I have heard from a slew of racers that are either building or plan on building a car for this class (including myself). The excitement surrounding a class that is really a throwback to some damn fun times in racing is immeasurable right now.
Both Nitro Classes will top the 340 MPH mark
Years ago, the objective was to slow these rides down in the thought that it would be safer. Well that hasn’t really happened. In fact, in 2019 there were drivers knocking on the door of that 340mph mark. I think that we will see both FC and TF break the 340mph barrier this season, and in fact I believe that it will be during the first quarter of the season.
Outlaw 10.5 will explode
This shouldn’t come as any surprise to those that have been reading my editorials for the last few years. I have been talking about how Outlaw 10.5 is on the come up yet again. In our industry we have ebbs and flows, and Outlaw 10.5 is no exception. No longer is Outlaw 10.5 just an east coast thing or a southern thing. With the way that RvW has been going, there are already drivers that are legal for Outlaw 10.5 talking about making the move over there. I think we are going to see some of the best Outlaw 10.5 racing in 2020 that we have ever seen.
Nitrous RvW Combos will reset the record again
Certainly no secret that the nitrous combos in Radial vs. the World have run some jaw-dropping numbers in the last 12 months. In 2020 I believe that we will see both Marcus Birt and Jamie Hancock dip into the bottom 3.50’s with their nitrous guzzling machines. The rules at this point in the game are much more favorable for the nitrous and screw blower combos, but as far as the record goes, it will be interesting to see if a 3.40’s come up on the board.
Bracket Racing will continue to grow
Photo shot for E3xtreme by Kyle Christ of Straighline Media
Numerous large money races have been announced for the 2020 season. While bracket racing is not everyone’s cup of tea, it is really the entire foundation of drag racing. Bracket racing is essential to the success of almost all racetracks in the country. It doesn’t matter if you have a low 6 second dragster or a 15 second streetcar, you can find a bracket class to compete in. This is the reason that we not only need successful bracket racing but should be supporting it as much as we can.
Digital Branding will become more important than ever
On the business side of the industry, I see that digital branding will become more important than ever. Whether you have a huge corporation or a small business, the need for solid branding will be something that you see across your social media channels and websites. There was an announcement a few weeks ago that about 19 different print publications were going to be heading to the grave. This means that business owners need to find new avenues to get the word out about their business. While that could be beneficial for businesses like E3xtreme, it is unfortunate that we are continuing to lose print media. I think there is a need for both.
Procharger will shake up NHRA Pro Mod
As I previously reported, Procharger has been approved to playing the NHRA Pro Mod sandbox in 2020. That might not seem like a big deal to most, but I promise you that you will see what those things can do. I am predicting that you will a Procharger in the Winner Circle within the first handful of races during the 2020 season. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one in the Gator’s Winner Circle if they are there competing. NHRA will have to keep a very close eye on those combinations and make sure that if they want parity.