After a tumultuous last couple of seasons on the NHRA front, whether from a pandemic, sponsor changes, etc. we received some interesting phone calls this week regarding Pro Mod and the Gatornationals.

It’s hard to believe that the foremost drag racing body in our sport would have as many issues as they do. Earlier this week I received a call to let me know that there was not a purse for the Pro Mod drivers at this years Gatornationals, nor was there an event sponsor for the class. While it was certainly a credible source, I did some further digging that including speaking to a driver that was running the class and on property for the event. He stated that he’d get back to me when he knew more.

Fast forward to this afternoon and I received a call back from the driver. First, he was unhappy that the NHRA hadn’t already pulled the plug on the event, as anyone with a weather app can tell that this is going to be an absolute mess of a weekend. Secondly, he did inform me that they, the Pro Mod drivers, were sent an email at some point yesterday informing them that FTI Converters had stepped up with a $15k sponsorship for the event. The email then went on to break down the payout structure. It stated that the winner of the event would receive $7000, the runner-up would receive $3000, and the other two semi-finalist would receive $2500 each. That accounts for the entire $15,000 in sponsor money.

The question was then raised to me about what happened to all the entry fee collected from drivers for the race. In case you were unaware, the entry fee structure is $1000 per race if you pay the entire season up front. If you pay per race it is $1500 unless they have over a certain amount (I believe 24 or so) and then the entry is only $1000. This weekend in Gainesville there are a total of 16 cars entered in Pro Mod, and that didn’t fill up until pretty close to the entry close date.

So what does it say about NHRA’s handling of Pro Mod since taking over from RPM a few years ago? The class count is down, and has been for a while now. The payouts and lack of sponsorship are decreasing, and let’s face it, the amount of respect for anything other than Nitro in NHRA is abysmal to say the least. So if this an NHRA issue or a Pro Mod issue?

Facts are facts folks…this isn’t a lack of Pro Mods issue. This is solely an NHRA issue at its core. How can I say that? Well, let’s look at non-NHRA events and their ability to draw Pro Mods. Before you attempt to rant and rave about quarter mile vs. eighth mile though, maybe that should be something that NHRA looks at as well. So here are the facts: on average the MWDRS (Mid-West Drag Racing Series) sees on average 22 or more Pro Mods at each event. The PDRA (Professional Drag Racers Association) sees on average 30+ between both of their Pro Mod classes. Then look at how many Pro Mods an event like Shakedown, Snowbirds, U.S. Street Nationals, Yellow Bullet, etc. have. All of that isn’t counting the number of Pro Mods that NMCA and NEOPMA also have at their events.

NHRA is paying a smaller purse to those in Gainesville, with a higher entry fee than the drivers in MWDRS or PDRA receive and pay. So with half the entry fee, at minimum, and more of a payout for winning, it makes you question whether NHRA wants or even cares about Pro Mod as part of their program. It also makes you wonder how viable quarter mile Pro Mod, and Pro Mod in the NHRA will even try to grow. The NHRA thought that the new screw blower rules would help, and that is obvious that it will go no where.

Is it only a matter of time before NHRA decides that it will drop Pro Mod, or do they think in a time where these men and women can go race for more money, less entry, less days away from their businesses, and honestly, get treated a lot better, will NHRA just let it slowly die?