Looking Back/Looking Ahead

With Indy upon us it can only mean one thing, another season coming to a close.   So far, Mean Streak has traveled almost 5000 miles this year and while I love the competition and seeing so many friends, I am ready for a break.   Looking back, this was another great year for the Pro Stock Class.   Both the 160 ft. and 180 ft. national records were reset and a new points champion is ready to be crowned.   Since 1999, there has not been a repeat champion and I think this speaks volumes for the class and the level of competition.   Now, for looking ahead, I think the one thing that is going to plague this class is the skyrocketing cost of racing.   Fuel costs continue to rise, no help at either the registration or payout windows, and the reality of having to spend 20 to 40 thousand dollars for a motor is slowly pushing the small guy out of the class.   At some point the NMRO has got to put restrictions on the spending, whether it is a cubic inch limit or a weight per cubic inch rule - something must be done.   Now before all the crying starts I pose this question - If there are no restrictions or limits, then how is someone on a small budget or new to the class going to compete? Racers are competitive by nature.   This is why there is very little recirculation of old parts.   Very few people can see the value in an existing and proven combo when there is no end in sight to cubic inches and the perceived lack of competitiveness.   We need to help find ways to bring more new blood into the class, and if spending is allowed to go unchecked, then the class will collapse under its own weight.   The time has come for Pro Stock racers to band together and create a set of fair rules and, if need be, enforce them ourselves.   Without taking these steps or ones similar, this class and the sport as a whole will never gain any national respect or the ability to attract a major marketing partner that will help the sport grow, the way Winston did for NASCAR.   Change will not happen without effort, so to all who read this, if you have any ideas for improving the Pro Stock Class please let me know.