Mini Street Rods

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series isn't a young man's game

NORWALK -- Watching the drivers come on stage during introductions before Sunday's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, I was surprised by all the gray hair.

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series features the fastest race cars on the planet. The technology that goes into the four highest classes of the sport is complex. The things needed to host a show of this magnitude at Summit Motorsports Park are the highest of high tech.

Everything screams cutting edge except the men and women in the cars or on the bikes.

Of the 84 drivers and riders entered in last weekend's show, 29 were born in the 1960s meaning they were 41 or older. Twelve were born in the 1950s, and incredibly, eight were born in the 1940s, putting them in their 60s at the youngest.

In the Top Fuel class -- the fastest of the fastest -- Chris Karamesines was on the entry sheet at 83 years young. He didn't qualify for the 16-car eliminations, but it appeared he tried.

There are only three kids born in the 1990s in the series.

While there are 14 born in the 1980s and 17 born in the 1970s, the most recognizable faces are the guys with the bellies and the various shades of gray atop their domes.

Sure NASCAR has Mark Martin and Bobby Labonte, but it also has a group of 20-somethings like Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, David Ragan and filling the next generation.

I've been critical of the AMA Pro Road Racing Series becoming stagnant with the same faces, but at a recent race in Wisconsin, 28 of 37 riders in its top two classes were born in 1980 or later. In IndyCar, 17 of the top 25 drivers are 31 or younger.

John Force is a rock star in NHRA, but he's also 62.

The series needs to get younger so it can connect to another generation of fans who will fill the seats when their grandfathers and fathers are no longer able to.

That's why it was so nice to see 19-year-old Vincent Nobile take home a Wally in Pro Stock. Here's hoping teams give more chances to kids who didn't come from the bobby sock era.

» LARIBEE: Crestline's Mike Laribee picked up his second straight win in the Pro Pulling League Hot Rod Semi series over the weekend in Lancaster, Pa.

His 1970 Chevrolet semi called Shameless was one of five to make a full pull. In the pull-off he went 344 feet to win by eight feet. He now shares the points lead in the class.

Shelby's Joe Metzger also made the pull-off, but finished fifth in this Brockasauras 1971 Brockway.

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