Sign of the times: Drivers aware of fans' sacrifices

NHRA teams, too, feel the pinch

EVAN JONES

Reading Eagle, Pa.

Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

Tony Schumacher is going out of his way this summer to sign every autograph he can.

That's because the five-time NHRA Top Fuel champion is very much aware of the sacrifices fans are making to attend races.

With the price of gas shooting to around $4 per gallon around Memorial Day, fans who might've considered a trip to a race an annual event are thinking twice with tighter household budgets.

So if you're in the back of the line this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway, be patient; Schumacher and most other competitors will be showing their appreciation.

"Our fans are incredible," Schumacher said. "The drivers need to pay attention to that and spend extra time out there with those kids. I'm 90 percent happy with the drivers. You sign their stuff.

"Everybody needs to learn that they're spending money that they don't have, and when they make a choice between this and this, they're coming to the race."

The teams also are feeling the pinch.

For a professional operation in the NHRA, it literally has to transport a small village across thousands of miles to 24 different events. Teams made it to Maple Grove from the previous weekend's event at Brainerd, Minn. Two weeks later, everyone goes to Indianapolis for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and the last event before the Countdown to the Championship.

Stops this summer included Englishtown, N.J., Denver and Seattle.

Winning teams that would've been raking in the sponsors and prize money are finding that their profit margin has shrunk dramatically.

''It (the price of gas) has really affected us," said Top Fuel pilot Rod Fuller, who drives one of two cars for David Powers Motorsports. "The price of diesel has gone up, and with four tractor-trailer rigs on the highways, there are four support vehicles, the cost of airplanes.

"Everything's gone up, and it's amazing that at the start of the season we were doing well and now we're breaking even."

For drivers at smaller operations, such as Melanie Troxel, the slowing economy means worrying about sponsorship.

''It's always tough to sell sponsors for teams because it's a lot of money," said Troxel, who drivers a Funny Car for Mike Ashley. "You're asking somebody to spend a lot of money out here.

''It has a universal effect across the board. It's on our minds, trying to make sure our sport remains a value to the fans, something they want to continue spending the money on."

So if wearing out a few more pens and posing for more photos means you get to keep your ride, it's more than worth it.

''This year, give them extra time," Schumacher said of the fans and drivers. "You're here doing what you love to do; it's a gift."

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