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Budweiser Shootout Shakedown

Written by David Lamm · October 20, 2004

For years, the Budweiser Shootout for Top Fuel has been held at the season ending NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. This year the shootout moves to Las Vegas and it comes with a few more modifications than just a change in venue. The rules have been altered in regards to determining the qualifying order to add a little more excitement and drama to the first round. The old system needed revamping but the amount that was done was overkill.


NHRA.com: Kalitta leads Budweiser Shootout field packed with question marks

The concept of a bonus race within a race for the best Top Fuel cars started in 1985 with big time prize money going to the winner care of Anheuser-Busch. The original qualifying format awarded bonus points based on qualifying at NHRA national events. In the old system the top eight point earners were invited to compete in the Budweiser Shootout. Previously, the first round positions and the opponents were based on the points earned with the top qualifier facing the No. 8 qualifier and the No. 2 would face No. 7 and so on. In order too inject a little spice and drama to the event, the NHRA has added a new wrinkle; a wildcard slot. The top seven drivers based on their bonus points are all guaranteed spot in the show with the eighth spot up for grabs. Doug Kalitta earned the most bonus points and is assured of starting in the No. 1 spot. Tony Schumacher, David Grubnic, Brandon Bernstein, Scott Kalitta, Cory McClenathan and Doug Herbert all know they will compete but are not sure of what starting position they will be assigned. Much like a lottery drawing, these six drivers will participate in “draw party” on Oct. 28 to determine their starting spot from one of the available remaining positions of No. 2 through No. 7. This is a great addition and adds a little more drama and intrigue as to who will race who. A good start but some additional changes could be made which I will suggest later.

The eighth and final spot is considered a “wildcard” with up to eight drivers all in the running for the final spot. Larry Dixon, Scott Weis, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, John Smith, David Baca, Brady Kalivoda, Morgan Lucas and Mike Strasburg are the hopefuls in contention for the wild card drawing for the No. 8 starting position. I have a big problem with this format because some of these cars do not deserve a shot at entering a field that is billed as the “best eight Top Fuel cars in the world”. Clay Millican, Bob Vandergriff, and Bruce Litton could have been slotted to participate in the wildcard drawing but all three will not compete in Las Vegas and thus opens the door for Kalivoda, Lucas and Strasburg. Granted Lucas drives a contending car but he started too late in the season to be considered one of the best. Kalivoda and Strasburg? You’re kidding, right? Strasburg has competed at 10 of the 21 races run this year, has failed to qualify three times and has yet to register a round win. Kalivoda has not fared much better, running 12 races and losing in the first round in every one of them. I’m not buying that these two guys have much of a chance against Kalitta in the first round if their number comes up. The true loser in all of this is the man that would have been in the eighth slot, Larry Dixon. Granted all the drivers in the class knew the rules of the shootout before the season started but how can you argue for some of these wildcards over Dixon who has won two races and currently sits sixth in the POWERade point standings? I am sure Dixon will put up a better fight than some of these other wildcard participants. I can understand trying to increase the drama and excitement for the event but hasn’t the NHRA and Budweiser diluted the competition level in the process? Why not keep the system similarly to the way it is now but allow the drivers to pick their opponents?

The NHRA needs to build the stars of the sport and promote the natural rivalries that exist. The natural rivalry between Bernstein and Dixon evolved because their sponsors (Budweiser for Bernstein and Miller Lite for Dixon) are fierce competitors in the business world. I suggest that the NHRA and Budweiser eliminate the wildcard drawing and allow the qualified drivers to pick their opponent. Keep the format similar to the one they have adopted and let the No. 1 qualifier remain in the No. 1 position. Instead of a random ping pong ball choosing Kalitta’s first round opponent, let Doug himself choose whomever he prefers to race. Maybe Kalitta has had Cory McClenathan’s number all year and would rather face him in the first round because he knows he can psych him out. (With all apologies to Cory Mac, I have no idea what the head-to-head record is between Kalitta and McClenathan. I just needed an example.) The No. 2 qualified driver would be selected randomly and then could choose his first round opponent. Imagine if Bernstein was selected No. 2 and he chooses Dixon because he wants to be the man responsible for making sure his sponsor’s money doesn’t go to the rival brewery. This format would replace the boring press conference where No news is generated.

There is a reason that boxing press conferences are televised and are replayed on sports highlight shows. Boxing press conferences give great visuals and we all tune in to hear the inflammatory statements that will inspire us to pay the $49.95 for pay-per-view. In my proposed format the match-ups would stay fresh and would keep the fans and the media riveted. No one wants to see Kalitta sledgehammer Mike Strasburg in the first round. We all want to see Bernstein against Dixon. With this new format, we might not be able to see Dixon run at all and that is a crying shame.

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Comments

3 Responses to “Budweiser Shootout Shakedown”

  1. Josh on October 21st, 2004 10:01 am

    Excellent idea! It’s like calling someone out on the playground. I like it a lot.

    I kind of understand where NHRA was going with the wildcard slot…part of the interesting thing about drag racing is that on some weekends an underdog will win. The points leaders will scew up and an underdog gets a round win or maybe even a race win. But the disparity between the top guys and the “wild cards” on the list is a bit rediculous. Perhaps this format would work better in a class like Pro Stock?

  2. Michelle Stevenson on October 21st, 2004 1:15 pm

    As I have been told by a very good source within the NHRA, the PR guy who proposed the new format changes is no longer with the company. So perhaps the intent has been skewed a bit. HOWEVER, everyone would complain if the NHRA didn’t change a thing, either. At least give them and Budweiser credit for trying to make it more interesting and more exciting for the drivers and the fans. Dixon could have assured himself a spot in the lineup had he qualified better in the last 12 months. But he’s had a rough year and that didn’t happen. I have a feeling Budweiser is not crying in their beer that Larry might not be in the hunt for their cash.

  3. Dave on October 26th, 2004 2:05 pm

    Michelle, Thanks for reading but I think you may have missed my point. Never did I say that changing up the format was a bad thing. I merely suggested it was a good start but more needed to be done. The last two sentences of the second paragraph says, “This is a great addition and adds a little more drama and intrigue as to who will race who. A good start but some additional changes could be made which I will suggest later.”

    I applaud the NHRA and Bud for accepting this type of “out of the box” thinking but more could have been done to achieve their initiatives. Unless Dixon gets the wild card spot, the race will not feature the best eight Top Fuel cars in the NHRA.

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