[Jeff Higgins]

It hasn't been so much cost in Top Fuel as it has been safety. Most tracks simply do not have enough shut-down distance to handle the speeds anymore. Many drivers have suffered detached retinas, just like boxers that get their heads snapped very hard. It happens when the 'chutes pop open; they estimate the decel peaks at 12-15 g's.

Pro Stock is actually the most expensive class in drag racing. Top Fuel is very unsophisticated in comparison. While you will see the nitro cars tearing down and rebuilding engines after every run, they actually get about eight to a dozen runs on most wear items. They just like to magnaflux, penatrant inspect, or x-ray everything after each run. The good stuff gets re-used. Pro Stock does not tear down and rebuild at the track, because they don't suffer the catastrophic failures of the fuel cars, but the service life on wear items is about the same. Add to that a far more sophisticated chassis, suspension, and drivetrain, and the cost of a car is several times that a Top Fuel car. And they develop at a much faster pace; not many competitive teams will run a car more than a season. Top Fuel cars go several seasons; they just don't change much outside of the motors.

As spectacular as Top Fuel is to watch, it really is one of the "more affordable" top level racing series. And it's popular enough to attract sponsors in the way NASCAR does.

It's too bad there really can't be a DTM, or early Can-Am, original F-1, or even NASCAR style series anymore. Costs and safety just won't allow it. It's interesting to note that NASCAR runs restricted, single carb 360-some-odd cubic inch motors on the super speedways, and they still lap faster than the good ol' days of twin-carbed, unrestricted 426's, 427's, 428's, and 429's. Imagine if the were still racing under those rules. Side-by-side at 250, 260, 270??!! Could you imagine the carnage? Remember, energy increases with the square of velocity. All that paint tradin' would get a whole lot more serious...