REPORT: GM pulls its chute on NHRA support
It comes as little surprise that General Motors has canceled its contracts with the NHRA teams it had previously been boosting with money, support vehicles and free parts. "I knew it was coming, I was forewarned," Ken Black, NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock team owner told CompetitionPlus.com. "That's why they filed bankruptcy ... to get rid of all of this stuff."
According to Black, the writing was on the wall when Fred Simmonds, Drag Racing Marketing Manager for General Motors up until last October, left the automaker ahead of its government-backed bankruptcy filing earlier this year. As far as the teams are concerned, the lack of GM sponsorship means they'll either need to purchase their own support vehicles and parts or find a new manufacturer for support, though those options are also limited.
With "Chrysler in the same boat as GM," as Black puts it, the only likely partner is Ford, though its remotely possible Toyota may be interested. Sounds good to us – the new 2010 Prius is already the perfect wedge shape for drag racing.
[Source: Competition Plus | Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
adam1drift 2:19PM (7/10/2009)
thats to be expected... unless they were powered by a hybrid system... whatever.. my thoughts on the New GM... http://txgarage.com/the-new-gm/
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accelerating_cubicle 4:08PM (7/10/2009)
"Governments roll in the company"
You should fix that. Proof reading is essential. Next, you don't add anything insightful that the vast majority of us are already thinking or have thought.
The overall page layout is not very inviting or aesthetically flowing.
Maybe gain some unique characteristics? Writing style? I dunno, but why would anyone read your thoughts that appear pedestrian at best?
adam1drift 4:20PM (7/10/2009)
Thanks for your honest input. Error corrected and we are working on the site… I’m not the only contributor but we are working on the site as we go…
PumaGTO 3:32PM (7/10/2009)
think about it. A Prius drag racer? ohh... The irony...
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Rich 12:50PM (7/13/2009)
Where would be the irony?
Electric motors have tons of torque. And the traditional drag racer is hardly stock. I'd love to see an all-electric drag racer.
Bob H. 4:01PM (7/10/2009)
Another benefit of the government intervention.
More jobs lost....where are all the jobs saved????
They dont need the advertising when the government will just mandate what cars people will have to buy...
Rave on....
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Level 4:39PM (7/10/2009)
The only concerns the democratic party had was to save the UAW and on top of that gave them a seat on the board....The Unions is the democrat's base....
willyolio 5:00PM (7/10/2009)
what does NHRA stand for again? National Hoon Riders Association?
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jv2k 5:05PM (7/10/2009)
I usually don't see cavalier in the cobalt's styling but I thought the picture was of a drag cavalier for a second.
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pmalik 6:40PM (7/10/2009)
Much like with Nascar, you have to wonder about the return on investment on these things. That NHRA car is RWD 500ci V8 on top of tube chassis... it doesn't really matter what lexan canopy you put over it.
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MONTE 7:26PM (7/10/2009)
Honda Insight vs. Toyota Prius in Pro Stock. Quick, somebody shoot me in the f-ing head.
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Jim 7:44PM (7/10/2009)
" the new 2010 Prius is already the perfect wedge shape for drag racing."
how does that matter, given that the "Pro Stock" body shells bear even less resemblance to the real thing than NASCAR bodies?
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s 8:57PM (7/10/2009)
Toyota will fund the Solara. They already use the body in Nitro Funny Car.
I wish Honda would jump in the mix with the Accord coupe.
NHRA - national hot rod association
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Randy915 9:42PM (7/10/2009)
G O O D.
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OH WHAT A FEELING ... 3:02AM (7/11/2009)
YEAH HAA ... Toyota goes 1-2-3-4 in the Nationwide Series (Nascar) today ...
Oh What A Feeling !!
1. Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing No.20 )
2. Kyle Busch ( Joe Gibbs Racing No.18 )
3. Brian Vickers ( Braun Racing No.32 )
4. Jason Leffler (Braun Racing No.38 )
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AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLANCE AKA MOTORSPORT 2:23AM (7/11/2009)
As far as i am concerned ... motorsport wether it be F1, NASCAR, Drag Racing, Australian V8 Super Car Series, WRC, Japanese GT and so forth is about expression of automotive / engineering excellance wether it be connected to regular motor-vehicles or not !!
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