MESA, Ariz. — The unicyclist wearing the Darth Vader helmet, playing flaming bagpipes, confirmed this was a unique motorsports experience.
The recent ABB FIA Formula E doubleheader in Portland, Ore., already offered plenty of features unique to the fully electric global series. And a quick cruise through the Fan Village at Portland Int’l Raceway was enough to trigger the question: “Why can’t the NHRA do this?”
Comparing any auto-racing series with another is a tricky proposition — the apples-to-watermelon deal. Formats vary, but fans across every series want a satisfying show. And the NHRA might want to pay attention to a few things it could glean from a Formula E event.
One aspect the NHRA already is considering (and not because the Formula E championship does it) is a condensed race weekend.
In Formula E’s case, the battery-powered race cars hold only so much charge. That prevents any notion of a marathon, so the races are about 45 minutes long. A doubleheader stretches the event throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, a typical single-race format sees practice, qualifying and racing packed into one day, with fans being able to absorb all the activities and leave the track by mid-afternoon.
In the NHRA’s case, it will test a two-day format again in 2025 at Virginia Motorsports Park with three rounds of qualifying Saturday and eliminations Sunday.
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