NHRA tries to find financial footing after COVID-19 shutdown
In this photo provided by the NHRA, Pro Stock veteran Jason Line starts the day from the No. 1 spot then went on to pick up the win when he took out Jeg Coughlin at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Jerry Foss/NHRA via AP)

In this photo provided by the NHRA, Pro Stock veteran Jason Line starts the day from the No. 1 spot then went on to pick up the win when he took out Jeg Coughlin at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Jerry Foss/NHRA via AP)

Jul. 12, 2020 05:52 PM EDT
Tony Schumacher waits to climbs into his Top Fuel dragster during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tony Schumacher waits to climbs into his Top Fuel dragster during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Tony Schumacher does a burnout in a Top Fuel practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tony Schumacher does a burnout in a Top Fuel practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Antron Brown prepares for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Antron Brown prepares for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
In this photo provided by the NHRA, Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Ryan Oehler makes his way to his first career win on Sunday, July 12, 2020, as he defeats Matt Smith in the final round at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA National in Indianapolis. (Richard H. Shute/NHRA via AP)

In this photo provided by the NHRA, Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Ryan Oehler makes his way to his first career win on Sunday, July 12, 2020, as he defeats Matt Smith in the final round at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA National in Indianapolis. (Richard H. Shute/NHRA via AP)

Jul. 12, 2020 05:58 PM EDT
Jonnie Lindberg launches a Funny Car from the starting line on a practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jonnie Lindberg launches a Funny Car from the starting line on a practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Antron Brown makes a practice run in Top Fuel for the NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Antron Brown makes a practice run in Top Fuel for the NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Antron Brown waits to climbs into his car for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Antron Brown waits to climbs into his car for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Leah Pritchett, in a Top Fuel dragster, launches from the starting line on a practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Leah Pritchett, in a Top Fuel dragster, launches from the starting line on a practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT
Tony Schumacher prepares for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tony Schumacher prepares for a run in Top Fuel during practice for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2020. The NHRA returned to action last weekend near Indianapolis, in front of fans, on network television and amid hopes of a quick financial rebound following a 138-day season suspension. It was the kind of boost everybody needed. Teams and crew members are scrambling to pay the bills. Big questions remain for the world's premier drag-racing series. The pandemic is still a threat to disrupt the season or shut it down again. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jul. 17, 2020 12:46 AM EDT