MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY!! This, IMHO, is what is killing drag racing (also circle track and road racing)

I wont even go to a drag race anymore. Big bucks to be a spectator, mega bucks to be competitive in your class - from the lowest street class to the highest fuel class. And the bracket racing is, in a single word for a spectator -boring - watching a bunch of Camaros/Chevelles/Mustangs (choose your make) run down the track. The old head-to-head racing of of years ago was fun - basically it was 'run what you brung' and I did many years of that. But never again.

Circle track has become much the same way - if you are sponsered by Budweiser or Home Depot your budget for sure is a lot higher than the guy that is sponsored by a hair restoration product or the local tire shop.

Road racing - look at the follow the leader F1 'racing' or even IRL cars on a road circuit. Yawwwwn ! The mega buck cars are leading the lower budget guys. Always, unless the big guys are all broken

I wont even get in to the land values and eco stuff - but, again,
It's MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY!! and no longer grass roots fun but business!!!