Grass roots drag racing is dying. Spectators are nonexistent. The younger generation doesn't seem to have the interest in cars that us oldsters had/have, and we are dying off.
Not true. Small tire no-prep racing is a return to the grass roots drag racing that you are talking about. Limited traction, no index, non handicap racing has made a huge comeback in the midwest and south eastern united states. Participants and spectators are mostly on the young side.