ABOUT THE BUDDY HULL Q4 DISQUALIFICATION (4 Viewers)

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Buddy had some very good and practical reasons on the lack of consistency on the technical side of things.
When I was a machinist and we would get a ding from the QA department, many times when we would push back on the so-called discrepancy with what we referred to as check the checker we would prevail.

I nominate Mr. Jim Head to oversee the NHRA Tech department.
 
After being disqualified on Q4 for having a header come up .05% over on a track thats downhill causing the team a DNQ
they did award JIM DUNN the 2024 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for all the hard work... CONGRATS !! 🤔🏁
 
I’m internally torn on this one.

Yeah the rules are black and white, and it’s the teams responsibility to keep things legal. You need to enforce the rules and spot check whether the car runs 4.10 or 3.80. If your header angle changes to the point of being a degree in the red due to the tire roll out (Just using his example) you can’t cut it that close. Other teams have had runs thrown out for header issues, so it’s something you can’t overlook.

However….In this case I wouldn’t have been mad if the official just gave him a wink, kept it quiet and told them to keep that header in the trailer the rest of the weekend. 😁
 
Just wondering why the NHRA would even check this on a car that ran 4.06? I could understand why they might check on Procks 3.80 run but on a 4.06? And it certainly wasn't a blatant infraction.
 
I’m internally torn on this one.

Yeah the rules are black and white, and it’s the teams responsibility to keep things legal. You need to enforce the rules and spot check whether the car runs 4.10 or 3.80. If your header angle changes to the point of being a degree in the red due to the tire roll out (Just using his example) you can’t cut it that close. Other teams have had runs thrown out for header issues, so it’s something you can’t overlook.

However….In this case I wouldn’t have been mad if the official just gave him a wink, kept it quiet and told them to keep that header in the trailer the rest of the weekend. 😁
DID YOU WATCH THE VIDEO ? THE MEASURING PROCESS DOESNT WORK, DRRRRRRR
 
DID YOU WATCH THE VIDEO ? THE MEASURING PROCESS DOESNT WORK, DRRRRRRR
I watched until I got tired of the excuses. “The measuring process doesn’t work” - Says the only person out of 19 cars that got busted. 😁 It seemed to be fine for others. If people got busted all the time, that’s 1 thing. It’s only happened 2 times that I remember. Hull now, and JR Todd a couple seasons ago. Tasca was width not angle. If the system is SO obviously flawed in his opinion, with all the variables he mentioned, maybe his team should give themselves some wiggle room to spare??

Do you think Hull was the only car they checked all weekend in Pomona with all the low 3.80’s and 341 mph going on? Do you think they checked Hull on some crazy uneven surface but let others go to some super flat area? I don’t. I bet it was similar for all the cars. He was the only one out of line.

That being said, I’m 110% sure there was zero intent to pull anything over on anybody, and I feel bad for the team. Running good enough to get in, the special Mooneyes wrap, home track for Jim, all of it.

I’m sure this is just a case of a set of 2nd hand headers that on their car was out of tolerance, or a repair, something totally unintentional.
 
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Technically not in compliance, but to me, .05% is miniscule and within the 'margin of error'. Like Songas suggested, they could have told him to remove it and replace it with one that complies - and move on. Look at what's going on in Factory X where NHRA addressed the rule violations, which were significant, by changing the rules. A safety violation is one thing; this is nothing. Just an opinion from the Department of Common Sense....;)

Save the "rules are rules" replies; I'm aware. That's that got Hull tossed and if he appeals, he'll lose.
 
I think his idea of a template for the headers is a great idea. Easy to do, drop the header in the fixture like the boxes at the airport for carry-on bags.
 
I watched until I got tired of the excuses. “The measuring process doesn’t work” - Says the only person out of 19 cars that got busted. 😁 It seemed to be fine for others. If people got busted all the time, that’s 1 thing. It’s only happened 2 times that I remember. Hull now, and JR Todd a couple seasons ago. Tasca was width not angle. If the system is SO obviously flawed in his opinion, with all the variables he mentioned, maybe his team should give themselves some wiggle room to spare??

Do you think Hull was the only car they checked all weekend in Pomona with all the low 3.80’s and 341 mph going on? Do you think they checked Hull on some crazy uneven surface but let others go to some super flat area? I don’t. I bet it was similar for all the cars. He was the only one out of line.

That being said, I’m 110% sure there was zero intent to pull anything over on anybody, and I feel bad for the team. Running good enough to get in, the special Mooneyes wrap, home track for Jim, all of it.

I’m sure this is just a case of a set of 2nd hand headers that on their car was out of tolerance, or a repair, something totally unintentional.
EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS SPECULATION , YOU NEED TO USE FACTS
 
Just from a procedural standpoint. The tech guys will spot check things from time to time. It helps keep everyone honest.

And just for instance, if they are checking TF wing angle in Q2 then they pull every car over and check. Doesn't matter if you ran low E.T. or smoked the tires, you get checked.

The test is Pass/Fail (Not "Close enough") if you fail the run is thrown out.

I hate it for Buddy and Jim, but where do you want the line? 90.1% Nitro OK? Only 5 lbs. light OK?

You don't get to keep a touchdown because you only stepped a little out of bounds.

Alan
 
The issue is a matter of accuracy, not that Hull wanted a pass for being slightly out of compliance. It doesn’t sound like Hull had a problem with it, except he thought it was inaccurate.
If the NHRA wants everyone on the same page maybe they could be a little more transparent, not have minions confuse the real issue.
 
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I wasn't trying to confuse the issue, nor was I speaking for NHRA. Anytime I am posting here, I am posting as a "Civilian".

I was simply explaining the procedure when they do spot checks.

And it has been my experience that as Paul pointed out, if they check 20 cars and 19 pass, it's usually not the 19 who are in the wrong.

Minion
 
So, the “Voice of the NHRA” says Hull’s car was most likely measured correctly, but it is a civilian assumption. That could never sway opinions, right? I think the way you presented it was unfair, unless you have solid proof the car was legit measured correctly. We have only heard one side of the story as usual, so your opinion holds a lot of weight because of who you are.
 
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I'm saying that if 20 cars are checked and only one is out of spec, then I tend the think that the measuring stick was accurate.

Vegas in the spring, they checked every header, only Tasca was found out of spec. Do you think that was legit? Or was the measuring flawed there as well?

I have been at Fuel Check, when I know that my fuel is legal but it fails. If they checked the other 50 cars in Stock and I'm the only one that failed, then apparently something was wrong with my fuel, even if I don't want to believe it.

Minion
 
I don’t remember Tasca questioning its accuracy. Fuel cannot be measured incorrectly on an unlevel surface. The NHRA is perfect and you are never wrong. There is no reason to question anything then. You win whatever this is.
 
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