Answering a Question No One Asked (1 Viewer)

Oh, it was asked. And there were some temper tantrums because of the decision.

I was there with Dennis Taylor. Bob Devour and I fixed the front of Dennis Taylor's body while DT's crew serviced the car for the final.

The official call was, Jay Payne left well before the tree was even activated. When it was activated the timing equipment reported no race car in the left lane which was confirmed with Dave Reiff's comment that Jay got no et or speed on the run. Officials ruled that because there was no car at the starting line in the left lane when the tree came on Dennis Taylor was actually the only car there and it was considered a single run. At that point, Dennis Taylor was awarded the win because he took the green on a single. The rule in place said once a car takes the green on a single they win no matter what the car does going down track, even if it doesn't make it to the finish line or if the car crosses the center line. Once in a while even today you'll see a car on a single take the green, back up, and head for the pits to prepare for the next round. In the old days the rule was you had to cross the finish line. People on a single would break, coast to a stop on the track, get out and the crowd waited while the driver pushed the car across the finish line to be declared the winner. Someone pretty smart decided watching someone push a 5,000 super stocker 15 minutes in order to cross the finish line didn't make for a rewarding experience for the fans and dropped the finish line requirement. Probably saved a few drivers from having a heart attack or stroke a well.
 
I'm surprised there was a question about it. What Bob Frey stated at the end of the video and what Randy stated above was the first thing that popped into my mind. Once Jay left before the tree the run automatically became a single and as soon as Dennis took the green, he was the winner.

A case of that not happening was the 2005 Mile High Nationals. Brandon Bernstein had a single when Rob Passey was a no show. However he broke something on the burnout and was unable to stage the car so there was no winner of that race.

A good controversy was at the first fall Las Vegas race in 2001. John Force and Bob Bode both left before the tree was activated. Bob visibly moved first so Force thought he won the race but the result was a double DQ.
 
A good controversy was at the first fall Las Vegas race in 2001. John Force and Bob Bode both left before the tree was activated. Bob visibly moved first so Force thought he won the race but the result was a double DQ.

That rule has since been changed. If you hear/see the other car move it is nearly impossible to keep from going out of instinct. So the new rule states that in that instance the second driver is "Drawn Off" he/she would be declared the winner.

Alan
 
That rule has since been changed. If you hear/see the other car move it is nearly impossible to keep from going out of instinct. So the new rule states that in that instance the second driver is "Drawn Off" he/she would be declared the winner.

Alan

Alan, I don't have the current rules anymore, but I seem to remember lately doing things like hitting the wall or crossing the center line or outer boundary before the finish line on a single will now disqualify the racer. In other words, mind your manners.
 
Alan, I don't have the current rules anymore, but I seem to remember lately doing things like hitting the wall or crossing the center line or outer boundary before the finish line on a single will now disqualify the racer. In other words, mind your manners.


Not true, if you are on a single, all you are required to do is stage the car under it's own power. Once you have done that you are the winner no matter what.

Alan
 
Here's the requested video of random rules outcomes. There are probably a lot more, these are just the ones I pulled from memory.


1 - 1983 World Finals - Reid Whisnant gets a rear wheel start and a massive holeshot on Frank Iaconio to take him out of the championship. Could it have possibly been a red light?
2 - 1989 Mile-High Nationals - Dick LaHaie has a power wheelstand that causes his front wheels to jump over the finish line beams in the semis. Joe Amato gets the win even though the video shows LaHaie got there first.
3 - 1994 Slick 50 Nationals - Jim Epler had some sort of electromagnetic frequency with his ignition system that seemed to cause random red lights in the opposite lane. Although some just look like they left too quick, as Jim did himself in the finals.
4 - 1994 Meguiar's Mid-South Nationals - Scott Geoffrion can't get the car to crank for the final round and they push start the car. That's not allowed so he has to back up and shut it off and get it started on its own to be able to race. (I love Kurt Johnson's commentary.)
5 - 1994 U.S. Nationals - Bob Glidden gets "timed out" at the discretion of starter Buster Couch.
6 - 1994 Sears Craftsman Nationals - John Force has an endless quest to set the national record. He has runs thrown out, runs that are too quick, and finally one to make it all come together.
7 - 1994 Chief Auto Parts Nationals - Billy Ewing and Steve Schmidt both leave before the tree and are both disqualified.
8 - 1995 Atsco Nationals - Steve Schmidt is on the line again and gets timed out, but Gordie Rivera doesn't notice it. His crew man runs up to motion him to go when he is fully staged and the run is tossed.
9 - 1997 Autolite Nationals - Eddie Hill grabs the number one qualifying position and suffers a huge crash in qualifying. The rule at that time stated that you must race the car you qualified and he could not return for round 1.
10 - 1999 Advance Auto Parts Nationals - Gary Scelzi has a chassis destroying engine and tire explosion in Friday night qualifying. He uses the Eddie Hill rule and gets out a backup car, but destroys it in Saturday qualifying. The rule only allows for one replacement chassis so they take parts and pieces and frankenstein a car together to run Sunday eliminations.
11 - 2001 Las Vegas Nationals - Bob Bode and John Force both leave before the tree is activated. John is angry and adamant the "First or Worst" rule should come into play. The NHRA changed the rule about double disqualifications after that.
12 - 2002 Northwest Nationals - Jeg Coughlin barely bumps the stage beam in the final round, which activates the Auto Start in the tree. Mark Whisnant is timed out because of it and the NHRA rules a rerun is the outcome.
13 - 2005 Mile-High Nationals - Brandon Bernstein has a single in round 1 but bangs the blower on the burnout and can not stage the car, the result is there is no winner.
14 - 2005 U.S. Nationals - Steve Johnson clearly beats Matt Smith for the win in Pro Stock Motorcycle but the NHRA overturns the timing and scoring decision 2 days later.
15 - 2006 Pontiac Performance Nationals - In round 2 of PSM Matt Smith again is the winner of a round that he crossed the finish line second. No mention of this was ever made and the results stood.
16 - 2009 Las Vegas Nationals - Pro Stock round 1, Kurt Johnson is unable to stage the car as a chunk of rubber is blocking the guard beam. The result is a rerun.
17 - 2009 O'Reilly Fall Nationals - Mike Edwards rolls close enough to the stage light to just flicker the stage light, but then the light stays on fully without him even moving. He wasn't prepared for the tree to come on and lost the round.
18 - 2010 Autolite Nationals - Brandon Huhtala has the lead in round 2 of Comp but gets on the brakes a little too hard and crashes. His run is thrown out due to excessive braking and opponent Dean Carter moves on to round 3.
19 - 2010 O'Reilly Fall Nationals - Not shown, Jason Line makes an attempt at a burnout and crosses the starting line, then backs up to try again, crossing the starting line a second time. The result is a disqualification and single for Greg Stanfield in round 2.

Add in Tony Schumacher being tossed from the Technicoat Shootout for driving by the scales..
 
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