Cruz f/c champ!!! (3 Viewers)

[Rajunz]

its right there on the NHRA home page. If you don't want spoilers, don't go on the INTERNET

I didn't go to NHRA's homepage for just that reason. I thought everyone around here knew better.

Congrats, especially to Rahn Tobler, that guy deserves it, he's a great tuner!

 

[camaro]

so.... all of you who are saying that the countdown is not fair and does not determine the true champion and is a screwed up system, were you saying the same thing when the Patriots lost the super bowl last year......
QUOTE]


as far as comparing the countdown to the superbowl,the way i see it is the patriots had 4 quarters or (60 minutes) to not lose to the giants, wilkerson fate was decided in a few seconds with no opportunity to redeem himself, so in other words "apples and oranges"

 

[fifty50]

another unworthy countdown crowning

I'll second that..

 

[fifty50]

I'm in total agreement here. Has anybody done an "actual points as earned from racing" scenario? Not that I wanna argue, just curious to know what the non-countdown standings woulda been.

I thought they said on the broadcast that Wilkerson would have had a 136 pt. lead and the championship.

 

[turbo ken]

I thought they said on the broadcast that Wilkerson would have had a 136 pt. lead and the championship.

It believe it was 136 points, everyone seems to forget that last year besides "hot rod" getting hosed, Robert Hight got hosed by the countdown.

 

[PJ]

However, having said that, if the countdown brings in viewership, sponsorship, etc. etc. I wonder if that is not what is truly in the best interest of the sport from an economic point of view? Especially in today's society?

Actually the countdown lost viewers last year. The numbers were up leading into the countdown. Not only could they not maintain the people they had gained they also lost what they used to get in previosu years. So far its a failure on and off the track. Hell even the series sponsor isn't sticking around for it. Now with the economy today its really unfair to blame the sponsor exedous on that, however we didn't see them come rushing in during the first year of the countdown.

 

[PJ]

so.... all of you who are saying that the countdown is not fair and does not determine the true champion and is a screwed up system, were you saying the same thing when the Patriots lost the super bowl last year......

I personally love the countdown, it is the Playoffs of the NHRA, the drivers need to be good all season... but they need to be at their BEST at the end of the season.

I would much rather have the standings close at the end of the season rather than have somebody lock up the championship with 5 races to go....

So you are willing to see people get screwed just so that you're not bored.

Here's the deal in football and every other sport. The playoff contenders actually go against each other. Under the countdown last year we saw one champ able to win simply by not having to race the other contenders. He had 1 win vs the other 8 "playoff teams" over those last 6 races. The Giants last year had to beat 4 other teams that were in the playoffs.

We also have a champ this year that didn't even win a race. My hope now is that Compton goes to the NFL that way my beloved Lions could still be crowned the champions despite not winning all year. Seems to work here

 

[PJ]

Congrats to Cruz! Cruz peaked at the correct time and maximized the rules system, so I congratulate Cruz for winning the Powerade Championship!

hey if you're gonna drink the koolaid at least call it by the right name Powerade Countdown Championship

 

[RJM323]

So you are willing to see people get screwed just so that you're not bored.

isn't that the point of all sports (including NHRA) "to entertain the fans"

sure it is how these guys make a living.... but it's sole purpose is to entertain the fans

and if the fan's get bored because the championship battle was over with 5 races to go, the NHRA does not make money thus the driver's/teams do not get paid.....

 

[Leebone]

I'm feel just sick about Wilkerson. I couldn't even watch his top end interview. But like Cruz himself said, under the old system Wilk would be the champ. That was a classy thing to say.

I don't think anyone got robbed. Cruz was just playing by the rules, so congrats to Cruz and Rahn Tobler. So far, the Pedregons OWN the countdown. I really wish the NHRA would do away with it though. I hate it.

 

[gerrymack]

Everyone that has come to play has known the rules going in, so in my opinion the teams that took out the titles deserved them.

Sure I feel disappointed for Wilk and co, and congratulations must go to his team for a stellar year, but to say Cruz and co didn't deserve them is wrong.

Congratulations Cruz, Rahn and the team for winning it in style as well, their countdown form was sensational.

 

[mike]

isn't that the point of all sports (including NHRA) "to entertain the fans"

sure it is how these guys make a living.... but it's sole purpose is to entertain the fans

and if the fan's get bored because the championship battle was over with 5 races to go, the NHRA does not make money thus the driver's/teams do not get paid.....

The fans didn't seem to be bored before... and they still flocked to the races (even as far as Australia - that would be me) before that countdown crap even came in! So don't give me the fans get 'bored' crap! If the fact that a nitro car can't excite you just on it's own, and you need a crappy countdown to feel some excitement, then you're following the wrong sport!!!

It's ok though, you're probably a Kings fan, so you're probably trying to find some excitement in your life

 

[NitroMustang65]

IMO, Tony didn't "take out" Hight. Robert smoked the tires - that's a big difference between a good side by side race where the winner has to earn it at the stripe.

 

[mick]

congratulations cruz, rohn, team & advanced auto parts.
you guys put yourself in a position to compete for the title
then stepped it up when it counted.

 

[n/a]

Not a fan but he played by the rules so congrats to Cruz.

HEY GLENDORA....how's it working for ya when there are so many fans not too happy about all this countdown crap???

Wilk, chin up!! You had an awesome year.

WILKERSON, YOU ARE THE 'TRUE CHAMPION'!!

Larry Fulton

 

[Nemo]

Congrats to Cruz, everybody knew the rules going in, it's not like Cruz cheated and he did step up when it counted. As far as the "ratings", I for one did not even DVR nor watch the final two races of the year when I seen that Wilk lost the points lead and then the championship thanks to a couple bad races and the "points structure" so they lost at least one viewer.

 

[Dave]

I think Wilkerson 'ought to show up at Pomona next year with #1 on the car, just for the hell of it. That might stir up some sh*t.

Dave

 

[clwill]

Like the countdown or not -- at least Cruz won the last three races. That's a pretty substantial run of success and at least doesn't make it some completely random fluke. He peaked at the right time...

How about Krawiec winning the series title without winning a single race? That's a pretty weird one, no?

 

[yoda]

Like the countdown or not -- at least Cruz won the last three races. That's a pretty substantial run of success and at least doesn't make it some completely random fluke. He peaked at the right time...

How about Krawiec winning the series title without winning a single race? That's a pretty weird one, no?

Eddie did exactly what would have worked Countdown or not- he stepped up and showed up in the money round more consistantly than everyone else, winners included, all year... EK earned that Wally and the big check through consistancy, which I will give props for..

Cruzer took advantage of the system to his advantage by playing by the rules dealt to ALL the competitors and having his game on when it really mattered. They earned their World Championship by knowing when to run strong after getting into the "playoffs"...

The big question is- would the flopper guys still wind up the way they are if they had to run to the 1320 stripe?? We pretty much can be sure that TF would be the same (maybe not as overwhelmingly)....

 

[none]

I liked the fact the Cruz had the huevos to stand there with Compton right behind him & say Wilk would be the real Champion if not for the countdown(or something to that effect)