If only we could have

[stanzig44]

Unbelievable!

I just do not understand NHRA's thinking behind this. These guys are out here racing part-time because they have other full-time jobs and because of this they do not get their 2nd round money/points.

What if instead of weather there was a crash and they couldn't make the 2nd round - do they not get the 2nd round money/points?

-stan

 

[Buzzz Miller]

This is a travesty!
We have a well publicized shortage of big show cars, so punish the ones who fill the NHRA qualifying sheets on their own dime??
Had they left after first round on Sunday with the sun shining and a TV package ready to churn to the masses, there could be some grounds for some of this. What a load of complete garbage!
There is a leave early clause in the rules because they don't want teams/trucks pulling out with giant crowds in the pits or to be seen on TV. But this has nothing to do with that.
The B&J team earned their points! To this there is no question!
The B&J team earned that first round money! To this there is no question!
They left with great uncertainty to when racing could and would resume.
And the money we are talking may be the difference for a team like this to show to an upcoming event. B&J is not some sponsor giving money to this team, this is a company owned by the Strasburg family. The stickers grace the car because they DON'T have a major sponsor.
This is some of the lowest business I have ever seen!
If you ever needed concrete proof to hate the NHRA- here it is boys and girls.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Anyone have one for the Full Throttle rep in charge? Please post it if you do.

Indeed a travesty this would be, if true! If anyone has connections to answer Bill's question about the administrator in charge of Full Throttle I, for one, would be grateful for such contact information. They really need to know what their sponsorship dollars aren't doing and the reputation this organization is leaving for a legacy. I've e-mailed both Tom and Graham before without a whisper of a response and I believe they honestly wouldn't give a rats posterior about what I think about such practices however, their sponsor will and I'll shout it from the mountain tops on every communication medium I can contrive to make him/them at Coca Cola (specifically the Full Throttle division) know what the sanctioning body they sponsor is doing in an effort to correct this awful wrong.

 

[You!]

Probably more so now..........
A rumor today says a $5000.00 fine was levied for leaving early.
Is this true ?

Actually Bob, if this is all true, the team would be cheated out of $6000 that is due to them.

 

[BSquared]

There wasnt a fine, but there is a penalty of no first round money=4000.00 and no first round points=20 pts. We have not received any money yet, but we are told it will be qualifying money only. The afore mentioned we believe to be "set in stone" and non-negotiable. Now with the loss of the 20 points we fall out of the top ten, and that COULD cost us 2000.00 at Phoenix, not clear on the details of this second can of worms yet.

From an outsiders point of view, this does not seem out of line. Despite the conditions out of your control (and for that matter, NHRA's), if you are not there for the first round, you should not be rewarded for the "thought of being there".
I understand completly that circumstance prevented the team from running. At the same time, this is a professional sport and a lot of money is invested into teams that can afford the sacrifice. People ***** all the time about this sport not applying the rule set of Nascar, yet when it hits home they take it out on the provider.

Just my 2 cents, sucks you could not compete and I wish nothing but the best for the future races

Edit: I just read that this may not be qualified in the rules. If truly the case then it should be and I agree that without specific binding rules, points should be awarded.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

From an outsiders point of view, this does not seem out of line. Despite the conditions out of your control (and for that matter, NHRA's), if you are not there for the first round, you should not be rewarded for the "thought of being there".
I understand completly that circumstance prevented the team from running. At the same time, this is a professional sport and a lot of money is invested into teams that can afford the sacrifice. People ***** all the time about this sport not applying the rule set of Nascar, yet when it hits home they take it out on the provider.

Just my 2 cents, sucks you could not compete and I wish nothing but the best for the future races

Edit: I just read that this may not be qualified in the rules. If truly the case then it should be and I agree that without specific binding rules, points should be awarded.

Brian, they WERE there for first round and WON! That's the earned money they're being deprived of it as I understand it. Given the indeterminable continuance date due to rain, this team of family business owners and volunteers simply had to go to work to keep their jobs. There was no way of being sure when, if at all, they could finish up eliminations - proven by the fact that the planned Monday completion also rained out. Who's to say they wouldn't have done so five more days in a row?
The early leave rule is so teams won't pull transporters out into crowds-filled pits, endangering them with semis driving through - not days later!
This should have every fan and racer that knows anything about the operation of the NHRA up in arms!

 

[James]

So what about teams when they win first rd.,break,and can't make it back?? Do they get fined and/or lose their 1st round money for not coming back? Oh,let me guess,it's ok because they're still on the grounds? This is the most absurd BS thing i've ever heard of from NHRA and i hope to goodness it is'nt true!



PS- I can't count the number of times i've seen pro transporters leavin on a Sunday at the Gators.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

I've sent a request for verification off to Graham and Tom already. Awaiting confirmation of the penalties, I'll be sending letters off to the CEO of Coca Cola and the head of Full Throttle division in protest of what their sponsorship moneys are supporting.

"Bad business practices come from bad businessmen not circumstances."

 

[none]

There wasnt a fine, but there is a penalty of no first round money=4000.00 and no first round points=20 pts. We have not received any money yet, but we are told it will be qualifying money only. The afore mentioned we believe to be "set in stone" and non-negotiable. Now with the loss of the 20 points we fall out of the top ten, and that COULD cost us 2000.00 at Phoenix, not clear on the details of this second can of worms yet.

That sounds like a fine in my book.

 

[BSquared]

Brian, they WERE there for first round and WON! That's the earned money they're being deprived of it as I understand it. Given the indeterminable continuance date due to rain, this team of family business owners and volunteers simply had to go to work to keep their jobs. There was no way of being sure when, if at all, they could finish up eliminations - proven by the fact that the planned Monday completion also rained out. Who's to say they wouldn't have done so five more days in a row?
The early leave rule is so teams won't pull transporters out into crowds-filled pits, endangering them with semis driving through - not days later!
This should have every fan and racer that knows anything about the operation of the NHRA up in arms!

I stand corrected. Without a doubt those points and monies should be awarded.

 

[jap tin]

I've sent a request for verification off to Graham and Tom already. Awaiting confirmation of the penalties, I'll be sending letters off to the CEO of Coca Cola and the head of Full Throttle division in protest of what their sponsorship moneys are supporting.

"Bad business practices come from bad businessmen not circumstances."

I hope you get a reply from Graham and Tom but don't be suprised if they blow you off. You know it's happy hour some where and they are busy boys.

 

[fcpilot]

This truly is a sad state of affairs. It is truly sad to see this racing organization use this loop-hole in the rules to safe a few bucks. The shame is that we all have witnessed other times where they have re-written the rules during an event to benefit a particular racer or team. Worst of all, we have seen this organization change the rules and "postdate" the change to make "what was illegal last race" become "legal" for individual teams. All while not budging for other teams. Sadly we are all witness to an organization that clearly is not looking out for the best interest of the sport.

Paul

I don't post here often, but with this atrocity I had to open my mouth. And the NHRA wonders why they don't have a good reputation.

 

[Buzzz Miller]

Whatever the rule is or however they wish to interpret it, right is right and wrong is wrong.
The powers that be have the power and the right to interpret the rules as they wish in each unique situation. And this is certainly a unique situation, and I do not remember the last time a weekend went down like this. If they want to give the Strasburgs the money and the points, they can. This is certainly out of any realm of what the rule(s) were written for.
So let's just wait and see if NHRA does what is right, or what is not.

 

[none]

PS- I can't count the number of times i've seen pro transporters leavin on a Sunday at the Gators.

Not recently you haven't. I don't recall the exact year but the rule about moving transporters in the pits has been in place at least five years.

Alan

 

[blowerboy]

Alan, You are correct about Pro transporters but this rule apparently does not apply to Sportsman transporters who sometimes have just as big of rigs as the pros and move through the same area's!

 

[MW]

Not recently you haven't. I don't recall the exact year but the rule about moving transporters in the pits has been in place at least five years.

Alan

Alan, Did the Strasburg team EARN second round money / points or not??

 

[blowerboy]

Mark, second round is not the issue. We had to leave Monday night after being rained out again. Half of the team had to leave Sunday night. We WON FIRST round on Sunday. The rest of us stayed Monday ready to race with crew guys from other teams to help.

 

[You!]

And Mark, how would Alan know? He wasn't there Tuesday either. Neither was Bob Frey. Wonder if they were docked too?

 

[vegasnitro]

And Mark, how would Alan know? He wasn't there Tuesday either. Neither was Bob Frey. Wonder if they were docked too?

According to DRO ... they were docked 10% of their pay for the whole year.

Back to the issue at hand, rules are rules BUT there also has to be some common sense application of the rules. It was NOT the Strasburg's intent to circumvent the rules in place, it was extenuating circumstances of weather and the need to put the family business first. IF the Strasburgs were truly fined/docked money and points ... then this is WRONG and it sends a terrible message to the "little guy" racer that the NHRA is going to have to lean on now more than ever.

 

[MW]

And Mark, how would Alan know? He wasn't there Tuesday either. Neither was Bob Frey. Wonder if they were docked too?

I just wanted to see how Alan would justify NHRA this time. He has done it a FEW times in the past, right. The Strasburg's won their round 1 race and EARNED FULL second round points / money. Taking even 1% is NOT RIGHT!