NHRA re: The Incident (2 Viewers)

[twostep]

Here it is Thrusday and still nothing from NHRA, how long does it take to review something that they had on clear video? They are playing the fans, and im afraid they are gonna lose this one, my parents have been lifelong NHRA fans and they called and cancelled their Fox Sports 1 they were paying extra for just to watch NHRA, and will not be renewing their NHRA membership they have had since I was a little kid. They also attend 3 to 5 races a year and said they will not attend one ever again. They said they are done and wont support the NHRA in any way. Regardless of stance on this, the fans are speaking and they are not happy at all nothing has been done, and the fans are what pay the bills, through ticket sales, merchandise purchases, supporting the sponsors, etc

Yours and your parents' choice, of course, if you want to cut your nose off to spite your face. How do you know NHRA isn't/hasn't done anything? Thursday is only 4 days. They're not on a strict timeline; they aren't "playing the fans", they don't 'owe' anyone instant gratification and to be honest, the above sounds exactly like words that come from people who say "I'll NEVER attend another race; I've cancelled my membership in the NHRA, never going to turn the television to an NHRA event, ever, until they return fuel racing to 1320 feet...."

Never a good thing for drag racing to lose a fan but I think some of you are making waaaaaay too much of this. Just my opinion; your mileage obviously varies.

 

[twostep]

The big issue with people is that if it was Cameron that done it he would have been escorted off the property and anyone with any common sense knows thats true! Same is true if it was a sportsman racer or any other low budget pro racer. Its the double standard that has people so upset, and lack of action when we all know immediate action would have been taken had it been someone else.

You don't know that, Wayne; you're just speculating. NHRA fined Don Schumacher, an NHRA competitor about as prominent and wealthy as it gets, $100,000 over finding a few drums of nitro in one of their trailers they weren't supposed to have. But they didn't rush things in an effort to please a bunch of angry fans. They took their time and made an intelligent decision, which is exactly what I expect them to do with Torrence. And lest you believe I'm trying to give ST a pass, I can assure you that's not the case. There's an explanation somewhere for what he did but there damn sure isn't any excuse for it.

 

[vegasnitro]

The big issue with people is that if it was Cameron that done it he would have been escorted off the property and anyone with any common sense knows thats true! Same is true if it was a sportsman racer or any other low budget pro racer. Its the double standard that has people so upset, and lack of action when we all know immediate action would have been taken had it been someone else.

Well, I guess I have no common sense then, because I don't believe that to be true.

Immediate action was taken. NHRA called Steve-O to race control immediately, he then went to Cameron's trailer and apologized immediately and has been apologizing every time he has been in front of a camera since. The issue seems to be the action that was taken is not satisfactory to YOU.

 

[vegasnitro]

Yours and your parents' choice, of course, if you want to cut your nose off to spite your face. How do you know NHRA isn't/hasn't done anything? Thursday is only 4 days. They're not on a strict timeline; they aren't "playing the fans", they don't 'owe' anyone instant gratification and to be honest, the above sounds exactly like words that come from people who say "I'll NEVER attend another race; I've cancelled my membership in the NHRA, never going to turn the television to an NHRA event, ever, until they return fuel racing to 1320 feet...."

Never a good thing for drag racing to lose a fan but I think some of you are making waaaaaay too much of this. Just my opinion; your mileage obviously varies.

100% agree. I would bet you dollars to donuts that these people were already looking for a way out, this just provided them with a convenient excuse. If you could go back a year or two and eavesdrop on their conversations, my money says they were already complaining about ticket prices or TV coverage or how not very many of their friends go any more or how it is not like like the old days. Then Steve-O acts a fool at the last race of the year, now they can walk away "clean" without renewing their membership for next year, so they are not leaving any money on the table, so to speak.

 

[r2]

People aren't trying to justify Torrence's actions, Steve, even his biggest fans. They're trying to understand them....trying to understand what would drive a professional racer to do something so damn DUMB. That's why many are saying "You don't know what Cameron said". Something was said...body language was expressed...something...that caused Torrence to temporarily take leave of his senses.

Some folks don't take being laughed at in the face as acknowledgment or understanding of their statement.

I would have done the same exact thing.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Some folks don't take being laughed at in the face as acknowledgment or understanding of their statement.

I would have done the same exact thing.

Probably just as many folks that wouldn't take having their space being invaded with an unwarranted reprimand...……. Lmao!!!

Sean D

 

[Steve Wayne]

NHRARacer.com - Statement of Action Against Participant

www.nhraracer.com

Statement of Action Against Participant​

The following action has been taken against Steve Torrence regarding an incident that occurred during the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on November 17, 2019 regarding an altercation with a fellow competitor. Torrence publicly apologized for his conduct at the season-end awards ceremony on November 18, 2019. Torrence has been fined twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) and must complete anger management sessions. The fine will be dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of the Safety Safari. The action is appealable.

 

[Huge]

The big issue with people is that if it was Cameron that done it he would have been escorted off the property and anyone with any common sense knows thats true! Same is true if it was a sportsman racer or any other low budget pro racer. Its the double standard that has people so upset, and lack of action when we all know immediate action would have been taken had it been someone else.

I respect your honesty...you finally admitted that the reason for most of this lynch mob mentality thread is because of the players involved and not the incident its self. It's mainly about the fact that some one might get away with something you think you couldn't.

 

[ironpony]

OK so $25k, that would be like fining me and you .25 cents.

 

[JB3]

Man, some of you guys really need to grow some thicker skin around here. As if there aren't dust ups in ALL sports from time to time. You act as if Steve has single handedly ruined NHRA drag racing for ever. Go grab your cuddle puppy, drink some hot coco and get over it. To literally go as far as canceling FS1, not re-upping NHRA memberships, not attending any more races, etc. because of a little dust up between two grown men at a competition is beyond hysterical. You all bitch about how vanilla and corporate NHRA drivers have become and now there is a bit of drama and emotion and you all loose your bloody minds. This is the problem with America today. Rant over!

Chris ... I agree with some of what you said, but not all. True, way big over reaction by many. However, as a note of reference ... almost all sports that have what you call "dust ups" in the heat of the moment also have consequences/punishment they hand down as a result. In soccer, you may get a Red Card and miss part (or the rest of) a game. In the NHL when you fight (happens nightly) you get a penalty and sit out part of the game. In the NBA you fight, you likely get ejected and possibly suspended. In baseball, you fight you typically get ejected and possibly suspended. Same for the NFL (Ask Myles Garrett how he feels about fighting). NASCAR calls drivers to the "office" any time there is an altercation, result is typically not as severe and usually results in probation with hopefully no continued problems. Find me an example where this isn't the case.

Just saying, there are policies for behavior at NHRA and athletes being punished as a result of violating an organizations policies is quite common. It is not a stretch here for NHRA fans to think the same would hold true in this sport or why should it be different if it's stated in a policy.

 

[stitcherbob]

I don't know anybody that wants to give up $25G's for recieving nothing in return....a drag racer has a budget for their operation and I'm sure "fines" aren't in there.

The Safety Safari getting the money can take some of the sting out of it, but I'm sure Steve and his family would much rather give that kind of money to cancer research, seeing the NHRA gets enough of theirs throughout the year

 

[ironpony]

Chris ... I agree with some of what you said, but not all. True, way big over reaction by many. However, as a note of reference ... almost all sports that have what you call "dust ups" in the heat of the moment also have consequences/punishment they hand down as a result. In soccer, you may get a Red Card and miss part (or the rest of) a game. In the NHL when you fight (happens nightly) you get a penalty and sit out part of the game. In the NBA you fight, you likely get ejected and possibly suspended. In baseball, you fight you typically get ejected and possibly suspended. Same for the NFL (Ask Myles Garrett how he feels about fighting). NASCAR calls drivers to the "office" any time there is an altercation, result is typically not as severe and usually results in probation with hopefully no continued problems. Find me an example where this isn't the case.

Just saying, there are policies for behavior at NHRA and athletes being punished as a result of violating an organizations policies is quite common. It is not a stretch here for NHRA fans to think the same would hold true in this sport or why should it be different if it's stated in a policy.

In NASCAR for the drivers to be out of the car
1) race is over
2) drivers are out of contention for that race, drivers day is over

NHRA is unique in the sense their is a lot of interaction between rounds.
NBA, NHL, MLB punishment is immediate.
If NHRA was immediate Steve would not be champ right now.

 

[paulnhra]

Some people need someone to hate,Steve is the one right now. It will pass soon & off to the next one.

 

[Tom Slick]

Chris ... I agree with some of what you said, but not all. True, way big over reaction by many. However, as a note of reference ... almost all sports that have what you call "dust ups" in the heat of the moment also have consequences/punishment they hand down as a result. In soccer, you may get a Red Card and miss part (or the rest of) a game. In the NHL when you fight (happens nightly) you get a penalty and sit out part of the game. In the NBA you fight, you likely get ejected and possibly suspended. In baseball, you fight you typically get ejected and possibly suspended. Same for the NFL (Ask Myles Garrett how he feels about fighting). NASCAR calls drivers to the "office" any time there is an altercation, result is typically not as severe and usually results in probation with hopefully no continued problems. Find me an example where this isn't the case.

Just saying, there are policies for behavior at NHRA and athletes being punished as a result of violating an organizations policies is quite common. It is not a stretch here for NHRA fans to think the same would hold true in this sport or why should it be different if it's stated in a policy.

Don't get me wrong, I never said that a punishment wasn't in order. Without a doubt Steve needed some sort of punishment and from the looks of it, the NHRA has returned to the their office in Glendora and sat down and came up with one. I believe that the punishment that has been handed out fits the crime and hope that Steve learned a lesson. I believe that it says somewhere in the NHRA rule book that unsportsmanlike conduct is punishable by a fine, but is left to the NHRA's discretion.

What's interesting to me is how people are now saying that 25K isn't enough because Steve and his family are wealthy. So if Cameron was the driver to take a swing would 25K be an acceptable punishment, or is that too much money because you assume he is not as well off financially as Steve? What is an acceptable punishment?

That said, my original post was more or less poking fun at the cry babies that act as if the NHRA and their lives were destroyed over a scuffle at the top-end of the race track between two grown men in the heat of competition. I found humor in how upset the masses have gotten over this deal. I hope now that the NHRA has levied their fine on Steve everyone can settle down and look forward to the 2020 season. Except for those of course that are banning the NHRA .

 

[Muddy]

Mostly the uproar is because Steve is such a smart a$$ about 70% of the time. He may well be a really great person but doesn't usually come off that way. Having said that this kind of activity should no longer be tolerated no matter who or how wealthy you are. This penalty should be written in the rules at 25k, should it occur a second time it should be 250k (10X) and should it occur a third time a one year suspension. By the way I come (raced nitro) from the 60s and 70s when it was fairly common place.

 

[r2]

Probably just as many folks that wouldn't take having their space being invaded with an unwarranted reprimand...……. Lmao!!!

Sean D

I understand that! I don't suggest marching into a loaded fist with your hands in your pockets however.

Wrong Day
Wrong Time
Wrong Person

Feelings were hurt, now let's move on.

 

[TR]

Mostly the uproar is because Steve is such a smart a$$ about 70% of the time. He may well be a really great person but doesn't usually come off that way. Having said that this kind of activity should no longer be tolerated no matter who or how wealthy you are. This penalty should be written in the rules at 25k, should it occur a second time it should be 250k (10X) and should it occur a third time a one year suspension. By the way I come (raced nitro) from the 60s and 70s when it was fairly common place.

I'm OK with the penalty, but as you stated about him and his attitude, hopefully it will change without taking away from his very competitive nature. My only question is what if it happens again, will NHRA just increase the fine or would a suspension be in order?
Rick

 

[DanTheFan]

The penalty is fine, maybe even a little more that what I thought it would be. You won’t change who he is, just hope to limit the actions he takes.

 

[twostep]

Some folks don't take being laughed at in the face as acknowledgment or understanding of their statement.

I would have done the same exact thing.

At the risk of losing a national championship and a $500,000 paycheck? Not saying you're ignorant, Ray, but that's pretty ignorant thinking - retaliation toward someone laughing in your face and gambling half a million dollars on the outcome. NHRA could have very easily tossed Torrence off the property and we'd all be celebrating Kalitta's championship win. Anyway, looks like NHRA just settled the score and Torrence would likely be better served if he accepts it.

 

[twostep]

I'm OK with the penalty, but as you stated about him and his attitude, hopefully it will change without taking away from his very competitive nature. My only question is what if it happens again, will NHRA just increase the fine or would a suspension be in order?
Rick

Suspension for the remainder of the season. Period.