So you're Alan Johnson
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mike
Nitro Member
He's won in TF before, driving for Roger Primm.
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Ron Capps started in a top fuel dragster.So my guess would be he would not have any problems.
James
Nitro Member
I'd second this choice, he rarely gets beat off the line.
Heavyhauler
Nitro Member
Let's plug in John Stewart, great driver in fact a member of the Original Cragar 5 Second Club, just like Dixon's Dad
1. Tommy Ivo Oct. 22, 1972 5.97 New Alexandria, Pa.
2. Mike Snively Nov. 17, 1972 5.97 Ontario, Calif.
3. Don Moody Nov. 17, 1972 5.91 Ontario, Calif.
4. Don Garlits July 7, 1973 5.95 Portland, Ore.
5. Gary Beck Sept. 3, 1973 5.96 Indianapolis
6. James Warren Oct. 13, 1973 5.97 Fremont, Calif.
7. Larry Dixon Sr. Nov. 16, 1973 5.94 Ontario, Calif.
8. Dan Richins Nov. 16, 1973 5.93 Ontario, Calif.
9. John Stewart Nov. 16, 1973 5.92 Ontario, Calif.
10. Pete Kalb Jan. 26, 1974 5.96 Phoenix
11. Jerry Ruth Jan. 27, 1974 5.95 Phoenix
12. Dwight Salisbury Feb. 2, 1974 5.97 Pomona, Calif.
13. Dwight Hughes Feb. 2, 1974 5.97 Pomona, Calif.
14. Carl Olson March 10, 1974 5.94 Bakersfield, Calif.
15. Gary Ritter March 23, 1974 5.84 Sacramento, Calif.
16. Frank Bradley June 29, 1974 5.96 Irvine, Calif.
Anyone who knows Stu knows his driving ability, plus his time as a mechanic/crew chief gives him a better insight than pure drivers.
The TV interviews would be entertaining to say the least.
1. Tommy Ivo Oct. 22, 1972 5.97 New Alexandria, Pa.
2. Mike Snively Nov. 17, 1972 5.97 Ontario, Calif.
3. Don Moody Nov. 17, 1972 5.91 Ontario, Calif.
4. Don Garlits July 7, 1973 5.95 Portland, Ore.
5. Gary Beck Sept. 3, 1973 5.96 Indianapolis
6. James Warren Oct. 13, 1973 5.97 Fremont, Calif.
7. Larry Dixon Sr. Nov. 16, 1973 5.94 Ontario, Calif.
8. Dan Richins Nov. 16, 1973 5.93 Ontario, Calif.
9. John Stewart Nov. 16, 1973 5.92 Ontario, Calif.
10. Pete Kalb Jan. 26, 1974 5.96 Phoenix
11. Jerry Ruth Jan. 27, 1974 5.95 Phoenix
12. Dwight Salisbury Feb. 2, 1974 5.97 Pomona, Calif.
13. Dwight Hughes Feb. 2, 1974 5.97 Pomona, Calif.
14. Carl Olson March 10, 1974 5.94 Bakersfield, Calif.
15. Gary Ritter March 23, 1974 5.84 Sacramento, Calif.
16. Frank Bradley June 29, 1974 5.96 Irvine, Calif.
Anyone who knows Stu knows his driving ability, plus his time as a mechanic/crew chief gives him a better insight than pure drivers.
The TV interviews would be entertaining to say the least.
MM
Nitro Member
Shawn got beat off the line almost 65% of the time this season. This is not a slam against him, I think he is a solid driver, but it's important to have the correct information as well.
d'kid
Nitro Member
Jay, you owe k'dubs a monitor and keyboard....
my puter has gone to the great beyond... so pops is using his...
DAN
Nitro Member
Melanie Troxel - she's grounded, personable, totally marketable and has already proven she is kick-ass in a fuel dragster. She already has a strong fan base, and would be a perfect for the Al Anabi team.
I don't believe Morgan Lucas or Shawn Langdon should be choices - they've got a good 2 car team with funding already. I'd rather see someone hired based just on talent, not on buying power.
Brandon doesn't seem to have the same burning passion to win that his father did, so I would say no to that as well.
The only thing with Melanie is that I would miss seeing her drive that kick-ass turbo corvette.
I don't believe Morgan Lucas or Shawn Langdon should be choices - they've got a good 2 car team with funding already. I'd rather see someone hired based just on talent, not on buying power.
Brandon doesn't seem to have the same burning passion to win that his father did, so I would say no to that as well.
The only thing with Melanie is that I would miss seeing her drive that kick-ass turbo corvette.
Buns
Nitro Member
Ron's already under contract with DSR and Napa for next season.
matt Smith
Nitro Member
I think he should put someone that has never raced in the nitro ranks... That would bring new blood to the class plus it would show everyone he can make anyone win in his cars....
clwill
Nitro Member
I guess I look at this differently than some others. But this has to be a discussion of driving ability first. And then, as Alan suggests, about money. You can't really concern yourself with the car, because that's a given with AJ.
To me that means you can't look at candidates who are simply "winners" because a lot of people who've been winners have been winners because they have had a good car underneath them. Some of the people in the TAD ranks come to mind. I've not followed TAD closely enough until the last couple of years, so I can't be a good enough judge. But it seems like some of the best players there are winners because of the car, not necessarily the driving ability.
And although a lot of great drivers have come up through the SC ranks (Fuller, Beckman, AForce, Langdon, etc.) I'm not sure the skills there translate into TF. You have to be a good leaver in SC, and that's similar in any level of racing. But the key skill you get in SC (or any bracket/index class) is driving the finish line. And that's not relevant in TF.
Other than "first off the line", the skill it seems you need in TF is a feel for the car. That sense when it blows off the tires and when you can get out and back into it. That feel for when this pull to one side is one you can drive through, or one you need to bail on. The almost sixth sense of where the other car is. That kind of thing. These are the skills that separate a good driver from a great one. These drivers will give you a win light in 25-50% of those cases when the average driver would have just clicked it off. And that's how you win championships.
So I think you want a driver who has shown their smarts in that realm. People who come to mind here are people who've driven other heads-up cars/series and been successful -- despite the car. That gets the list mighty short. Troxel comes to mind, if you've seen her drive that Pro Mod beast, hard to argue with that. Millican also comes to mind, having run the table in the junior circuit on less capable tracks, and with less than stellar reliability. I'm not a big fan of the little guy (Hot Rod), but he's shown some skill here too.
Pick one of those folks, then consider the dough. If you could ever get an apples to apples comparison, as suggested in the original question, then yes, choose the $$. But I don't think there ever is an apples-to-apples comparison when it comes to human beings. So, you just have to decide how important money is to the equation.
To me that means you can't look at candidates who are simply "winners" because a lot of people who've been winners have been winners because they have had a good car underneath them. Some of the people in the TAD ranks come to mind. I've not followed TAD closely enough until the last couple of years, so I can't be a good enough judge. But it seems like some of the best players there are winners because of the car, not necessarily the driving ability.
And although a lot of great drivers have come up through the SC ranks (Fuller, Beckman, AForce, Langdon, etc.) I'm not sure the skills there translate into TF. You have to be a good leaver in SC, and that's similar in any level of racing. But the key skill you get in SC (or any bracket/index class) is driving the finish line. And that's not relevant in TF.
Other than "first off the line", the skill it seems you need in TF is a feel for the car. That sense when it blows off the tires and when you can get out and back into it. That feel for when this pull to one side is one you can drive through, or one you need to bail on. The almost sixth sense of where the other car is. That kind of thing. These are the skills that separate a good driver from a great one. These drivers will give you a win light in 25-50% of those cases when the average driver would have just clicked it off. And that's how you win championships.
So I think you want a driver who has shown their smarts in that realm. People who come to mind here are people who've driven other heads-up cars/series and been successful -- despite the car. That gets the list mighty short. Troxel comes to mind, if you've seen her drive that Pro Mod beast, hard to argue with that. Millican also comes to mind, having run the table in the junior circuit on less capable tracks, and with less than stellar reliability. I'm not a big fan of the little guy (Hot Rod), but he's shown some skill here too.
Pick one of those folks, then consider the dough. If you could ever get an apples to apples comparison, as suggested in the original question, then yes, choose the $$. But I don't think there ever is an apples-to-apples comparison when it comes to human beings. So, you just have to decide how important money is to the equation.
Buns
Nitro Member
Come on, Joe. Of course AJ's cars have performed great but he's had HOF drivers, too. You know it takes both. Those cars have to stay in the groove and they do smoke the tires and need pedaling from time-to-time.
Buns
Nitro Member
I'm not so sure MOPAR would be very happy with that turn of events.
