12/21/2006
WE’RE WONDERING TOO
Jeff, every time I read your just wonderings, I just wonder how many people at NHRA listen to you and the little guy racer and fans on the shortcomings that the association has?
Thanks for telling it like it is.
George DeClercq
New Mexico
UTTERLY CORRECT
Jeff Utterback: Great article. It’s too bad Jimmy Tice Jr. does not want to start up the AHRA again using the older cars and a kick-ass bracket race. Current NHRA racing sucks as it did when I raced as a touring sportsman racer (‘71-‘87) with the AHRA. The NHRA wants to suck your money with no returns or exposure.
Thanks for a great column.
D.A. SPENCER
GOOD QUESTION
“Just Wondering… Why don’t the NHRA and IHRA management add Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars as legal classes at Divisional races only? Both the NHRA and the IHRA desperately need the equivalent of NASCAR’s Busch Series as developmental series, Divisional tracks need something that will bring fans to the divisional races, and it’s been proven over and over that Top Sportsman or alky-burning cars won’t do it."
Why did DaimlerChrysler start making the '392 again?
Mark Breznay
Miami, FL
THANKS TO DRAW
I just wanted to send a note to thank both Drag Racing Online and Tracy Winters from DRAW. Her column in the December issue, "Have a Lumpy Christmas" was written about
me. As she wrote in her article, I had what was obviously a pretty serious wreck on my Top Fuel Harley in July and the generosity of DRAW is just amazing.
All of us involved in this sport have known for years about the generosity of racers in general, and DRAW in particular. I suspect however, that there are lots of folks out there who are just like I was. I knew about DRAW and always meant to send in a donation, but was always too busy or forgetful. Thank goodness they weren't too busy or forgetful when I needed the help.
I'd encourage everyone to follow Tracy's advice and open up the checkbooks for DRAW this holiday season.
Toni Froehling
And remember, it’s tax-deductible. – Ed.
STILL TALKING SCHUMACHER-STEWART
You can rant on NHRA and Rick Stewart all you want, but you've got to admit that the starting line "event" with Tony was unusual. Lots of people have been quick to jab NHRA for favoring the "big" teams. But when was the last time you saw a "big" team have a problem at the starting line where Rick Stewart wanted to shut them down and the team tuner wanted to run the car? I can't remember it ever happening in many years.
Usually it's a no-brainer. Rick signals the shut-off sign and it's such an obvious problem that the tuner is more than happy to oblige. Nobody wants their driver and car blown up at the starting line. This seemed like an unusual situation because Rick Stewart never looked at Alan Johnson or the driver at all. He was looking at other crew members and seemed to be more in a "questioning" manner than a "telling" manner. In fact I don't ever remember him being so indecisive on the starting line. Most of time, Rick is part of the show with his aggressive, in your face, slash across the throat shut-off signal.
In this case he seemed somewhat unsure of the nature of what was going on like he was asking the crew if the car should be shut down. It was weird. At any rate, it was a one-time thing and it certainly doesn't deserve the amount of NHRA and Rick Stewart bashing that has been going on here.
Dave Smithers
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
