[JP1738]

I was running Super Gas 3rd round and was the first pair out behind this fiasco. Honestly this was not Marion Stephenson's fault. He was in the last pairing of Comp, then had to come straight back in order to run SS. I don't think he could have gotten back any quicker than he did. Knowing he would have to tow his comp car back to his pit area (cause that's not a car you putt around the pits) and the fact he was in the last pairing of Comp, it's perfectly reasonable to see it'd take him about 10 minutes to get back to the starting line and another five to get himself ready and all his safety equipment.

I think the real blunder and blame should be placed on NHRA. They should have known he would be coming up late to run SS, they never should have sent Robbie to the water box in the first place. He should have been allowed to relax in the staging lanes until Marion showed up. But they sent him down to the track surface anyway.

Meanwhile, none of the SG racers knew the situation because nothing was communicated to us, so I sat there with my helmet on under the tower too thinking we'd run at any moment. This whole deal was a complete miscue by NHRA and Robbie for not having the awareness and foresight to know to wait. I love me some Robbie and Tabitha, but they should have known who there opponent was and where he'd be. They had no reason to pull down there even if instructed to. Shame in NHRA for telling them to do so.