Originally Posted by bubski (Post 677060)

Why are WE reluctant to name , names ?? Just go out on a Limb if your sure !! If someone is doing something in the worst interest of Class Racing let it be known !! Back door deals and enhancements and welfare are making Class Racing a joke nowadays !! Cheers !!

Originally Posted by Ken Miele (Post 677061)

You're a funny dude... the guy who stirs the pot every chance he gets while using a fictitious name wants me to name names. You can't make this stuff up.

Originally Posted by Mike Gray (Post 677054)

Did Gary get the protest fee? (looks like it's $750.00 ?)

Protests must be accompanied by a protest fee as outlined
below. Protest fee, minus Technical Department expenses,
will be forfeited to the vehicle owner if the protested vehicle
is found in compliance with the requirements of its class of
competition.
(NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Pro Mod Drag
Racing Series, NHRA Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series and
the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series) protest fee: $750

How was a phone in protest accepted?

Contestant protests may only be filed by a driver or registered
vehicle owner competing in the same event and in the same
eliminator category, as the vehicle being protested

Originally Posted by 63corvette (Post 677065)

This is all at the Division Directors discretion.
I can speak to this directly as I have been a victim of it myself.
I did not collect the protest fee because the protestor did not put up any fee.
I was subjected to the inspection by 4 or 5 of NHRAs Tech personnel over about an hour and one half inspection of my car on jack stands in my pit.
Only the wife and I were allowed to witness the inspection.
Everyone else was evicted from our pit and could not witness the inspection.
My car passed with flying colors and the chief inspector asked me why I was being inspected. My comment was you need to tell me who protested me and and why.
I was told they, NHRA could not tell me.
When the inspection was over I had a heated conversation with the Division Director.
I was sure who protested me and we also had a heated conversation.
After that nothing was ever said about the protest.
What it comes down to is certain SPECIAL people get things done just to harass another racer and pay no costs for their actions monetary or otherwise.
My Experience.
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX

Originally Posted by Ken Miele (Post 677039)

2010 FI 352.

Hey guys, as you know its been a mostly uneventful race. With only the track prep on Saturday after the rains being an issue. Well, that's about to change. Gary Ewing's 69 SS/GA Camaro was protested. Not from another racer at the track, but with a phone call to NHRA. Before I get into the details, is this going to be the new norm. We think our opponent is not legal, so we just have to make a phone call.

I'm reluctant to name names... but a racer called NHRA and told them Ewing's car was not legal. They said the firewall was modified. Now you know many of us like to make our engine compartment look clean. Smoothing imperfections is pretty common. Well NHRA did go over to Ewing's car, and the firewall was totally legal. In fact Gary ask the tech to sign the firewall.

Its a sad state of affairs that we now eat our own. Gary has been racing for as long as I remember, he is a stand up guy. His 69 Camaro is one of the nicest in the country. He has been racing the 69 forever, and now someone has an issue with it. The pettiness that goes on in Stock and Super Stock is beyond me. We are so blessed in life that we get to race cars, just think of the 100,000's of fans that would loved to be in our shoes.

You think grown man would be mature enough not to make these types accusations over the phone. I probably would still have had an issue if the racer did the protest in person, but I would respect that... at least he was man enough to do so.

Anyone else that has more info on what happened, please chime is.