Black Cat Award
 

Rick Winchester had motor home issues on way to Bowling Green towed etc then on way to Indy same issue towed etc ($$$) had to get help just to get to Indy .... Qualifies opponent no shows he gets heads up alternate ... Makes it to 3rd round is 000 on tree motor grenades at 1/8 mile pole .... As he's sitting at his trailer after the tow (probably contemplating life) NHRA shows up and fines him $500 for the oil down. If karma works he's winning Indy next year 🍀 Sorry buddy !

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Runner up Tommy Pettigrew makes last run to get in #127 but loses motor on the pass

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Nowadays it's posts like this that makes me feel like if I go to a race, have no troubles getting there, and make it back home ok, that I feel like I won the race no matter how good or bad I did racing.

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If it wasn't for bad luck. Sorry to hear this.

He made round 4 and his opponent had the .000 RT. Looks like the heads up -1.021 in round 3 was the end.

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That's a rough 12 days for Rick. He has always been a hard worker. The Corvette is absolutely beautiful and was running as good as she looks in Bowling Green and Indy. I just have a problem with these oil down fines.I don't have a solution, but there has got to be a better way to treat the customer.......

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X2 on that Bill. You cant win enough money if something breaks in your car or tow rig. On my way to the gators this year I blew a front tire on my toter. $1400 for two new fronts and roadside service.

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Yeah, I do too, especially since now a days Stockers/Super Stockers are running for about half of what NHRA and contingency use to pay. How about if there's NO oil Downs in Stock or Super Stock NHRA pay $500 more for the win? OH! Sorry about your luck or lack of,
Rick. Take care, man.

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I had the oil down conversation with Peter Clifford at the Houston Nat event. I was told that the fines reduced the amount of oil downs and got no sense that there was any willingness on NHRAs part to change. No one could tell me how a fine after the engine loss helped prevent it. I also understand that keeping the TV schedule seemed to be of the upmost importance to them. I've been to a few races to this year and there just doesn't seem to be an over abundance of oil downs. Perhaps we could get Nitro Joe to do some stats for us on oil downs at divisional and national events. Maybe some info for our Representatives to use in arguing against the fines. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

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Received my fourth rd. looser check today complete with a 250.00 oil down fine. I guess the NHRA needs the money more than I do so I am returning the 150.00 sent to me. I wonder when they are going to start charging for water in the burn-out box, weighing the cars, printing time tickets, and checking fuel as these are all part of running a race too. I think Wally Parks would fire the brain surgeon who decided to fine sportsman racers for oil-downs ,as if losing a engine isn't bad enough. I guess it was the same guy who reserved the Hurst bridge for Top Eliminator ticket holders while sending fans between race cars trying to get to the starting line which is crazy at best. I could go on about some of the other bull crap that went on this year at Indy but it is obvious the people in charge could not care any less. I am sending a copy of this post with the check as I do not want anyone to think I am happy with the way they are ruining our sport. I see a lot more combo races in my future and no national events. Rick Winchester 3277(at least for now)

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The problem is that the executives at NHRA don't have the grass roots experience to make good decisions for sportsman and they are not mature enough to take advice from their teams that are customer facing. The pros should have some negative reinforcement when it comes to oil downs, especially the nitro cars. The problem is that the disconnected executives that should be listening, choose not to. The end game is the same, but there are different paths to get there for sportsman. I would say NHRA should offer a discount on every entry fee for an entire year for competitors that proactively install an oil containment device. Maybe a ten dollar rebate for each entry or whatever amount they choose. The point is that there are ways to get things done without it being a kick in the pants to the sportsman racer.

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My dad tells me that every time we load up and head back from a race....and I agree it's a win if we come back in one piece

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Rick, Guys like you are still the backbone of this sport.
The problem is, I don't think there is anyone left at NHRA, in an executive position, that knows this.
They fine you $250 , and then they lose $1500 in entries next season,.. but they don't care.
WE are just filler that get in the way, and delay, the pro show and the TV package.
I know, I'm stating the obvious.


Good luck with whatever you choose to do next year.

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You guys can all thank Rich Schaefer your D2 director for the oil fines. He told 10-12 of us STK/SS racers at the Gatornationals after there so called sportman meeting they held for us (LOL). That Oil down penalties were a good thing and were needed to help keep the TV time on schedule durning national events AND he was in favor of them. So a few of us asked if TV was not at risk of being off schedule like on Thursdays or if we ran after the pro's TV time (like in Ricks case at Indy) why is there penalty? and of course we all got so BS answer.

Just a side note the pros get one or two free oil downs per year while sportsman get ZERO. Its to bad NHRA has **$ked this up for the second time.

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Are Stockers allowed to run a diaper?

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Don't get this **** started again!

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Simply asking a question. Can't bitch about getting fined for oiling down the track IF you are allowed to run a diaper and chose NOT to.

I have one on my car which is used for Footbraking AND 10.00 Index (which does not require one).

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Yeah, you can.

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I will pay the fine other than have the Headache of taking it on and off and trying to make it fit then pay for it to keep the engine hotter then the cost of the diaper? My opinion only hope I don't blow up

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Someway I am continue to be cocerned about the diaper and the steering linkage interference on a rear steer stocker. We dont have to steer much goinv down the track- but.

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No one has yet explained to me the relationship between a fine after an oil down and reducing them.

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I had not had much thought if diapers until we put one on the superstocker. It was pretty easy to take on and off. Our local track set a requirement for 10.99 and quicker to have diapers, so I had one made for the stocker as well. I will say that it fits well. there are no issues with steering or the engine running hot whatsoever. Now, these are both small block cars, but if you have the measurements right, I think most are doable. There are some cars that are tough to work on period, but so far, the diaper has been ok. I don't think there are too many people making them, however. Dennis Ridgeway did ours and he was very good to work with.

Only reason I bring it up is that, I too had no intentions of going the diaper route,mbut once I tried it, it wasn't a bad deal.

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Muffler rule will come back next everybody has to put a plug for someone to each his her own if you want to run one do it I don't need or want another headache its always easy until you get in a hurry like changing oil in a heads up run this BS keeps coming up le itt rest like I said I can just pay my own fine