[Marty Buth]

Joe Schaechter is right. We ran against each other in qualifying when I went 1.47 under at Indy. I have gone 1.40 under 3 different times. None of them were planned, they happened. Two times were in division 3 and once in division 5. The results were the same, you tear down and you get HP. The first time was in Division 3 and I purposely went by the sacles, in hopes of the run not counting. Guess what..........it counted. I thought that was a fair ruling, because I made the -1.40 pass and I was trying to not get the run counted. I agree with Chuck Beach's comments. The rule and practice should be the same in all divisions. I know 3 and 5 are the same. It sounds like Fred was treated the same in division 4. Why is Sorenson's run in division 6 treated differemt? Makes no sense to me. I think the only guy with more -1.40 experience than me is Bob Shaw. I have been at the race a couple of times when Bob went -1.40. I am pretty sure Bob got the HP hit every time.

If Fred's appeal is granted and his HP is taken off, it seems like the door would be wide open for Bob, me, and anyone else to appeal our HP and get it taken off. No offense to Fred, but I hope they don't grant his appeal. I also hope NHRA does the right thing and gives Hal's combo the HP he earned with the run, just like all the rest of us have received.

One last comment. I have been impressed with all of the tech guys I have worked with in teardowns. I think Rich, Travis, Lukey, Jack, Don, and all the division 3 guys are very knowledgable and fun to work with in tear downs. Don even went to get a gasket for me at Indy. I also think Bob Blackwell, Wayne, and everyone I have worked with in division 5 are really great people. The tech guys don't do what they do to get rich, they do it because they like the sport, just like us racers.

Marty