[Tony Curcio]

Some clarifications that I think are important:

1- The primary reason a two-step improves consistency has more to do with accurate staging depth and accurate launch rpm, than with "the hand is quicker than the foot". Particularly when a track is hot, as it was in Englishtown last week, you can see the footbraker's front tires sliding into the beam, not bumping in. And of course, the second you take your eyes off the tach, the rpm changes.

2- IHRA's "Diry Dozen" were using a Matty Box, which timed the run and cut off the engine near the finish line to prevent breaking out. It had nothing to do with reaction times.

3- The IHRA stock elim racer caught with a delay box was reacting to the top bulb, then the delay box released the car a full second later, which is easy to spot if you look for it. This guy was spotted by one of the Emmons brothers, who protested immediately.

4- The Super category cars are fast enough to go red reacting to a .400 pro tree. The faster stockers could go red on a .500 pro tree, and a blinder effectively creates a pro tree. But somewhere around j-k-l stock, these cars need short front tires and other tricks to get them to cut a decent light on the flash. I don't see how the slow stockers could benefit from using a delay box, except when reacting to the top bulb, which as I said would be very easy to spot.

5- The very best average on Isaac's list belongs to Lee Zane, who is usually in K/SA. Clint Blezien and Jody Lang are also in slower cars.

My conclusion is that delay box use is not the explanation for the top racer's success. It's not impossible, just not likely. In fact, my observation is that the pro-sportsman racers are extra cautious about being legal, as they are more likely targets for scrutinty, and could lose their sponsors and livelihood if caught cheating. This may also explain why they are most vulnerable in heads-up situations. Perhaps it's a combination of practice, practice, practice and some natural ability thrown in.

I know I haven't persuaded Ed O'Brien, but I hope casual readers will consider these points.