[FireSale]

I may be a lone detractor here, but I still question her commitment to the Pro level of the sport. She did skip Chicago last year to run someone's Pro Mod (Ricky Smith?} for fun.

People who don't follow entry lists pay high ticket prices to see these top flight drivers and cars and expect them to be in the field. A lot of spectators wouldn't be very happy to fight the traffic and find John Force, Robert Height or Doug Kalitta took the race off because they had a nice point lead.

As it stands now, NHRA can't fill a 16 car PS qualifying field with real qualifying. Can't find 20 competitive cars to fight for those spots on race day so we have the Ford and Pontiac cars being wiped in the first round just to fill the slots. My hat's off to those drivers for just having the nerve to show up at the track against the MOPARS and ELITE motors cars.

She's popular with the fans and has a very strong car but still can't find a consistent full ride sponsor. Why is this? Last year when her car seemed to have a different color scene at every race, any public discussion on ESPN regarding sponsorship seemed to revolve around her saying she needs a sponsor to give her money to keep racing. That's always the bottom line, but a team leader just doesn't say that in public. If I were a potential sponsor I would be looking for a team that would represent my product or service with pride rather than just take my money and run. Lucas Oil backs several racers who don't have winning records because they are individuals that the company wants representing them at the track. I think Erica has a ways to go in this area.

Call me an independent thinker.

Dale