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the fact remains NHRA needs to clarify and put it into black and white exactly what is and what isn't excessive braking.
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It IS in black and white. The rule specifically states:
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Section 2, Page 8
Disqualifications:
Anytime it has been judged that excessive braking has resulted in loss of control that results in contact with the guardwall and/or light fixtures or crossing the center boundary lines, INCLUDING PAST THE FINISH LINE, the contestant will be disqualified.
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The only 'discretion' involved in this rule is determining whether or not a vehicle hit something or crossed the centerline. Period. It is completely unambiguous.
On the recent WFO Podcast, Division Director Mike Rice quoted the rule and then went on to say he thinks it should say or mean something else. While I agree that the rule does not go far enough, it does not matter what I think or Mike Rice thinks, or anyone else. The rule says what it says.
If NHRA does not like what the rule says, then they should change the rule.
If NHRA's rule read the same as IHRA's rule on the subject, they *might* have a leg to stand on. Under "Grounds For Disqualifications", it states:
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Excessive braking in handicap eliminators that causes loss of control. If only tire smoke is obvious, a warning may be issued for first offense. This is at the discretion of race director.
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There are runs that Emmons made that *might* have warranted a warning. The run that he was ultimately DQ'd for should not have even warranted a warning, in my opinion.
As I have said before, In my personal opinion, NHRA's rule doesn't go far enough, and NHRA's
ruling went too far! There is a LOT of space between the two. They either need to rewrite the rule and start DQ'ing a LOT of drivers this year, or apologize and make amends with Mr. Emmons.
There is a completely separate issue here that is being largely ignored. There is a problem with Emmon's car, and he is aware of it. On the WFO Podcast, he said that after one of the runs where it smoked the tires and got sideways on him, they took all the wheels off the car and had the brakes inspected by a well-known chassis builder. While they did not find an obvious issue, the car continues to not stop the way they would like it to. When Thomas Fletcher had his dramatic 360 spin a couple of years ago, Dan inspected the car and found a problem with the brakes, and fixed it.