Pro Sportsman Racers

[Mike Carr]

Does anyone have an idea/opinion on what, or how much exactly, constitutes a "professional sportsman racer"? They run x-amount of races per year? Travel x-amount of miles per race x-amount of times a year?

2003, I was gone seventeen (17) weekends that year, at NHRA/IHRA races, two of my S/SS combo races and Indy. Not counting local bracket racing on a Wednesday night or weekend. Eight of those were over three hundred miles one-way. And could have gone to more races had I chosen to. Does that fall into a ''traveling pro-sporsman racer''?

[Rose Racing]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

Does anyone have an idea/opinion on what, or how much exactly, constitutes a "professional sportsman racer"? They run x-amount of races per year? Travel x-amount of miles per race x-amount of times a year?

2003, I was gone seventeen (17) weekends that year, at NHRA/IHRA races, two of my S/SS combo races and Indy. Not counting local bracket racing on a Wednesday night or weekend. Eight of those were over three hundred miles one-way. And could have gone to more races had I chosen to. Does that fall into a ''traveling pro-sporsman racer''?

Honestly I think its whatever your opinion of a Pro Sportsman racer is and my opinion of a Pro Sportsman racer is a very dedicated and a racer with a very organized racing effort no matter how small or big meaning if you have a very organized rig and a neat and extremely clean car or just a very well thought out racing operation(MOST Class Racers) A few examples I know off and have either known or watched for years are the Marshall Dodge Material clan(Great multi car effort with clean and very sorted out race cars and a TON of years of experience and that team kinda reminds me of the Rod Shop Pro STock team of the 70s) Todd Mathias with the Buckeye Shaker Camaro(Very good friend)(A one car effort with a very sorted out and well working race car and a guy with alot of knowledge of racing and I cant even begin to tell you about John and Mary with How much they knew and Mary still know and my last example of Pro Sportsman in my opinion another single car effort of Joe BUZZINHALFDOZEN Buchanon (Another good friend) as we all know how clean and well sorted out his car is and how organized his operation is and a very good engine builder. I think thats why these classes run at NHRA and IHRA National Events because they are technically Proffesionals running Sportsman classes at a National Level.

[Rose Racing]

Heres my take on this issue from a lower buck guy who is hoping to one day get a chance to run Stock or Super Stock. I want to race these 2 classes not only because it looks fun to race in those classes in true Class Competition but because I want to race and hopefully win against some of the best Class and Bracket style racers in the country! I want a chance to prove I can beat the big dogs such as The Fletchers,The Biondos,The Cummings/Moser Boys,Bertozzi,The Marshalls,Michael Beard etc that I have watched for years and would love to have a chance to beat em and prove that I am worthy to hold a Wally or Ironman and be the best in Stock Doorslammer racing on that particalar day and to me thats what Drag Racing is all about beating the best and if you dont want to beat the best Weds night racing or friday night test and tune is for you not NATIONAL EVENT RACING! Thank you

[Robert Simpson]

It is real simple.. The "Ric Flair" rule.... "To be the best you have to beat the best!" That is how it is. I believe that the article was written to spark more interest in the magazine with comments on other sites like this. I do like reading some of his other articles. Race On!

[Wade Mahaffey]

My hat is off to anyone that puts forth the effort and dedication to do this stuff. Even more so to someone that calls his own shots with regard to his whole program (not just a paid driver, or somebody with a rich daddy). Racers earn their experience, and if they are progressive, just lucky, or whatever, when they WIN...then good for them. You can't complain about a guy that kicks your but bracket racing, anymore than you can with a top engine builder beating you in class. When a person has dedicated themselves to nothing but an "A" game, you are going to need to develop your own.

The average racer looks at these special racers that (so call) race for a living, and think I wish I was lucky enough to do that. I see them and I think, that racer is out doing it, and it's so natural for them...it's like going to the bathroom...no problem right! But then I think about, if you don't win or runner-up...you can't even cover the fuel bill. What happens to the house payment....how about the food, and all the other bills...what about little Susies and little Billys college .....WHAT ABOUT MY RETIREMENT CHECK...when I can't do it anymore!.....What happens to my 15K payday when I lost by .002 in the semi final...What happens when NHRA says.....we don't need you anymore! Now what! I can't imagine doing what I did for a living...(firefighter now retired) and knowing I might not get a paycheck for a thousandth of a second! Think about...they deserve to win....they certainly take the most chances

My hat is off to you, because you've got a hell of a set hanging!

Wade Mahaffey