Pro Sportsman Racers

[Ed Wright]

I see nothing wrong with things like they are. After watching Dan, in the staging lanes and on the track after I went out at Topeka. I'm even more impressed with him. He works at it, and knows exactly what his car is going to do. Much more so than us stay-close-to-home racers. His packages weren't all so tight he could not have lost, but nobody did good enough job to do it. The more you race, the better you will be. I don't see how you could want to penalize a guy that can do that.

I don't see anything wrong with things the way they are. The rest of us just need to work harder. Kinda like real life.

[cicero819]

Here are some name of past champions who at one time did some touring, some are in my books Elite sportsman through some hard work: Gary Stinnett,Brad Plourd, Peter Biondo, Sal Biondo, Darren Davis, Bo Nickens, Kyle Seipel, Lincoln Morehead, Rod Fuller, Jeg Coughlin jr, Don Elgin, Jim Hughes, Mike Crutchfield, Ed Sellnow, Steve Cohen, Bruno Massel sr and jr, Joey Heffernan, Jeff Taylor, Mike Trumble, Mike Ferderer, Scotty Richardson,Edmond Richardson, Robert Turner, David Simmons, Sherman Adcock, Mike Saye Jim Borburka, Frank Aragona jr, Steve Eckard, Bill Marapulos, Pat Austin, Ace Manzo, Tommy Johnson,Emmons Brothers, Al Provoast, Rick Hord, Doc Dixon,Todd Patterson Joe Covert, Dave Boertman and so many more, so if you've decided to go pro these are the people you're going to meet not considering the other thousand waiting to cut your throat at the first chance they get. I can remember Darren Davis going across country with his Dodge Van, open trailer hauling his competition eliminator 23 T, must have been wild.Claude Ruel

[George Mirza]

What makes the NHRA Sportsman racing different is the very good racers stay grouped with the average racers. In other sports and motorsports the best eventually gravitate to the top and get grouped together. Nascar for example, the great drivers end up in the Cup series or Nationwide series if they play their cards right. In baseball the great players end up in single A and work their way up to the majors. An example I use for those not familiar with our type of racing is," you have to beat Tiger Woods on the fifth hole if you want to continue playing".
You don't have to prove yourself to drag race like other sports, if you have the time and money anybody can do it, but once in a while you come up against a racer who is highly skilled at what he does. We all know we can win, it is a level playing field for the most part, but it's very difficult to beat these guys and it intimidates some and brings the best out in others.
It's part of the game and it's not going to change and I really don't think it's hurting the participation in any way. If anything there are less pro sportsman racers now than 10 years ago.

[david ring]

If someone can make a living racing in the sportsman classes, good for them. In comp, we have been able to beat David Rampy a couple of times and yes, that has been extra satisfying. But the satisfaction that comes from beating Rampy isn't because he's a pro, it's because he is so damn good. Of course, the reason he is a pro is that he is so damn good. And the same goes for the rest of those pro sportsman racers.