Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus

Michael Beard · 04-24-2008, 02:47 PM

The Pros with the corporate sponsors likely have contracts requiring they race NHRA events. For those that don't, however, for both Pro and Sportsman alike, there are alternatives for many.

Some sanctioning bodies are self-important. Bader understood that sanctioning bodies had to be in the *service* industry, servicing their sponsors, fans, racers, and tracks. NHRA itself is not the show. Bader has also proven that many times, with John Force and a handful of other Nitro F/C's, jets, fireworks, etc, drawing over 40,000 fans for a single-day event. Fans will go whereever Force and the other big names go.

The track prep issue amazes me. From what the Vegas bracket racers say, the track staff does a phenomenal job, but NHRA had to do it their way. When Virginia Motorsports Park was IHRA, they slammed cars down the track with side-by-side racing all the time. NHRA gets the track back, does the track over, and it's slip-n-slide. IHRA's Jim Weinert oversaw grinding and prepping of Joliet several years ago just days before the NHRA national event there that saw most of the Pro records fall.

7820 · 04-24-2008, 03:37 PM

My car is definately not the fastest but it will run 9.0's and it will hook at Las Vegas in 40 degrees or 115 degrees.

The Las Vegas traction problems could not have been the fault of the track prep crew in my opinion.

7820 · 04-25-2008, 12:00 AM

I've never had a problem hooking in either lane plus my 60 foot times along with my final ET and MPH does not vary from lane to lane. I just can't believe the track prep is the fault of the Las Vegal track crew...but again I don't run 4 second ET's

76 RACER · 04-25-2008, 11:47 AM

I have a hard time believing that there was a problem with track prep at Vegas. Chris Blair and his crew have always done a PERFECT job making that track work. There are a couple tracks out west here that copy what Chris does for track prep!

Casey Miles · 04-24-2008, 03:58 PM

Watching the Vegas race on TV, I was totally disappointed that NHRA didn't shut down the track as soon as the first couple of cars in Pro category went down the track. The right lane totally sucked and it's not far for a pro racer to have to deal with the other competition beating him, but the track just not giving him a fair chance at racing against his opponets is absurd. For the Pro's, it's a living, NHRA should have stepped up to the plate and reprepaired the track so that they could rerun the first cars out. As long as NHRA is collecting their entry fees and spectator tickets, they could give a crap less on what happens on the track.
Thank God that I don't race for a living!
Casey Miles
248H

Arnold Greene · 04-24-2008, 04:24 PM

Larry Morgan said it 'best'......you can't fix stupid!

Real Racer · 04-24-2008, 10:22 PM

Let's face it, we all know what 99% of the NHRA track prep problem is.
I can sum it up in two words.
Rick Stewart.
That lazy pompus camera hawking clown wouldn't know how to prep a drag strip if someone gave him lessons.
Just try and approach him during any sportsman track time and get him to do something about the bald spots. He'll just point and tell you to get back behind the line.
Ask Red Floyd why he won't work for Rick Stewart anymore and Red is the best NHRA has.

04-24-2008, 02:47 PM	#1
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus The Pros with the corporate sponsors likely have contracts requiring they race NHRA events. For those that don't, however, for both Pro and Sportsman alike, there are alternatives for many. Some sanctioning bodies are self-important. Bader understood that sanctioning bodies had to be in the service industry, servicing their sponsors, fans, racers, and tracks. NHRA itself is not the show. Bader has also proven that many times, with John Force and a handful of other Nitro F/C's, jets, fireworks, etc, drawing over 40,000 fans for a single-day event. Fans will go whereever Force and the other big names go. The track prep issue amazes me. From what the Vegas bracket racers say, the track staff does a phenomenal job, but NHRA had to do it their way. When Virginia Motorsports Park was IHRA, they slammed cars down the track with side-by-side racing all the time. NHRA gets the track back, does the track over, and it's slip-n-slide. IHRA's Jim Weinert oversaw grinding and prepping of Joliet several years ago just days before the NHRA national event there that saw most of the Pro records fall. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

04-24-2008, 03:37 PM	#2
7820 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 201 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus My car is definately not the fastest but it will run 9.0's and it will hook at Las Vegas in 40 degrees or 115 degrees. The Las Vegas traction problems could not have been the fault of the track prep crew in my opinion.

04-25-2008, 12:00 AM	#3
7820 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 201 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus I've never had a problem hooking in either lane plus my 60 foot times along with my final ET and MPH does not vary from lane to lane. I just can't believe the track prep is the fault of the Las Vegal track crew...but again I don't run 4 second ET's

04-25-2008, 11:47 AM	#4
76 RACER Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 247 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus I have a hard time believing that there was a problem with track prep at Vegas. Chris Blair and his crew have always done a PERFECT job making that track work. There are a couple tracks out west here that copy what Chris does for track prep!

04-24-2008, 03:58 PM	#5
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 706 Likes: 128 Liked 508 Times in 92 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus Watching the Vegas race on TV, I was totally disappointed that NHRA didn't shut down the track as soon as the first couple of cars in Pro category went down the track. The right lane totally sucked and it's not far for a pro racer to have to deal with the other competition beating him, but the track just not giving him a fair chance at racing against his opponets is absurd. For the Pro's, it's a living, NHRA should have stepped up to the plate and reprepaired the track so that they could rerun the first cars out. As long as NHRA is collecting their entry fees and spectator tickets, they could give a crap less on what happens on the track. Thank God that I don't race for a living! Casey Miles 248H

04-24-2008, 04:24 PM	#6
Arnold Greene Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 136 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus Larry Morgan said it 'best'......you can't fix stupid! __________________ Arnold Greene IHRA/NHRA 2420 A/S, B/S

04-24-2008, 10:22 PM	#7
Real Racer Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 99 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Jon Asher's column on Competitionplus Let's face it, we all know what 99% of the NHRA track prep problem is. I can sum it up in two words. Rick Stewart. That lazy pompus camera hawking clown wouldn't know how to prep a drag strip if someone gave him lessons. Just try and approach him during any sportsman track time and get him to do something about the bald spots. He'll just point and tell you to get back behind the line. Ask Red Floyd why he won't work for Rick Stewart anymore and Red is the best NHRA has.

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