my opinion

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Jeff, what is your issue with "Pro Sportsmen? I don't get it. Is it jealousy or ego or what? Over the years I've had a couple of chances to win the World but I couldn't take them. Just too many other comittments. I got over it. I'll never forget one year in particular I was kissing close to closing up my business and taking a shot when a chance conversation with an old friend (Joe Scott 1980 SS World Champ) changed my mind. He told me,"Billy if you need the ego massage then go for it 'cause you're not going to be doing it for the money". With that being said I didn't close my business for two months and go on the road. I can live with it. Why can't you?

I have no ego involved in this "conversation". I will never be a world champion in S/SS because I do not have the desire. That is my prerogative just as it is your prerogative to quit work and take the family on the road. Since I have no desire, I am also not jealous. It seems really difficult for some people on this board to understand some people, like I, see a bigger picture than themselves. I've said it repeatedly here, if you want to go to all 24 races, go for it. Why would I care?
All I am saying is the rules, as written, not only encourage but demand attendance to all 14 points earning races if one wishes to pursue a national championship. As you said, it is called "Pro Sportsman"; which is it, "Pro" or Sportsman"?
It would seem this type of "Pro-Sportsman" racer could be defined as a "professional". As I demonstrated earlier, some "individual" sports (golf, bowling, maybe even fishing) have standards that separate the "sportsman" (or amateur), from the "professional" ranks. NHRA does not seem to separate the two. In fact, it is part of your language.
In fact, NHRA allows "professional" racers (think Pro-Stock multi-time national champion Jeg Caughlin and others) to compete against "Sportsman" racers. Does that practice seem equitable to you? Should Tiger Woods be allowed to compete on the same level playing grounds in the amateur tournaments? Kind of like shooting fish in a rain barrel in my opinion.