[Alan Roehrich]

Rock and his partner bring up some great ideas.

The problem I see with a set procedure is that a set procedure ignores the differences in the tracks themselves, and there's no way to get all of the tracks to one spec for the racing surface.

That one problem makes it difficult, if not impossible, to have any sort of single set procedure, or even a set single traction compound.

We cannot ignore the differences in the tracks anymore than we can ignore the differences in weather conditions.

We also cannot ignore the cars and where the wrecks are happening, and it isn't just the .90 Super classes and their throttle stops, it's also the Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod classes. A lot of what we are seeing is problems that happen when you apply a lot of power down track. The reality is that while there may be better traction down track than there was even ten years ago, there are a lot more cars applying a lot more power further down track than there were.

As far as prep that is biased towards the fuel cars goes, I'm not sure how this relates to Atco this past weekend, or for that matter the many Lucas races that have seen this type of problem in the recent past. Further, NHRA has admitted, after the Pro Stock guys called them out on it, that most of the "fuel prep" bias is that they don't spray past 1000'. Hardly an issue to a car that gets out of shape at 300'.

It is the truth that will help solve the problem. And what must be done is the racers must get together and go as a group to NHRA, and firmly remind them of their original motto and slogan. It can't be just one group, it has to be all of the sportsman racers.