Pro Sportsman Racers

[Dwight Southerland]

If anyone thinks there is a totally equitable solution to deciding who is "National Champ", the challenge is out to come up with something better than the way things are laid out now. Not that I think it is perfect. Heck, it has so many areas of potential criticism that you could throw and hit the holes blindfolded. However, every national level sport has the same inequalities. We complain about the playoff series, the BCS, the World Series, the Davis Cup, etc. etc. The fact is that the person who has more experience and more seat time DOES HAVE the potential for an advantage in winning at any drag racing event. But talent and 'luck' also play their roles. If you review and analyze races over a period of time, you will realize that the advantage of the "Pro Sportsman" is not that huge. If you took the talent and work effort away from Dan or David or the Biondos or any number of other people, they would not be in the position they are. It doesn't hurt that they enter lots of races, but you have to be good and work at it to do what they do. If you want to beat them, you will do it just like you beat everybody else - better light, closer to the dial. Other than that, they deserve the success they enjoy and to be applauded by the rest of us. They are what we call great racers.

And Jeff and RJ, forcing people to claim points for a race prior to the race is not more fair. That has been tried in the past and it did not work then and will not now. What do you do with the person who enters the race and blows up a motor on the first round of elimination? Everything becomes a judgment call and it then does not become more fair.

At least the National Champ is not decided as it was before the national points system. You had to win the division, then travel to the World Finals event and win that race. Talk about unfair. . . .

[Ken Miele]

RJ,

No problem, you can post your opinion just as Jeff did. I'm little disappointed in you though. Thinking I will ban you for an opinion that is not mine is a little insulting. I'm not jumping on anyone, I'm just posting a rebuttal to a story that has no bases. Yes, I have an agenda, its called truth not made up facts and emotion. If you think I have no class, then so be it. If you agree with Jeff, that’s fine also, but I don't.

Also, if you wanted the thread to die, maybe you should have thought about not throwing fuel on the fire as you put it.

Jeff,

I read your entire post, its obvious to me you think there is a problem with the point system. Its also obvious to me you are being self serving with your opinion. I will not sit by and let spew your usual diatribe on this subject. I quoted that part of your post because it was the most ridiculous part of the post. Its not out of context in anyway, you want the system changed plan and simple. I'm not taking anyway out. How about posting some facts on how the NATIONAL POINTS SYSTEM is unfair.

[Mark Yacavone]

RJ, Good post..
Not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone at the moment , but how about we just have a rational discussion here without all the finger pointing and accusatory tones.
Sure ,Jeff has an agenda..Doesn't everybody ?
He has young kids at home and a good local business , through which he finances his racing. He thinks , from what I understand, that SPORTSMAN racers should earn most of their national points near their home division.. I'm guessing he doesn't believe he should have to cross the country at the end of the season to improve his points total.
Ken, from what we see, is involved with a bucks up team, and has the freedom and the means to run down to Gainesville , Charlotte, Atlanta etc if he so chooses. He likes the current system, and is very vocal about it.
Neither one is going to ruin Sportsman racing...It survived this long and is not going away soon.
Let's see what Jok has to say in his next installment ,before we rake him over the coals...How about that?

[RJ Sledge]

Man you guys are something else. You sound like a bunch of 10 year olds picking on each other. Grow up.

Hey Dwight.....When did I say picking your races before they happen, I said nothing of the sort. I wasn't agreeing with Jeff's Post about the make up of claiming points and races. If you take time to read Jeff's last Post he is upset that Ken used his position/power to cut him up. That is what I was referring too and nothing else. Hey you can read and comprehend even if you are from Arkansas!! Pics next time OK? LOL.

Ken LOL....get it?? I have nothing but respect for you and everybody else thats here. I just think it shows "a lack of Class" to openly ridicule Jeff and anybody else for having a different opinion. A simple, "Hey Jeff go pound sand, it is what it is", works just fine.

Fuel on the Fire?? Give me a break Buddy, practice what you speak!!

As far as Pro-Sportsman getting a bad rap? Hey it comes with the territory, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!! Never knew they were so sensitive!

LUV!!
RJ

[novassdude]

I just find it amusing how one persons opinion is fact and another opinion is complete dribble. Opinions are just that one person’s take on a subject. I don’t know if the system is broke or not. No one knows. Could it be improved to give people that cannot hit 16 races a year a better chance at winning sure it could should it I don’t know. I do know it takes huge Kaunas to try and make a living at this. I cannot imagine having to win to pay my bills.

Jeff was asked for facts to support why it is broken. I ask where are the facts that it is not broken. Lets get both out and we can all discuss the facts of each side and see where we get. My guess we don’t get any farther than we are right now. As I stated I am not sure whether it is broken or not.

[chevy620]

Thanks Mark, appreciate your balanced view.
It IS a sensitive subject and then again; some people could care less.

The October issue of our magazine will go online in a few days with my "opinion" of what could make the National Championship at least "available" to guys who love the sport but also have a job and family that they place ahead of racing. Doesn't mean they don't have the passion of a Pro-Sportsman it just means they have decided one car was enough.

You would be certified crazy if you went to races from coast to coast with one car (means one chance for a payday) chasing a National Title. Of course, drag racers have been known to do crazy things before, right?

The article will be out soon and it is just a "plan". I am not NHRA and I cannot change the rules but I think the National Championship needs and more importantly deserves more "local flavor" with a "playoff atmosphere".

www.ETDragRacing.com is my magazine, it's not a Forum it is an online magazine with some contributing writers that are local racers and have been for a long time. I hope Ken will post the magazine's website. I will post www.classracer.com in my article in exchange.

Good luck to the guys in Vegas and Pomona!!

Jok

[SStockDart]

"I just find it amusing how one persons opinion is fact and another opinion is complete dribble".

That is sooooooooooo true.

This thread is regarding Pro Sportsman racing. It all is about "if it ain't broke don't fix it" or can we change it to make it better (or screw it up). I have always been the guy that says "you play the music and I will figure out a way to dance to it".....meaning that, if rules are established, then figure out a way to play by the rules, to my best advantage. Others, will attempt to change the rules to fit their situation better. I have no argument with them, but I disagree. I also have no argument with those that travel across the country chasing points....We tried it for a few years. We had a great time, met lots of great people and saw parts of this country that we otherwise would not have seen.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with declaring an event as a "counter" before entry, instead of the first six, and count the three best. If you plan on 6 or fewer national events, then you declare them all.
On the other hand, if you seem to have better results at certain tracks than others, then declare them appropriately.
However, I believe that we are trying to make a complicated system more complicated. So, I am in favor of leaving it alone. If ya want to tour, then go ahead. If you want to stay close to home, then do so.
I do not think you will get any argument from the "close to home" people if they do not win a National Championship.
As someone posted earlier, winning your division isn't a bad deal.

[goinbroke2]

If I won locally...I'd be a local champion.

If I won races all across the country...I'd be a national champion.


Didn't think it was that hard to figure out. If I never travel the country, I'll never be a "national" champion.

"I raced at some local tracks and now I'm the champion of the whole country" Say it out loud..yup it does sound that stupid.

[DIAPERMAN]

Jok I think you got what you wanted LMAO

[David Barton]

Originally Posted by goinbroke2

If I won locally...I'd be a local champion.

If I won races all across the country...I'd be a national champion.


Didn't think it was that hard to figure out. If I never travel the country, I'll never be a "national" champion.

"I raced at some local tracks and now I'm the champion of the whole country" Say it out loud..yup it does sound that stupid.

Plain and simple. This is the best post of them all. That pretty well sums it up.