Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Saw the article on DRC. Apparently the game plan wasn't to run the complete schedule, so they're heading back home to get ready for the countdown. I know Pro Stock isn't what it used to be, but I still wanted to see that car run up here,, especially if the conditions were going to be favorable for quick runs. Good luck to her and the team,,, I loved the way she spanked Connolly when he rolled in and double bulbed her.
Danny Durham

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

NHRA sets the rules, and the Elite team is working them to their advantage as a underfunded team. NHRA was so afraid of someone blowing up the points chase before the end of the year that they instituted the Countdown to tighten things up.

Now, once you earned a unshakable spot in it, why continue to spend money to maintain your position? Regroup, test, hunt for sponsors and come back fresh for the last 10 races. I just hope NHRA doesn't institute a mid-season rule change to punish them.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I don't like the countdown,it has cost some racers a championship that should have been theirs,if you can dominate the season and have such a lead nobody can catch you you deserve to be champ.

In this case I'm glad someone has found a way to hopefully take advantage of the countdown, Erica has proven herself,she has hung in there and worked at getting good.

Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Maybe she should continue to race because she's a professional and has a responsibility to her fans to show up and run?

She hasn't run the NorthWest Nationals since she won the race a few years ago. I just can't respect a "Pro" class driver who picks and chooses races to run.

A true Pro racer will campaign an out classed car that qualifies in the bottom of the pack and draws a killer first round matchup but still show for every race on the circuit. Talkin' about Larry Morgan, but you should have guessed that.

We need more ladies in PS. EE can't be the only female gear banger out there. Angie Smith in a door slammer? How about that Swedish gal from PSM?

Dale

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

It's the fault of the NHRA Countdown, not EE...or anyone else in the future that will skip a race or two for logistics and budget reasons.

Purses sure as hell are not going up from the Sportsman ranks on up to Pro Classes. Yet, travel costs and cars/parts are. This is a business. Any smart owner can see that if they can get in the NHRA countdown, skip a few race's to save budget...and work on the car's & race's that will count towards an NHRA Championship, that is in the best interest of the Team.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Maybe you would want ton pick up the tab for them running those races? Or, maybe finding them a big sponsor to fund it? Elite Motorsports is not their sponsor. That is the Freeman's, the owners. Working stiffs racing on their own dime, doing their own engines, etc. Am I the only one impressed by that?

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

There are a couple of things that are very apparent about Erica's team. First - is what they have accomplished on THEIR OWN DIME. Sure they have some backing, but not nearly enough. Second - why hasn't someone with deep pockets stepped up and backed this team. Look at what they have done and they said that they weren't going to run the whole season. I believe they are as amazed at what they have done as anyone. I truly think that team has what it takes to win the Championship. Look out for the future - GO ERICA and team.


Even Bob Glidden has called her to congratulate her, and he is still the best in my book.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I may be a lone detractor here, but I still question her commitment to the Pro level of the sport. She did skip Chicago last year to run someone's Pro Mod (Ricky Smith?} for fun.

People who don't follow entry lists pay high ticket prices to see these top flight drivers and cars and expect them to be in the field. A lot of spectators wouldn't be very happy to fight the traffic and find John Force, Robert Height or Doug Kalitta took the race off because they had a nice point lead.

As it stands now, NHRA can't fill a 16 car PS qualifying field with real qualifying. Can't find 20 competitive cars to fight for those spots on race day so we have the Ford and Pontiac cars being wiped in the first round just to fill the slots. My hat's off to those drivers for just having the nerve to show up at the track against the MOPARS and ELITE motors cars.

She's popular with the fans and has a very strong car but still can't find a consistent full ride sponsor. Why is this? Last year when her car seemed to have a different color scene at every race, any public discussion on ESPN regarding sponsorship seemed to revolve around her saying she needs a sponsor to give her money to keep racing. That's always the bottom line, but a team leader just doesn't say that in public. If I were a potential sponsor I would be looking for a team that would represent my product or service with pride rather than just take my money and run. Lucas Oil backs several racers who don't have winning records because they are individuals that the company wants representing them at the track. I think Erica has a ways to go in this area.

Call me an independent thinker.

Dale

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Read a pro stock thread the other day and a few of the pro stock guys posted on it saying it cost 70,000.00 plus per race to field a car. That's why car counts are down and teams are skipping races. I'm sure that's why Greg Stanfield has missed so many races this year. That's insane how much it costs. I don't know how anyone does it.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

X2 - especially the part about Bob Glidden!

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

At 16 races per year that's 1.2 million per season, which is about right. That's a tax write off to some degree for a sponsor.

Dale

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I think she is doing a fine job of driving.

And the whole team right now has the right chemistry.

Congrats to that whole team on their accomplishments !

I feel certain that pulling out of 2 races is purely a business decision, not a blow against her fans.
I would imagine she really wants to race.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Blaming EE puts you out in left field somewhere.
It is apparent it has not been her decision!

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Nailed it, Ed. And no, you're not the only one impressed!

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

IF you have a sponsor who can "write it off". All a "write off" does is lower your taxable income, you are taxed on that much less. It's not like you get that amount back in your pocket somehow.

If your racing on your own dime......

And, since the Freeman family pretty much races out of their own pockets, they do not "owe" it to anybody to show up for a race.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Firesail, as a former P/S crew chief all I can say is you don't have a clue.Try running a competitive stoker and multiply it by 20 times and stay on the road 30 weeks a year. Lee.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Ok so who is supposed to pony up the $140,000 for them to show up and make you
happy?
Maybe NHRA needs a rule say that if you can't afford to make every race you are not allowed to start the season. Don't want to disappoint any fans. As all races should have all the same drivers so all fans get the same opportunity to see all the same drivers.

I am not necessarily a EE fan But that team is doing a lot with out a huge budget. If this is what they have to do to keep competing so be it.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Just to clarify, I don't have anything against Erica as a driver. She is obviously quick on the tree and her crew knows what they are doing. I'm also not trying to slight anyone who tries to run a program like this. It's obviously a daunting task.

I'm a spectator building a race car and I'm looking at $166 in tickets here for all three days to the race at Pacific. I'm a race fan, not a driver fan, so her not running won't bother me. If I were a driver fan, it might. I'm just trying to make the point that these drivers aren't Sportsman racers anymore and have a responsibility to the fan base that shouldn't be ignored.

I'll back out with that.

EDIT: Racing the Championship circuit costs all the Pro class drivers a big chunk of income because they aren't available for match races. NHRA should find a way to compensate teams that forgo this to race at National events week after week.

Dale

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

They don't have a responsibility to show so you can see them. Only if they have a big sponsor that requires it. That is all.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I think Erica can't get/keep a sponsor is because she is unprofessional & has the personality of a 2 year old. She runs her yap when she wins and pouts when she looses. She's butted heads with a lot of the drivers on the tour, and she seemingly can't figure out why they can't stand her.

She thinks that Connolly screwed her at Indy a little while back, when he cut a light & she didn't, and they've been enemies ever since.

She drives well most of the time, but it seems as though potential sponsors prefer drivers/people/adults with a personality, and she doens't have one.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

X3, very impressive! Although they don't have the budget, they definitely have the right people with the right resources. Nick Ferri is making magic happen in HP department at Elite.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Great driver and great team...and Bob Glidden is in her corner...nuff said!

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I find it interesting that EE is getting bashed for sitting out a few races and not one mention of Rodger Brogdon missing a few and also being in the Top Ten. Professional racers have raced limited schedules for years. Stop the bashing and enjoy the racing !

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Well said Dave



Dan Chipman

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Can someone explain to me why it takes 70K to run a race?
I guess if you have 3 crewmen whos job is to measure wheelie bars, and hold the car straight in the water, that would add up.
I could say that it costs 50k per race to run a hemi too. Buy an engine, it blows up at the second race, you fix it etc.
If everyone was able to build their own stuff, work on their own cars, it wouldnt cost anything other than diesel fuel and raw materials to run a car, but these days everyone calls up whoever is cool this week to get an engine, or heads etc, instead of learning it on your own.
I can build a PS engine for less money than it costs me to build a hemi, thats why I am doing it. Its a science project that wont cost me much to complete. If it works, I will move forward.
I know people that say it costs 25k to get their crew to indy for the hemi race. Give me 25k and I can race for 2 years.
cw

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

You are correct I went back and looked at the article I mentioned. It said if a team is leasing an engine (45,000.00) per race add that to everything else gets you to 70,000.00

Elite could fund their season by leasing engines at 45,000 a pop

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Good luck Charlie

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

CW how about one more Hemi Shootout before you go pro.

PS I took science once......

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I don't think Charlie Westcott needs any luck !!!

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Too bad Erica won't be at the closest race to me. I understand the situation but i'm sure it'll disappoint a bunch of her fans.

Charlie, is this maybe the exciting news for Ford Pro Stock fans that Mark Wolfe has alluded to?

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Charlie, is this maybe the exciting news for Ford Pro Stock fans that Mark Wolfe has alluded to?[/QUOTE]

I dont know who Marke Wolfe is, so I doubt that he is excited about anything I have going on.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Charlie Mark is a Comp Eliminator racer from D7. He also runs Pro Stock at a few races a year in a Ford Mustang. He uses Larry Morgan power when he races.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Mark is also a regular contributor on the Competition Plus website forum.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I gotta admit. I agree with many of your replies. Erica lost a fan in me and NHRA loses my ticket purchase for the Seattle event. The fans want to see the racers. Period....:mad:

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Loads of great competitors entered in that race. Don't cheat yourself out of a great time over one personality.

Dale

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I find it really amusing that people suddenly decide it is Erica's fault, and/or they are no longer fans, because the guy who owns her car and team feels he cannot afford to run every race.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Blows my mind that anybody could think a team owes it to them to enter a given race. You would think they were paying the teams bills.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

X2

Greg

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

I would guess that Erica would like to run all the races, but this was a business decision by Elite Motorsports. Since she still has a 122 point lead things will be just fine once they rejoin the traveling circus in Brainerd.

;);) I know that it is the NHRA show, but maybe they should rethink the schedule. Maybe cut back a few events (down to 20?)and allow the racers and teams time to regroup. Even the best funded teams have run low on parts on occasion. This would also help with total cost for the teams.

I, personally, like the old days when many of the racers would match race at local tracks. Whether it be the top fuel guys, funny cars or pro stocks. They even had a Pro Stock Invitational at Woodburn Drag Strip mid week between the Sonoma race and Seattle. Match racing was a way of life for many of the big names of the sport. I am sure many of the smaller tracks would like to go back to this format to help local economies. I know the powers that be at NHRA won't allow it.

Getting back to Erica, she IS NOT the only one not making all the races. I would love to see Warren and Kurt Johnson back on the circuit, but I am sure it is a matter of dollars, also. How about Rodger Brogdon, great racer but also a business man.

O.K. Boys and Girls that's my 2 cents for today, jump on the band wagon and comment.

Re: Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle
 

Then go to POMONA.....they'll ALL be there !! :-)