[Racin Mason]

Here is Mike Rice's response to my inquiries about why the decision was different with this run than with previous situations like this. I do respect him for responding. He could have very easily just ignored me completely but instead chose to address the issue head on.
I sure would like to hear from Wes or Jody to see how their situation he references below at least year's Winternationals was similar to the decision here:

Hi Mike. Interesting race in Pomona this weekend. You may recall in 2011 I had a shallow stage red light at the Winternationals. There was video footage of it all and yours and Rick Stewart's ruling at the time was a shallow stage red light and there would be no re-run. Your exact words in the email were "You are not the first and certainly won't be the last person this will happen to."

I am wondering why the decision with Defrank's shallow stage red light in the ss final was different. Can you please explain. I've seen the footage and would like to hear your side of the story. Thanks.

Dan Mason
_________________________
We now have Stage Lock is the difference between yours and this situation.

Mike
___________________________
Well that's a step in the right direction. Is this only at Pomona or all NHRA national event tracks? Also, can you safely say shallow stage red lights are a thing of the past with the stage lock system?

Dan
____________________________
It is in use at all national events, however it is NOT in use at every divisional event as not all tracks have purchased this program/system. Yes, the shallow stage red is basically a thing of the past with the system in use.

Mike
_____________________________
Also, would you mind sharing what the ruling was with the ss final? Why do you think the red light came on and why was the decision made to allow a re-run in this instance. Thanks.

Dan
______________________________
Definitely appeared that a flash (whether flash itself, reflection of flash, etc) triggered the system. We had a re-run in a similar situation at last year’s Winternationals on Monday with Wes Leopold and Jody Lang (where I happened to be the starter and saw the scenario play out first-hand and close up).

I believe the right call was made and will stand by it. What I’m really having a hard time with, is people actually thinking that I would make a call based on who was involved in the pairing (in last years – I’ve been longtime friends with Lang, had never met Leopold). I don’t care and I don’t play any games. I’ve thrown my best friend from an event before….friendships are never involved with a decision from me.

Sorry about that last part, but I take those types of accusations very personally!

Mike