[HawkBrosMav]

I think you're comparing 2 different situation in the Qualifying to race a certain opponent and "taking a dive" or not when racing a teammate. I also think you are comparing team sports to an individual sport that happens to have cars funded by the same manager..

I'll leave my opinion on the Qualifying situation very short.. Anyone who has competed for a close championship has had to consider their options as far as "chasing" their close competitor or not. You either let it fall to chance and only run said person if you have to or you take things into your own hands and attempt as best you can to run them and beat them.. If you have a buddy offer to do it what's the difference.. other than less risk on your half if you aren't confident you are going to win yourself... The race still happens and you have to perform for your desired outcome to come true.. The "chased" may not like the results, but they also might win so it could benefit them as well. either way no round was handed to any competitor everything was earned by the winning party.

On my second opinion comparing team to individual sports I think Golf or NASCAR are the only other major sports that can compare to NHRA in some ways. There is a regular season/playoff format and a bunch of individuals all vying for the same goal. NHRA and NASCAR have cars funded by the same owner and may in some ways act as teams with information sharing and personnel, BUT they all compete against each other in competition aiming at winning the race themselves. Golf probably has some guys that are great friends sponsored by the same big company that share info and talk shop, but again when they hit the course their play is not going to be aimed at improving the finish of a buddy without them finishing behind them in the standings.

The teams sports that you compare in your article don't work this way.. If the batter bunting doesn't look out for the runner on 3rds best interest He himself cannot win.. it takes the whole team unit for success. If he plays poorly all teammates lose. If he plays well there is a chance the whole team does well.. but they could also stink.. unless you convince all teammates to play poorly the outcome really can't be know.. And when teams have done this in team sports in the past they are chastised and forever remembered as ruining the game.. it's why players can't bet on the outcomes of their own sport.. especially their own team..

You can't compare a batter sacrificing himself as an out to score a teammate to a golfer shanking a drive into the woods so he doesn't shoot a lower score than his friend. One is a tactic to benefit ones self and team through strategy and one is manipulating the integrity of the sport it self and the word competition.. one is done in the spirit of the rules and with the intent of success and the other is done to intentionally hinder one success so another individual will now succeed.. One is done with the hopes it's enough for the team he is on to succeed in winning a single game and the other is done in hopes that it's enough to win an entire season long achievement all in one at bat..

We all know these things happen.. There are people like yourself that don't view "gifting" rounds as a bad thing. I don't think any less of you or anyone else that may feel this way.. but to write an article basically justifying it as "Team" tactics seemingly ignores the spirit of our rules system and the fact that we all compete on an individual level. We can root for family and friends success all we want, but as soon as we start losing intentionally because somehow that is being selfless in helping them achieve a goal we start becoming a car show vs an actual competition..

Just my opinions as I stated some will agree and some with not..

Brad