Nhra

[Ed Fernandez]

Sent the following letter tonight.



I'm writing in response to the letter by Tom Compton.My name is Ed Fernandez membership #16737.I'm an NHRA member for 32 years and have been a sportsman racer for the same amount of years,a bracket racer from 1977 to 1999 and a Stock Eliminator racer from 1999 to the present.
I find the letter by Mr Compton an insult to every sportsman racer past and present.He addressed the hardships faced by fans,sponsors and plainly evident pro catagory racers and the need to provide relief in these hard times.Sportsman racers
got no mention.We in fact provide a significant monetary contribution to the NHRA in membership and entry fees.In return
I have noticed in my 10 years in class racing that since NHRA has started imposing "enhancements",in the form of higher
entry fees,what I see as unnecessarily high insurance fees for national events,proof of insurance for pit vehicles,long lead tiime for national event entry fees,the inability of the Technical Dept. police rules fairly across the divisions.I could go on but these are just some of the issues facing NHRA Sportsman racers.
A Sportsman Racers group was formed,by NHRA,to work on the betterment of the sport in 2007.Suggestions were made by the members after discussions with racers throughout the country.Our reps cme back with the news that no actions were ever taken.Some of the members,long time and well respected racers,resigned in disgust.
We pay dues,high entry fees and in return we get low paybacks,sponsors who either make you wait months for a check.Some dont pay at all after posting.And most important we get no say in matters that affect our participation in
NHRA racing.
This coming season will be a learning experience for everyone racers,fans,sponsors and NHRA management.We can all go forward or our sport will fade away into obscurity.Sportsman racers have done their part,supporting the NHRA,lets see if Mr Compton and Co will do the same in 2009.

Ed Fernandez
American Graffiti Racing
1945 T/SA