Jerry Eckman reinstated by NHRA

[randy wilson]

Warren never slowed down, remember. The dodge boys probably cost him 3 or championships. Just saying.

[Todd Boyer]

No one could slow down and not be obvious, Warren was in the pack and had to carry on like everyone else. I loved it when the Dodges were whipping Warren's ***, it just really sucks that they were cheating to do it. As I said in my earlier post, the whole deal pretty much killed my interest in Pro Stock, and even up to now I don't have a lot of respect for Allen Johnson even flying Mopar colours. I'm actually cheering for Erica now in spite of the fact that she drives a "Chev". (I put that in quotes because none of the cars are really "stock" any more).

The sad thing about it all is that Eckman got bounced for 15 years just because he happened to be the one who got caught - red handed mind you, but caught none the less. NHRA had to make an example of someone and Jerry was it. I've heard the Dodge boys thing all happened and they "didn't get caught" to protect Mopar's sponsorship of 2 national events (at that time) and them being a major sponsor overall. I think the Wayne County thing goes way deeper that the "break in in the middle of the night".

[Tim Ellis]

Originally Posted by Todd Boyer

No one could slow down and not be obvious, Warren was in the pack and had to carry on like everyone else. I loved it when the Dodges were whipping Warren's ***, it just really sucks that they were cheating to do it. As I said in my earlier post, the whole deal pretty much killed my interest in Pro Stock, and even up to now I don't have a lot of respect for Allen Johnson even flying Mopar colours. I'm actually cheering for Erica now in spite of the fact that she drives a "Chev". (I put that in quotes because none of the cars are really "stock" any more).

The sad thing about it all is that Eckman got bounced for 15 years just because he happened to be the one who got caught - red handed mind you, but caught none the less. NHRA had to make an example of someone and Jerry was it. I've heard the Dodge boys thing all happened and they "didn't get caught" to protect Mopar's sponsorship of 2 national events (at that time) and them being a major sponsor overall. I think the Wayne County thing goes way deeper that the "break in in the middle of the night".

... I believed at the time, and still do, that NHRA found out about the Dodge Boys nitrous use, and LET them come up with the garage break in to have an excuse why they slowed, and make them stop future use. If it's true it's a slap in the face to all the legal competitors who didn't use nitrous while others were dominating with it.

[Todd Boyer]

Originally Posted by Tim Ellis

... I believed at the time, and still do, that NHRA found out about the Dodge Boys nitrous use, and LET them come up with the garage break in to have an excuse why they slowed, and make them stop future use. If it's true it's a slap in the face to all the legal competitors who didn't use nitrous while others were dominating with it.

I WAS a huge fan of that team back then and I sure as hell didn't want to believe any of that, but as things came in to view, and they couldn't even qualify let alone dominate, then dissolved the team, that you are likely dead-on in your assessment, Tim - including NHRAs knowledge.

[SSDiv6]

As regards to the Dodge Boys...I have family members that were born and lived in Fairfield, Illinois and grew up with the Wayne County Speed Shop folks...

Myself, I have visited the town too and this is my take...
...the town is a small community that has more churches than businesses and everyone knows each other. Hardly any crime and the patrol car in town just parks near the town hall and the officer has a little siesta since there is not much to worry about.

Their town museum has a section dedicated to sports and it includes a motorsports section with clips of the championship, awards and other memorabilia...

So I asked some family members that still live in town about the break-in...they just chuckled...

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by randy wilson

Warren never slowed down, remember. The dodge boys probably cost him 3 or championships. Just saying.

Well he sure has slowed down now that he's not getting all the GM $$$$. I actually always admired his tenacity, it served both him and Glidden very well over the years until corporate sponsorship completely ruined fuel racing (remember Big's vision of where T/F and F/C needed to go vs. where Bernstein led them) and the same would happen in PS if the class got all the hype and uninformed fan base it's fuel brothers got. If you read the Eckman interview it is obvious he has suffered many years from the mistake, I'm glad he gets another chance. The deal with the Dodge Boys was tough for NHRA, they were in a lose/lose situation and then even compounded it by how they handled Eckman.

[Todd Boyer]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

If you read the Eckman interview it is obvious he has suffered many years from the mistake, I'm glad he gets another chance. The deal with the Dodge Boys was tough for NHRA, they were in a lose/lose situation and then even compounded it by how they handled Eckman.

Exactly.