Video of Biondo's win over Fletcher's close call

[Rich Biebel]

Glad to see the young Mr.Fletcher and the car was not hurt.
I think he probably learned a lesson there and fortunately neither car was hurt.


I was at NED in 1977 or 1978.....Sitting up on the hill. A Chevelle stocker spun out and went into the weeds....no guardwall back then. He kind of disappeared in the woods....Don't know what caused the spinout....The car was not really hurt....

He won the race on Sunday....Rich Rann.....It was a WCS race as they were called back then....

[slingshot]

better check his diaper.... and not for oil...the one in his pants..nice save

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by slingshot

better check his diaper.... and not for oil...the one in his pants..nice save

Sounds like they already checked...

Originally Posted by Dan Fletcher

no **** genius...

[Brett C]

First let me say that I am super happy no one was injured or no cars were destroyed.
The aggressive breaking is one thing that I am 100% vocally against!!!
I have been right behind too many of these including watching someone getting air flight ride out of the track. I do realize that there are hazards that come with racing, however if the sanctioning bodies came down hard on these things they would happen far less and our sport would be safer because of it.

[tex22]

Wow! That was a close one. Glad Thomas and Pete are ok. But this whole "when is NHRA gonna stop this", and "when will this style of racing be stopped" is crazy. You've gotta put yourself in Thomas's shoes. Yes he hit the brakes too hard, I think about 75% of us competitive racers on this site can say they have done the same thing at least once. He was racing one of the best, and his dad is arguably the best sportsman racer we have. He knew he wasn't gonna get there or knew he had to dump hard to kill what he was holding and anyone trying to make a name is Drag racing wants to beat the best at any cost. Mistakes happen, I know Thomas learned from this mistake and it's never anybody's intention to lock me up or put a car into the wall. Unfortunately this is part of racing and there are several "great" racers who have done the same thing, just didn't get as lucky. Trying to patrol this style of racing would be about as effective as America's war on immigration.

[richie 2]

we've all had our top end monents...fletcher's are from modified country !... great save tim.

[Pistol Pete]

One Way We Can Avoid This From Happening Is:

Give A 3 Hundredths Under Your Dial Leeway.

If you dial 10.00, You can go 9.97 & Still Win.
Anything More Than 3 Under You Lose.

BUT NO USING YOUR BRAKES PERIOD.

THAT IS FAIR FOR EVERYONE !!!

Glad no one was hurt or their cars got wrecked.


Just My Opinion.

[AJ Laferty]

1. Anti-lock brakes. Just another safety rule that makes sense to me.
2. Full width tires. no skinnies up front (I know that is a major paradigm shift and will be controversial).


I can stand my solstice with autocross tires on it's nose going through the lights. With the electric throttle control, it isn't consistent so I have to drive the stripe.

Jeff Laferty

[dannyboy]

Tim knows what he did and we all know his Dad will go over that car with a fine tooth comb. The very last thing Dan wants is for anything to happen to his son and also another competitor. This issue can be beaten to death. As long as there is a dial in and the completion as stiff as it is there is the possibility of this happening. Everyone needs to make sure that their brakes and components are checked weekly or prior to the next race.

Dan Chipman

Hamburger, Bachelder & Chipman

70's-80's SS

[Sal Biondo]

In my opinion, Nolan Grier said it perfect. This type of mistake has happened to many of us, including myself. I know I got away with a few, but there are some that have not been so lucky. but it is all part of BRACKET RACING, some on this forum may disagree, but this has been going on since shoe polish was applied to car windows.

Now, if only all of us could be so "lucky" to have our own experience make the NHRA news, and be plastered to social media and youtube, get viewed by probably 25,000 people by the end of today, and let me add get ridiculed, and criticized by racers and non-racers.. wouldn't that make for a great day?

Video can capture and help us understand why and how things happen, and if, in fact it is mechanical, we can get things fixed for the next time, but there are times when some highly publicized video can have a negative effect, like the criticizing of the individual in this case.

Rob, this is in no way a slam to your dedicated work, your videos are much appreciated, and we are all grateful for them. Also, glad to hear your son is doing better.

Food for thought... I remember when I was about 13 yo, dialing in the late Great Jim Harrington at a bracket race in Tennessee, and he told me, a good racer never runs it to the stripe. It took me a few years to fully understand that phrase, but if you understand what he meant, you are a true bracket racer.

Good Luck out there..