Don O'Neal Interview On Competition Plus

[MRE 7171]

Thanks Don you have expressed what racers have thought for along time, the real stories are with the Lucas Oil Series Racers, amazing stories that will never be told, Fred Moreno

[Regan Wilson]

That was a good article. They twist the term sometimes. I think I remember them referring to Dan before as " Touring Professional Sportsman Racer".

[Lenny5160]

I've never thought of "Sportsman" as a slight, but I'm not trying to impress or justify my existence to sponsors either.

[jmcarter]

NHRA displays plenty of disrespect toward classes besides Pro and don’t think labeling us as something else will change that. Being called a sportsman has never offended me, nor do I feel entitled to be called something else. If I pull my heap in on a open trailer (which I have for the past five years) should I be called something different than the guy with a million dollar operation? Sounds kinda like wokeism to me.

[1347]

Yeah, being called a Sportsman racer doesn't bother me. I really thought it was a term used as someone who is not a full time racer. I understand some racers do race to put food on their table, but the majority doesn't. I think Bobby Fazio's interview with Lonnie got to more of the root of the problem that plagues our classracing concerns. But everyone has there opinion on what is important to them.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

NHRA displays plenty of disrespect toward classes besides Pro and don’t think labeling us as something else will change that. Being called a sportsman has never offended me, nor do I feel entitled to be called something else. If I pull my heap in on a open trailer (which I have for the past five years) should I be called something different than the guy with a million dollar operation? Sounds kinda like wokeism to me.

OK- I give up - what is wokeism ???????

[Frank Castros]

Just an observation. Why would you be ashamed of being called a Sportsman racer? This connotation has been used since at least the Sixties, is it now not acceptable as per today's "Woke" and or "Cancel" culture? Is this just being Politically correct? If so, I'm out.

[Mike Pearson]

It doesn’t matter to me if I am called a sportsman racer. That is what I am. I don’t race to pay bills. I race as a hobby and for enjoyment. My racing is not a business. I have never heard of Don O’Neal and he is within his right to express his opinion. He races a bracket car and that is not a pro class. Looks like he possibly has some sponsorship commitment that he wants to try to elevate by changing the impression of the class he runs. There are very few sportsman racers in NHRA that make their living from racing. He does have a good point that the announcers could do a better job by knowing the classes and competitors better.

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

OK- I give up - what is wokeism ???????

Rampant political correctness, where every little group of people are concerned with their labels and what people call them or say about them, oftentimes changing those labels to something cooler or edgier as they are dreamed up, or their sensitivities change.

Call them the wrong title and you need to be woke, as in "wake up, you dunce".
.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

NHRA displays plenty of disrespect toward classes
If I pull my heap in on a open trailer (which I have for the past five years) should I be called something different than the guy with a million dollar operation? Sounds kinda like wokeism to me.

I have towed some of my cars on open trailers and crap trucks pulling them
I guarantee you you will not be parked where tv overlooks and be seen by the masses back in IHRA days it really didn’t matter as much, I remember racing at Rockingham looking up on the hill with my ratty suburban and open trailer next to some stackers and toterhomes and as the day went on and the final rounds complete the only thing left on the hill was my ragged suburban and open trailer. I could give a crap less what they call me as long as they pay, and good lord that’s another whole subject, remember when we used to get paid at the track???