Jerry Eckman reinstated by NHRA

[Todd Boyer]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

If Warren Johnson had been playing with giggle gas, Alderman wouldn't have any championships.

Then who rose to the top when the Dodges disappeared? That's when Warren got all of his wins. I found it odd that Warren didn't go shooting his mouth off as usual when the Wayne County boys had the "break in". Still LOVE to think he ran the juice. He's really good at what he does, but I never had any respect for him or his attitude.

[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.

[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.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Todd Boyer

Then who rose to the top when the Dodges disappeared? That's when Warren got all of his wins. I found it odd that Warren didn't go shooting his mouth off as usual when the Wayne County boys had the "break in". Still LOVE to think he ran the juice. He's really good at what he does, but I never had any respect for him or his attitude.

Warren has a great attitude, and a great sense of humor. You just have to know him, and understand him. I like Warren a lot, he's a nice guy and a lot of fun once you understand him.

He actually likes Stock and Super Stock, I spoke to him a couple of times in the lanes when Pro Stock was in the lanes at the same time. He was almost as much fun as Grumpy Jenkins, who was hilarious just about every time I talked to him.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Warren has a great attitude, and a great sense of humor. You just have to know him, and understand him. I like Warren a lot, he's a nice guy and a lot of fun once you understand him.

He actually likes Stock and Super Stock, I spoke to him a couple of times in the lanes when Pro Stock was in the lanes at the same time. He was almost as much fun as Grumpy Jenkins, who was hilarious just about every time I talked to him.

X2
When Warren is at his pit, his engineering mind is working all the time and he might appear to not be friendly.

[bigshow2966]

Eckman was eligible for reinstatement years ago, but refused to pay the fine he agreed to when he was suspended. Apparently someone finally paid his fine for him. It was like $1500.

I was at a function where Allen Johnson was speaking once. Someone asked him about the Wayne County deal and his reply was: "I am still close friends with Darrell and Dave. Neither one has ever gave an inkling of what was happening, but (and he laughs) you know what they were doing".

[Todd Boyer]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

X2
When Warren is at his pit, his engineering mind is working all the time and he might appear to not be friendly.

There's that intensity, completely understandable. I found Glidden to be kind of like that at the races too. Must have something to do with being an engine builder/driver/team owner .......