Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ???

Michael Beard · 09-12-2007, 02:38 PM

Um, in case I hadn't made my opinion clear enough before: I'D RACE.

Been a long time since I've raced family. When I was in high school, just getting started in the trophy class, dad and I raced a lot. Dad was the only driver that had a winning record against me, and I won the championship. "Golly, shouldn't dad have helped me win?" NO. I earned my way. A couple of years later, dad ran Heavy Eliminator for the first time, and with 68 cars, the lanes got shuffled, and somehow we ended up getting paired first round. He beat me by .004. Somehow, I've never told that story with the addition of "but I was in the points and he wasn't so he should've let me win!" NO.

When I won the Stock World Championship in 2003, I didn't need anybody to lay down for me, and no one did.

I missed winning the Summit Super Series at Pageland Dragway last week by one round. Someone could've given me that round, but it would've been BS, and that would've been cheating the real champion out of a position that he EARNED.

Since so many people want to play the "What if?" game... Let's say YOU are leading the points, and a "team" dives their way to pass you by one round. You get to look on, knowing that there's a 100% chance that you're going to lose the title.

$.02,

bsa633 · 09-12-2007, 02:50 PM

following results for a long time i cant say that i noticed Defranks done alot of this before..actually the opposite in my point of wiew and often i was thinking why?and thats maybe the reason why it did go down like that this time,congrats to defrank brotha's on som exellent driving ,sure dosent look that they need someone to dive for them to be in the finals!

Mike Carr · 09-12-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Um, in case I hadn't made my opinion clear enough before: I'D RACE.

Michael, not trying to be a jerk (I've known you for quite a while, I like you and never have had a problem with you), but I have to ask you about this.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...r2005#indextop

Michael Beard · 09-12-2007, 08:15 PM

Wasn't my decision.

JRyan · 09-12-2007, 09:17 PM

And since JIM DEFRANK owns the cars, maybe it wasn't Jimmy or Tony's decision either. So now they're in the same boat with you Michael. Are you any better or worse than they? At least they're family.

Somehow, racing your dad for a possible local bracket championship, doesn't appear to me to be on the same level as a Superstock National Championship.

Jerry Ryan

JEFF ESSMANN · 09-12-2007, 09:51 PM

well heres my opinion
nhra publicly announced that they would not tolerate team orders in their races this is clearly a team order
doesnt mater who ordered it it was obvious. the points race is a tight race.jimmy defrank is ahead by 45 points on the national side and behind by 21 points on the divisional side according to the web site today.
nhra has no option but to act on this if nothing else dont award points to either driver after the semis
so now lets see how well they enforce their own rules nhra its your time to step up and stop the dumbing down of our sport and turn it back to what its supposed to be drag racing

Irv Johns · 09-12-2007, 10:06 PM

You guys need to lighten up, Jimmy already won 5 rounds . These guys are true racers , they drove over 2000 miles to race the Hemi at Indy ( and WON) Also they both have single digit numbers for this year, so nobody is giving them anything.I understand you point of its all for the show, but ther's no one there but a few of the late round losers and they are more interested in getting loaded up and heading home.These divisionals are mostly participant funded and attentended by their family and friends.So congratulations Jimmy, Jimmy Jr and Tony you guys are class and others are only jealous of you acheviements. Drag on .

John Kelley · 09-12-2007, 10:22 PM

Jeff,Graham doesn't know the Sportsman racers exist !
His directive was directed towards the Pros and NHRA's gimmicky "Countdown".
Nothing will happen in the Sportsman ranks !!! Bet on it !!

Michael Beard · 09-13-2007, 08:41 AM

>> And since JIM DEFRANK owns the cars, maybe it wasn't Jimmy or Tony's decision either.

Fine, then that's where I would place the blame.

"Hypocrite"?!? You think maybe that's one reason why the whole thing makes me so mad?

I repeatedly asked to be able to race for it. I feel that I could've won the event.

>> Unbelievable dialogue here.

We agree on that. I'm out.

Adger Smith · 09-13-2007, 11:32 AM

I have been waiting for someone to bring up the issues Beard faced at Norwalk. Thanks Mike Carr.
We are all products of our past experiences in life. Michael Beard is no different. He has experienced a car/team owner's decision to take a round. That was the team owners decision, rightfully so. He has paid his $$ & dues to be in that position & make team decisions. ( I'm not going to debate the moral issues) I would say that calling Michael a "Hypocrite" is not the correct way to view his passion or position about throwing rounds/races. Yes, I know the on line dictionary defines "Hypocrite" as: hypocrite - a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives.
I would say he formed his opinion by first hand experience. Michael & I have spent quite a bit of time(remember he drove for me in 2004) in conversations about racing & I think I understand him. I would place a pretty strong bet on the fact that if the Norwalk car's team owner ever ask Michael to drive for him again he would probably pass on the opportunity. I feel his decision would be based on that team owner not sharing the same views as Michael on head to head team match ups. I know Michael & I share the same opinion about the quality of the people involved with that team. They, like the De Franks, are stand outs in this sport & stand up people. They are "TEAM" racers.
This topic/subject is just another one of those things in life that can be viewed as "Right or Wrong" from the position you are viewing it.

Just My .02 for free

09-12-2007, 02:38 PM	#1
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? Um, in case I hadn't made my opinion clear enough before: I'D RACE. Been a long time since I've raced family. When I was in high school, just getting started in the trophy class, dad and I raced a lot. Dad was the only driver that had a winning record against me, and I won the championship. "Golly, shouldn't dad have helped me win?" NO. I earned my way. A couple of years later, dad ran Heavy Eliminator for the first time, and with 68 cars, the lanes got shuffled, and somehow we ended up getting paired first round. He beat me by .004. Somehow, I've never told that story with the addition of "but I was in the points and he wasn't so he should've let me win!" NO. When I won the Stock World Championship in 2003, I didn't need anybody to lay down for me, and no one did. I missed winning the Summit Super Series at Pageland Dragway last week by one round. Someone could've given me that round, but it would've been BS, and that would've been cheating the real champion out of a position that he EARNED. Since so many people want to play the "What if?" game... Let's say YOU are leading the points, and a "team" dives their way to pass you by one round. You get to look on, knowing that there's a 100% chance that you're going to lose the title. $.02, __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

09-12-2007, 02:50 PM	#2
bsa633 Banned Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 310 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? following results for a long time i cant say that i noticed Defranks done alot of this before..actually the opposite in my point of wiew and often i was thinking why?and thats maybe the reason why it did go down like that this time,congrats to defrank brotha's on som exellent driving ,sure dosent look that they need someone to dive for them to be in the finals!

09-12-2007, 08:15 PM	#4
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? Wasn't my decision. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

09-12-2007, 09:17 PM	#5
JRyan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aberdeen SD Posts: 645 Likes: 30 Liked 112 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? And since JIM DEFRANK owns the cars, maybe it wasn't Jimmy or Tony's decision either. So now they're in the same boat with you Michael. Are you any better or worse than they? At least they're family. Somehow, racing your dad for a possible local bracket championship, doesn't appear to me to be on the same level as a Superstock National Championship. Jerry Ryan

09-12-2007, 09:51 PM	#6
JEFF ESSMANN Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 57 Likes: 10 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? well heres my opinion nhra publicly announced that they would not tolerate team orders in their races this is clearly a team order doesnt mater who ordered it it was obvious. the points race is a tight race.jimmy defrank is ahead by 45 points on the national side and behind by 21 points on the divisional side according to the web site today. nhra has no option but to act on this if nothing else dont award points to either driver after the semis so now lets see how well they enforce their own rules nhra its your time to step up and stop the dumbing down of our sport and turn it back to what its supposed to be drag racing __________________ Jeff Essmann 5780 ss/ja WEB SITE WITH MY RACECAR

09-12-2007, 10:06 PM	#7
Irv Johns Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 178 Likes: 1 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? You guys need to lighten up, Jimmy already won 5 rounds . These guys are true racers , they drove over 2000 miles to race the Hemi at Indy ( and WON) Also they both have single digit numbers for this year, so nobody is giving them anything.I understand you point of its all for the show, but ther's no one there but a few of the late round losers and they are more interested in getting loaded up and heading home.These divisionals are mostly participant funded and attentended by their family and friends.So congratulations Jimmy, Jimmy Jr and Tony you guys are class and others are only jealous of you acheviements. Drag on .

09-12-2007, 10:22 PM	#8
John Kelley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tightwad,TEXAS Posts: 911 Likes: 6 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? Jeff,Graham doesn't know the Sportsman racers exist ! His directive was directed towards the Pros and NHRA's gimmicky "Countdown". Nothing will happen in the Sportsman ranks !!! Bet on it !!

09-13-2007, 08:41 AM	#9
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? >> And since JIM DEFRANK owns the cars, maybe it wasn't Jimmy or Tony's decision either. Fine, then that's where I would place the blame. "Hypocrite"?!? You think maybe that's one reason why the whole thing makes me so mad? I repeatedly asked to be able to race for it. I feel that I could've won the event. >> Unbelievable dialogue here. We agree on that. I'm out. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

09-13-2007, 11:32 AM	#10
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Where's Paul Harvey with "The rest of the story" ??? I have been waiting for someone to bring up the issues Beard faced at Norwalk. Thanks Mike Carr. We are all products of our past experiences in life. Michael Beard is no different. He has experienced a car/team owner's decision to take a round. That was the team owners decision, rightfully so. He has paid his $$ & dues to be in that position & make team decisions. ( I'm not going to debate the moral issues) I would say that calling Michael a "Hypocrite" is not the correct way to view his passion or position about throwing rounds/races. Yes, I know the on line dictionary defines "Hypocrite" as: hypocrite - a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives. I would say he formed his opinion by first hand experience. Michael & I have spent quite a bit of time(remember he drove for me in 2004) in conversations about racing & I think I understand him. I would place a pretty strong bet on the fact that if the Norwalk car's team owner ever ask Michael to drive for him again he would probably pass on the opportunity. I feel his decision would be based on that team owner not sharing the same views as Michael on head to head team match ups. I know Michael & I share the same opinion about the quality of the people involved with that team. They, like the De Franks, are stand outs in this sport & stand up people. They are "TEAM" racers. This topic/subject is just another one of those things in life that can be viewed as "Right or Wrong" from the position you are viewing it. Just My .02 for free __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)