True meaning

[Alan Roehrich]

I think it was Clark Holroyd that won 2-3 heads up runs in A/SA on his way to the National Event win a year or so ago.

IF you are speaking about Biondo, Bertozzi, Fletcher, or Rampy, (or others like them, for that matter) when you say "professional racers", they aren't often ducking heads up runs. I know for a fact Bertozzi takes his heads up wins and losses like a man. He beat Merrill Schrimscher last year on a heads up, and did not gloat, and he lost to us heads up this year, and came by the trailer and offered a handshake and a "well done". I suspect the same of the other three as well, since I've seen nothing less sportsmanlike on their part. I know before Anthony Fetch put us out, he had just won a heads up race as well. Most of those guys, IF they are "playing the ladder" are looking FOR a heads up they think they can win, and looking for the bye. Most of them have a pretty fast competitive car, for the simple reason is that it is very hard to win when you have to worry about ducking a heads up run. IF that becomes a big concern, it makes life pretty hard.

I agree, more heads up races is better for the eliminator. However, I fail to see how placing class winners who single for their win at 0.501 under is going to generate more heads up runs in the eliminator. They sure aren't going to have a heads up run in the eliminator after they SINGLE for their class win.

Further, IF the vote came during a debate for a two tenth reduction in the indexes, and the vote was in favor of the index reduction, then it was pretty much in favor of not letting anyone single for the win at what now amounts to 0.5 under (since what now amounts to 0.5 under would only be 0.3 under).

MAYBE limiting the field to the 128 fastest cars will reduce the field, and maybe it won't. There will be a different group that will have less chance of making the field. As it stood before the rule change, you have the people who can run 1.0 under in the heat pretty easy, those who gamble they can run about .85 under and get in the top 112 or so, and those who figure they can single for class just barely faster than 0.5 under. AFTER the rule change, you'll have more people who are more encouraged to gamble that .75-.85 under might get them in, and the few that counted on 0.5 under and a single, and can't run much faster, will stay home. Or work on their car and hope. In any event, we probably won't have a good sample this year, since those who really couldn't afford to gamble a year or two ago are even less able to afford it, and more likely to stay home.

[Bruce Noland]

Jeff,
Just in case you misread my post, my comment about personal remarks was directed to Jim.

[Bill Hawk]

I agree with Bruce Noland, i dont think he took anything out of context. He told it the way it is. Alot of guys spend ALOT of money and hours working on there cars, then they come on here and read all the BS from all the whiners because they think its easier to complain then work on there cars. Ill say it just like he did "turn the wick up on your steamers and run with the big dogs OR stay at home and sit on the porch with the puppies and whiners" NHRA class racing is about performance NOT whining. Class eliminations in S/SS have always been based on performance and it should stay that way.

Bill Hawk

[Bruce Noland]

Jim,
You are behaving like a sore loser.

You don't understand all of the meanings of sympathy:
Websters first three definitions of sympathy,
1.) samness of feeling
2.) mutual liking or understanding
3.) the ability to share another's ideas, emotions etc.

You also misjudge my intentions for posting a counter balance to all of your posts.

Thanks Bill.

[Jim Wahl]

Bill,
I hope you weren't calling me a whiner, I am pretty sure that when I "turn up the wick" I can run with you index to index or record to record just about any old day.Sorry, I hate resort that kind of juvenile discourse but you sort of called me out.

Bruce,
I don't think you left much room for interpretation in what you posted. I'm still not looking for any sympathy (now that I know what the word means). I haven't lost anything at all. As of this moment I have 34 emails thanking me for trying to find out how this rule came about, that's not counting the people posting here. How many did you get?

Oh and thanks for the dictionary lesson. I'm sure it will come in handy. You never did say, are you going to Indy? Jim

[Dwight Southerland]

Some how or another there are people who think they "earn" the right to run the eliminator because they have worked hard, spent a lot of money and gone fast, but did not win class. So be it. That is the attitude that is reflected in the current NHRA decision. There are others who think that only the class winners have "earned" the place in the eliminator. That is the way the rules were written long ago and the way it was when I started racing. I lived through a lot of the transition to get where we are now. I have been sitting on the sidelines as a class runnerup when others participated who could not even run the index. None of these methods are "right" or "wrong". You may not like one or the other, but everybody has a preference. I think the answer for each of us will lie in that word "earn". Which side of entitlement are you on? There will be some price to pay for your choice, whether it is in stepping into your own humility or reducing the glory of the class win.

I personally prefer that only class winners and runners-up should complete for the eliminator, regardless if they can run the index or not. If you want to race for the big bucks, change your way of thinking.

[Bruce Noland]

Jim,
Yes, I'm on the entry sheet for Indy.