After a week to digest this mess, it really comes down to this for me (and Oakley).

There is no "magic" nitro. Which means it is not possible to get a performance advantage no matter what barrel you pump it from. Period.

If there was to be a public display of a rules violation, as was the case on ESPN by the NHRA last weekend, it should have been made VERY CLEAR that whatever the infraction was (or wasn't)... it did not involve cheating for a performance edge over the competition. Unfortunately, this is the message that was received by many. Even more unfortunate is the fact that DSR sponsors are lumped into the pile of misconception. Many fans were confused. I have spent the last several days explaining this (no such thing as "magic nitro") to Oakley employees, customers, dealers and my friends.

All the Wego, Pro Nitro, VP discussion should be between DSR and the NHRA.

I think it is everyone's best interest for the NHRA and ESPN to make this point clear (no possible performance advantage) on the next telecast. Fans don't really care about whether 4 barrels of nitro should or should not have been in the pits. They do care about the perception of cheating for an unfair advantage.

Jim

Great Post Mr. Jannard. I do not think it Can get Any Clearer than That. I hope NHRA does the correct thing and Rights the situation.

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Lyle Lamb (aka Badcocrewman)
Maroney Racing (Blower and Clutch Man)
Sun Devil Supercharger Service.

You should go to NHRA, Jim.

Or the media or something..I love you ,Man..but this isn't the platform is it? It will just get contaminated like all the others..with those that take pleasure in seeing the bullsh!t!!

Your point has been made..and I understand it..but this is going nowhere fast (er). The positive are running 10 to 1..but I just hate it.

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--Medicated for your safety!!--

Jim
Even if there was a rules violation....which by all accounts from what I have read there does not seem to to be.It did not have a performance advantage. Second as you & Don both know from being business men you DO NOT scold people in front of others you do it in private. Hopefully Don's legal team will get that point across. Now on to damage already done....The monday after the Vegas race when I got to work one of my fellow co workers was saying "did you hear about Shoe?" "he got caught with illegal fuel" Well in his mind Don's already tried,convicted & hung.Luckily I've been telling him about what's really going on.

I watched Graham Light again on the Sunday eliminations ESPN telecast, and I re-read the NHRA press release, and I couldn't find where the NHRA made a reference that DSR "cheated".

Here's a verbatim transcript:

Graham Light: "Yesterday we discovered a violation of our fuel policy in the Don Schumacher pits. They were in possession of nitromethane that was not purchased through the official distributor. That is clearly a violation of the rules, and as stewards of that product, we take our responsibility very seriously, and there are very strict guidelines as to the purchase and use of nitromethane. And as a result of this violation, a hundred thousand dollar fine has been levied against Don Schumacher's team."
Dave Reiff: "Is that the biggest fine that this organization has ever had to levy?"
Graham Light: "Yes it is."
Dave Reiff: "There you guys have it. We will try to catch up with the Don here, and find out a little bit more about it."
Paul Page: "Oh Mike Dunn, that is big."
Mike Dunn: "Wow, a hundred thousand dollar fine, I mean that is huge, but I want to wait and hear what Don Schumacher has to say before I put any judgement on this thing, because this is a big story."
Paul Page: "Yea it's interesting the indication is just for possession, not necessarily abuse, based on what was just said."

The NHRA statement posted on NHRA.com:
Don Schumacher Racing fined for fuel violation
4/13/2008
NHRA determined that Don Schumacher Racing committed a fuel violation prior to eliminations Sunday at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. Schumacher Racing has been fined $100,000 for possessing nitromethane fuel in its Professional pit clearly in violation of the fuel regulations as detailed on page 64 of the 2008 NHRA Rulebook.

NHRA has a strict policy regarding possession of nitromethane at events and takes its responsibility as stewards of this fuel and the sport very seriously. NHRA will not tolerate inappropriate possession of this fuel and will take swift and significant action with teams that do not comply with the rules.

So, if you are the average fan, do you see how it is possible to jump to a cheating conclusion? I do. I have heard from plenty that did. Like...

"Why else would this nitro not have been purchased from the official distributor if not for a performance advantage?"

"$100,000 fine indicates to me that it must have been an illegal fuel?"

All the NHRA had to do was clarify the situation a bit so there was not a possibility of a misconception of cheating. BTW, why was the alleged purchase/storage of nitro worthy of TV time? And the largest fine in NHRA history?

Jim

Jim, thanks for your input and insight regarding this subject. I appreciate your sharing your passionate thoughts!

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NAPA Nitro Fan!

If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!

Basiclly this whole BS is because there were drums of nitro that DID NOT have the VP label on them, is how I understand it and someone got their panties in a wad because VP is the only fuel to be onsite.

Jim,

I understand what you are thinking but the fine is for a fuel policy violation.
The way it was worded was very clever and was not scripted by Light.
Check w/ NHRA and their group of ESQ's, which I am sure they concured w/, who did homework before dropping that announcement from the legal side of things..
I know how you feel and was bummed on the public dismay...DSR got duped.
Everyone gets burned in life but this will be fixed and should be history soon.

But the true fans know that DSR is top shelf and will see thru that..
See you in soon..

Even the leaders of the top racing venue in this industry takes matters to the trailer and discuss the violation behind closed doors. NHRA has exceeded its boundaries here.

All i can say is this I still support all DSR teams and Oakley products. It seems to me that the sole purpose of this STUPID rule was to prevent DSR from importing Nitro and thats all. I see it no different than a different manufacturer of heads, two different manufacturers but there is no HUGE performance difference between the two. It would be like NHRA saying all fuel teams had to run Alan Johnson heads. In my eyes the only people that look bad in this whole deal is the NHRA. Thats my $.02

I believe it can come down to a simple saying.

"It can take a life time to build a reputation and a minute to lose it."

Keep up the fight Jim and Don..

So what you're really saying is that NHRA needs to go buy a Big Red Trailer!

Really Jim, all NHRA had to do was be a bit professional and handle it behind closed doors. And the fine flabbergasts me....

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Evil Squirrels Are After My Nuts
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The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.

Thats very true