Unfortunately, I think you're right.

What I find interesting is that nobody has discussed what negativity we'd be reading had Alan shut Tony off Saturday night. Did it make a difference come race day? Nope.

That scenario has presented itself at least two other times (Beck back in the 80's to beat Jeb Allen & Ormsby vs. Amato a little later in the decade, or maybe in the early 90's) and nobody has been able to pull it off... until now. Absolutely amazing pass to steal the title... I was in the stands and I was in awe - heck, I still am.

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Gordon 'Flaps' Carlon
Work the solution, not the problem.

Beck won the race but lost the war. He set an all time low ET 5.57 (not a NR) but failed to get Top Speed points and Jeb Allen won the title (1981). Amato beat Ormsby in 1990 with a winner take all final. Garlits' record run to the title in 1975 also rates up there too.

I'm still in awe at what Alan Johnson was able to do with the tuneup for that pass. Like Mike and Marty said, all it would have taken is one dumb little thing to make that pass completely worthless. The endless amount of things that could have went went wrong, like a timer malfunctioning to a blower belt breaking to a clutch disc welding itself too soon, etc...but didn't, make that feat even more amazing. He's definitely the best tuner Top Fuel has ever seen.

Any fluid on the track makes it extremely dangerous. A driver, even Tony has to follow the directions of all track personnel, including the starter.

They did a fantastic job winning the championship but showed a complete disregard for safety and the rules. 95% of the people on here say that's bullsh-t. So I guess they were fined 20K for not polishing the wheels.

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Bob
Doug - 2006 & Greg - 2007 The Real Champs

The wizard waited until mid-season to start running the car, he didn't want it to look too easy!
Has anyone ever tagged him with a nickname? If not Merlin comes to mind.

I'll second that "Merlin" name. Alan Johnson can "become one" with a dragster!

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Visit my Web Site: http://www.TheRacingRealEstateAgent.Com/

I've been waiting for someone in the know to mention the rev-limiter? Seems it's been a problem operating properly a few times before as well? Could've been a simple malfunction, I guess?
Do the math?

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"The Doctor"
www.wannaberacing.com

uh oh, time to break out the tinfoil hats

Has anyone heard Alan say "we'll be back next year to do it again" ????
..... makes me wonder if AJ has indeed tuned his last DSR car?

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On my arm until the day I die, but in my heart forever

Bobby, I was playing up to all of those people who jump in and say that Crew Chief's win races, not drivers, hence the smiley at the end of my post.

This season it was a race of averages and Coil and AJ turned out to be the best Fuel crew chiefs. Unfortunately next year consistency won't be rewarded as much as it has been in the past.

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Don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful
- PJ Sapienza June 2008

I thought the Joe Amato / Gary Ormsby final was better.

WHY?

Both drivers suited up and in their cars.

Winner take all... (No exact ET window of opportunity to factor in.)

Driver to driver. Heads up...MAX CACKLE...

...oh.....and you did what Buster told you to do.

Would Allen Johnson send Tony down the track if he was made aware of unsafe conditions? Didn't he lose his brother to a top fuel accident that had nothing to do with safety violations? I just don't think he's willing to gamble that much to win.

Didn't Tony have a horrific accident that could have cost him his life, or at the very least one leg and the use of one hand? Do you really think he's that much of an idiot or so competitive that he would risk an unsafe run, especially when he was already qualified? I just don't think he would.

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Capps Fan

Read section 19 of your rule book if you have one. Tony was instructed to shut it down. It's not up to Tony or AJ. When you are given an instruction by track personnel, you do it. You agreed to do it when you joined NHRA. You didn't agree to only do it when you felt like it.

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Bob
Doug - 2006 & Greg - 2007 The Real Champs

I'll side w/Kelly on that one.

After watching it several times..it was nothing but mass confusion on the starting line. After Rick walked past Alan..and Alan staged Tony..what the hell was Tony to think?

If Buster was going to shut him off..it would have happened instantly..and then Doug would have moved in and ran.

This is Rick's responsibility..if he would have stood at the front of the car and signaled shut off (like I can picture Buster doing)..instead of hee-hawing around..there would have been no doubt..and this wouldn't have happened.

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--Medicated for your safety!!--

" Much ado about nothing." Thankfully, that faux pas played no part in the outcome of the Championship. What if TS set the record on that run, and didn't run well enough to set it on Sunday, subsequently got it DQ'd or if he got penalized pts for not shutting down? The Championship was earned on the track so, who could ask for more? If nothing else, it played into the drama.