My personal opinion:


Sorry guys and gals, the funeral and memorial services are the appropriate places to express your organiized respect and grief for Eric, the race track is still the place for competition. Postponing the event would have been a bad idea and so is this one. Unless NHRA suspends Funny Car racing for safety reasons, the event must go on as scheduled and advertised.

Try "breach of contract" on for size - the event is scheduled and advertised as a points-paying event. One team's decision to sit this one out does not give a majority of the remaining teams the right to decide that none of the other teams should get points for the event, nor is there any provision in the rules for any participating team to waive their points or for NHRA to declare it a no-points event. Individual teams can choose not to participate if they wish, but those that do show up to race should get the advertised rewards for doing so.

I'm in the "race for points" camp on this one. Although I understand the sentiment and all, everything I've ever heard about Eric would indicate the last thing he'd want would be for his fellow competitors to (basically) not compete this weekend. Certainly attend the memorials, absolutely I think that all the pro teams should have black lines through their #'s, and I definitely love the idea of a FC cacklefest to honour his memory, but I also believe the best way to honour Eric would be to race hard for points!

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“One day when I was walking through the pits,” Millican said, “Evan said he wanted to talk to me. ‘Do you know how many millions (of dollars) I’ve spent to beat you?’ he said. ‘Since I couldn’t beat you, I’m going to own you.’ "

Mike,

Because you are a racer backing this idea, your opinion in this case is worth a lot more than two cents. And good for you for coming out with public support of this idea.

Not so much in favor of dropping the points, JFR WILL make the chase regardless of missing this weekend.................................However, I am definitely in favor of the Ice Cream Cones!

I wish to respectfully disagree with the "no points" option.
I am all for showing respect, being courteous, honoring Eric, and doing the right thing and I believe JFR is doing that on behalf of everybody.

However at the end of the day, when the "countdown" (NHRA's big points mistake) begins... People will have two sets of "points" in their brains. One will be the points totals as compiled by NHRA and the other will be the revised points totals based on the outcome of a non points race.

I do not believe a legacy of "should have been" will do anything to honor Eric Medlin or anyone else. I believe a non-points race will potentially call into question the validity of this seasons champions. I do not believe this is anything that Eric Medlin would have wanted although I am darn sure he would be very humbled and appreciative of the concept.

We all thought the world of Eric. That is undisputed. But, I believe that the statement posted earlier regarding the old adage "the show must go on" was correct. It was a wonderful gesture on Mr. Ashley's part to be willing to give up points and I applaud him for that. He's an example of the great people that make up the drag racing community.
I think the reason JFR is skipping this race is multi-faceted. They are grieving immensely, they're tired, they're in pain, they've not slept well since the accident, they only had one day to get everything to the track and to top it off they're still not sure what needs to be done about the cars. John is not going to put Ashley or Robert back in a car until he's sure that the cars are as safe as possible. He's doing the right thing.
There will be points given at Houston. Count on it. JFR would probably yell the loudest if they were not given.

Exactually. What if they still raced and say Capps won, but they didn't collect points for the race, then at the end of the year Force wins the championship, but Capps would have won if there had been points in Houston? What kind of tantrums will be thrown then?

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John Morgan
TD 741

I agree with a tribute like this, but then go out and race the cars for real, Eric was a real competitor and I don't think he'd want it any other way.

Paul T.

I really like the idea of letting the back-up car make a singel pass or idle down the track is awesome. What a great tribute this would be to Eric and his memory. I am not really sure where I stand on the whole passing on points thing, everybody makes great arguments here, but I do think that a visible tribute should be done, and I really like the back-up car idea.

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Safety First, but please keep it as cheap as possible!!!

I really like the idea of Eric's car ideling down the track (John Medlen driving?) there would not be a dry eye in the house I bet. Seeing as how the force teams will not not be there, I honestly don't see it happening though. As far as points go, I think they should race for points. Just my 2 cents.

Okay John,

What if the championship scenario falls the other way, Capps wins the title over Robert Hight, who will most likely lose the points lead after this weekend? Then the "what if" comes into play of what if Robert had competed this weekend? Does the championship then have asterisk? In the scenario, there are no real winners. This suggestion was just one of compassion (not charity) to a team that has given so much to the sport...nothing more or nothing less.

When you give in the spirit of compassion, you don't look back. It's like sportsmanship - you exhibit sportsmanship and if you don't win the round...you don't look back and say, "Hey, I should have hurried my burnout."

Bobby,
Did we just put Bernstein in the field??
Hell no, he had to fight, crawl, scratch and hi-jack his way back into making a show... Mr. 300 did not get a free pass... Niether should anyone else for any reason... This is hardball, wear a cup or don't play...

1/8 mile or 1,000 feet...

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theDARKSIDE- TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER*

Wow! What a hot potato of an issue this has become. The strange thing to me is, I feel strongly BOTH ways. I guess the bottom line is many of us "just fans" are on the fence on this one. Therefore, I'd like to think that the fans will agree however it's decided. Just everyone race safe. We'll still be watching, cheering, and probably crying. Stay safe. Normal, whatever it is, will return.

Bob

I think out of respect and for JFR i to will set this one out and not watch this weekends race!

There have been some here that have compared what happened after the tragic loss of Blaine and Darrel and how the show went on and everyone raced as planned, points were awarded and trophys handed out. But to me there is somewhat of a difference. That being that the rest of the competitors showed up at the next race.

Force and his other teams elected not to race Houston and I agree with that decision. There is no way that all of those team members could be 100% focused on there jobs and they need the time away to deal with what has happened.

With that said, IMHO, the only way NHRA should even consider that points not be awarded is IF and ONLY IF, every AA/FC competitor agrees to waive and if the vote is 100% then it's no sweat off NHRA's ass. The fans don't give a rats ass about points. They came to see a race. Hell, NHRA had a non points race every year so what the difference.

Flame away if you want.

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