Which brings up what I've said before, The *8* run separate from the rest... When it gets to *4*, they run by themselves.... and for the next 4 races, have a second 8 car show for 9th up.... Vegas and Pomona 2, back to 16 car fields with the final four by themselves....

that's the no brainer

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Not So Comfortably Numb- Fly Navy, Build SEABEES
A friend helps you move, A Real Friend helps you Move Bodies

"NHRA intends to provide and preserve a level playing field and to require good sportsmanship from all participants."


How hypocritical is this statement? If it were truly a level playing field then they wouldn't penalize the points leader by taking away the points that he/she had earned. I guess what the statement should really say is "NHRA will provide a level playing field at the start of the year in Pomona, and then will re-level the playing field, for a chosen few, at 2 other times throughout the year"

Assuming this is a true letter, bobby will find out, just how could you possibly enforce it. For example, if just one of the timers on the clutch was set wrong or there just "happened" to be an air leak, how could you tell? All you are doing is driving the diving underground.

You know, Larry Morgan was waaaaay ahead of his time.

YOU CAN"T FIX STUPID.....

jim

I hope NHRA management is keeping track if how many bizarre rules they have been forced to issue this year in order to maintain the contrived countdown system - or at least make it look like a competition. basically, this memo tells the teams that they better make it look good. There is no way it's enforceable unless the team 'fesses-up to taking a dive or makes it obvious that they are doing so.

You can expect another memo shortly to address the potential for a highly-sponsored team to pay off a low-budget team to take a dive, and if you think that won't happen, just try to remember why the "Paul Smith rule" exists.

By arbitrarily narrowing the points gaps in order to give the appearance of close competition, they have increased the value of - and therefore the likelihood of - diving and have turned the championship chase into a high-speed reality show. Haven't they noticed that reality shows are getting really bad ratings these days? What's next, having the fans vote teams off the island?

Maybe there will be a new area in tech inspection for them to give everyone a polygraph...........

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If you have always done it that way it is probably wrong
Brian (Forcefan1)

I am almost speechless.....yeah almost.


I must say that it is nice that NHRA seems to have realized that their countdown has taken any legitimacy out of the championship. The recent dives are just one example. The letter also claims that " We know that every driver and team’s mission is to win" and "'NHRA POWERade Drag Racing provides the highest level of competition in the sport of drag racing worldwide" Yet we have seen sevaral team go into test mode since they had their spot wrapped up. Therefore they were not giving it their all which also effected drivers on down the line as to who made it in or not.

First off their is no way to enforce this. A crew chief "forgets" and leaves the throttle stop on, the chute falls out early, the driver's guage doesn't read any oil preassure so they have to shut it off, of course the best stop to this is that they can claim the found something wrong with the chassis and can't even pull to the line or they just stage. There is no way the NHRA could penalize someone for not making a pass out of safety concerns.

It's laughable to think that they can stop this under this system the created. Also what happens when its the sponsor telling the teams that they want it happen. Who does the driver listen to then, nhra or the people who pay the bills?

Will the be blind and only watch team orders? What about umbrella or leasing deals? I can easily see teams buying rounds from lower sponsored teams just to make sure an upset doesn't happen? What about friendships? Would Morgan take one for his buddy Brandon? After every pass now will we have to wait for an investigation to determine if it was legit?

I gotta say watching it crumble like this has brought me much joy. I though I may be stuck with the scamdown for a few seasons. Maybe now the suits in Glendora will get a clue as they see how so badly this doesn't work.

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Tact is for those not witty enough for sarcasm

I think this really shows that the NHRA is no longer run by racers and that seems to be the root of all of the ridiculous rules, games and mistakes made by management.

To think that a team driver outside the chase or countdown or whatever the Hell they call it would not take a dive for their team driver in the chase is just not possible. The entire Lucas/Troxel debacle is proof that under the current fiasco set of rules doing the right thing is the wrong thing. So if you have scruples you will not win the chase but if you take a dive your team might.

Thanks NHRA, way to send a message to all the kids out there.

I am going to have to stop checking in at work.
They get suspicious when I bust out laughing.

DLB

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Proverbs 17:27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

I wonder how many drivers will now enroll in acting classes

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Tact is for those not witty enough for sarcasm

My guess is that no one will be diving at Indy. After that, all bets are off. Blow the "ahooga" horn 3 times and DIVE DIVE DIVE!!!

(Suggested spell check replacement for ahooga--mahogany, cahoots, cahoot's, cahoot, and yahoos. Pick your favorite.)

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A.K.A. BobK49. I will henceforth agree with every thread, on odd days, and disagree on even.

Does NHRA know that controversy draws attention and they are trying to play it to the hilt or are they really just that stupid? Sorry to say it but a story line on ESPN stating "John Force docked points" will get more viewers than "John Force wins race".

PJ, we've had our disagreements over this but in this case I agree with you 100% if this NHRA memo turns out to be accurate. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

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BlueStangGT
"Could it be that somebody else is looking into my mind?"

As far as I am concerned this years champions should have an * by there names in the history books. Champions yes they are but they did not EARN them in the same way that all the past champions have.

NHRA rules committee---->

are you finally coming towards the light side?? May we soon add your name to the petition.

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It's accurate,I've seen a copy of it. I see it more of a CYA,they can say that we told them no team orders.