SETS A BAD PRECEDENT
I too saw the incident that you mention in your column. It is my opinion that Mr. Schumacher should have been charged with a mandatory oil-down infraction (I don't know if he was or not). Furthermore, I believe that ANY competitor that deliberately disobeys the starter's order to shut the car off should be immediately fined points in the amount of at least one round win (20 points). Additionally, the competitor and crew chief should have to then post bond in the amount of the average cost of replacement for a vehicle of the type that their class of racing requires. This might make them take a second thought when jeopardizing the safety of the competition in the other lane. Not to mention the safety of the personnel present on and around the starting line.
I think this is a pathetic example that the US Army team set on Saturday, and I think it would be appropriate to see them stripped of their championship and put on probation. This was by far worse than anything that Bazemore ever said. I guess it's great to be a member of STT Racing (Shumacher Teflon Team).
Thanks.
Larry Irwin
New York City
TOO MUCH LIKE NASCAR IN THIS ALSO
Ah! Yes! NHRA drag racing seems to be suffering from the same disease as NASCAR, select race team rule(s) infraction blindness: "HAMMER the lesser ones, but only slap the wrists of the chosen few."
Jack W. Smith
Chesapeake, VA
LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE
I can't agree with you more. They should have deducted points on the spot. I wish he would have run a record and then have seen what NHRA would have done. Would they have allowed the run?
After going to the AHRA World Championships at Green Valley back in the day, I was reminded of how they used to fix their "boys" problems on Sat. night when I read about the incident. I haven't seen any tape of Tony showing any apologies to anyone. Please don't let Don Schumacher Racing be bigger than the sport. Tony told everyone by his actions that he has no regard for anyone but himself.
Paul Smith
SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT?
What really bothers me is that Rick Stewart goes absolutely ballistic if two Pro Stockers want to stage a burndown. Yet he stuck his tail between his legs and slunk back to his little stool when AJ chose to ignore him.
Jim Kelly
Boulder City, NV