Is it just me or has Shaun Carlson gotten the "short end of the stick" in Pro Stock Racing? I just finished reading a story on him on another drag racing web-site. Here is a guy that has literally been put into a race car and is expected to go out and perform. From what I read in the article Shaun is taking most of the brunt of him not qualifying at the first two NHRA national events. Honestly did anyone expect him to qualify for either race? I sure as heck didn't.
First off, he is driving a car that was not made for him. It was made for Jeg Coughlin. Second and I quote "He's been under pressure since the first time he sat in the car." This is a quote from teammate Richie Stevens. The article goes onto say, "They have to make adjustments to the car." "You have situations where he lets off the clutch and his leg hits the steering wheel and he has to abort the run." Call me crazy, but that doesn't sound real safe to me.
Now don't get me wrong, I think Don Schumacher is a remarkable man. He has done wonders for the sport of drag racing. But do I think he made a mistake. Yes, but not in hiring Shaun Carlson. I think the mistake was made in doing it at the last minute right before the Winternationals. I realize that Shaun is living out a dream of being a Pro Stock driver in the NHRA. But let's face facts. Rome was not built in a day.
I hope that things get better for Shaun Carlson real soon. I will be in Gainesville for the AC DELCO GATORNATIONALS. It should be very interesting on how Shaun does.
Kevin A. Bennett
Wilmington, OH
PRESSURE IS PART OF THE JOB
Wow, Mr. Burk, we agree 100%. Yes, we need the Gliddens speaking their mind. Hey, I guarantee you if Mr. Carlson does well, Glidden will carry the torch. Added pressure to Carlson? Absolutely, but nothing is for free in this world. If you do not want pressure, be like V. Gaines and pay your own way.
I was not overly concerned about the Oakley issue, but you are correct, NHRA should have given Jannard some loyalty, as he definitely earned it.
Meatheads in NHRA is nothing new, especially to a sportsman racer who quit running NHRA divisionals and nationals in 1997 because I was tired of the treatment then.
William D. (Dee) Kruse
WHAT'S WRONG WITH COMPETING SPONSORS
Why does NASCAR not mind when the NEXTEL series has a Cingular car running in it? NHRA would not allow a Gatorade car to run. Or, how about the fact that you or I could not field a Navy or Marines sponsored T/F car in NHRA because the Army has an exclusive?
This does not let the sport grow or provide an atmosphere for open competition between companies like the sunglass guys tried to do. This also leaves our sport in the '60s with the majority of teams operating with help that gets little or no pay.
I for one think it stinks for the fan and the participants. NHRA does not have one oil company, or one car company as an exclusive. They have spent dollars to the pennies Jannard has spent over the history of the sport. Please Jeff, reconsider your position.
The UPS deal looks like an associate sponsor to me. Compare that car and transporter signage to the Serta car and transporter.
Jeff Garvin
Daytona Beach, FL
WHERE IS THE PREPARATION?
Speaking of NHRA, what has happened to their track prep team? Just watched Phoenix and again basically a one-lane track and did you see the shot of Greg Anderson's crew chief? Am I wrong or was he a "little" upset about the starting line? There has to be something wrong when Pro
Stock picks the same lane as the fuel guys and that lane has a very wide win margin!
Used to you watched a national event and 95% of the time both lanes were equal. Now we are lucky if one race in 10 seems equal and don't give me the old line "the crew chief missed the set-up." BS. Except for one or two new ones all the crew chiefs have been racing these tracks so long they should be able to phone in their set ups.
Also this rev-limiter BS in the fuel ranks. If they plan on keeping them as they are they need to drop the penalty for oil downs because they are going to happen a bunch with these dumb things on the cars, What's the deal, did MSD need some extra cash?
Joe Rakoczy
Texas
WHAT MAX?
I saw the article on the IHRA eMax sponsorhip. I am not so optimistic about eMax. Their stock is trading at 9 cents, after bottoming out at 2.5 cents. I can't find their sales figures, but obviously this is not a healthy company. I wish IHRA would hold out for a legitimate sponsor, not a penny stock sponsor.
Chris Williams
