Bitten by buy-backs

This letter is in reference to the articles on buy-backs. I think buy-backs on a local race scale for a track championship should be limited to a separate race as a gamblers race and not be given points for rounds won. The winner could be put back in the main race after he or she won the gamblers race, but not receive points toward the track championship.

I know this too well as I had won the 1992 track championship at North Wilkesboro Raceway Park in North Carolina street eliminator for the second year in a row by two points. Then they posted the champions on the bulletin board at the end of the year. Then two weeks before the banquet I was notified that a couple of racers in second and third and fourth place decided to have a vote with the buy-back community and track management to give them points for rounds won after the season was over towards the championship. The management agreed because they said they wouldn't come back the following year if he didn't thus I went from first place to sixth because I didn't buy-back all year.

Sooo! As you can see that it's not just what gets put in the operator's pocket, but also can change the outcome of a championship as well.

With the economy being what it is, the grass roots bracket racer has a hard enough time just scrapping up entry fee money and taking care of his family. He also doesn't have the luxury of having corporate money to go play every weekend because most can't make a living bracket racing anyhow. Get rid of buy-backs period! 

Ernie MacDaniel Jr.
North Carolina

Defending Detroit or ripping Rzepka?

I hate to bag on Rzepka, as frequent a contributor to the "letters" section of DRO as anyone, but in his latest offering in which he crushes downtown Detroit, is just wrongheaded and misinforming.

While no one will confuse Detroit for a Club Med destination and it will not have the luster of Chicago internationally as a great city along the Great Lakes, it has a cultural pulse Rzepka doesn't know about, and it's too bad for him. Between incredible live music opportunities - offered free at several events during the summer - and other social and cultural offerings, run-down Detroit can still entertain you and broaden your artistic horizons if you are open to it. It is not the nihilistic haven he thinks; bet he hasn't been down in the city since he Mickey Lolich was pitching, or the Bob-Lo boats were running.

Richard Gebhart
Marine City, Michigan

The Schumacher Top Fuel Class?

It is my opinion that Tony Schumacher's dominance has had a negative effect on the status of Top Fuel. While it is difficult to fault someone for being successful, and for having the drive and determination to win, others have suffered in the process. Besides winnings going primarily into the DSR checking account, other TF teams are left out of the spotlight, where major sponsors like to see their logos.

It's sad to see that TF is heading to a point where DSR might be left racing themselves for the championship.

Ray
Scotland, Connecticut