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Archive for December, 2009
Sean Franklin: It Aint Cheating Till You Get Caught………..
Dec 8th
With the latest news of Scott Bloomquist being accused of having “doped” his tires at the World Of Outlaws Late Model World Finals in Charlotte this past November, it appears the dirt track following, for the most part, has deemed Bloomquist as the dirtiest scoundrel to ever wheel a Dirt Late Model. It appears that many, including certain sanctioning bodies have it out for what I consider one of the few true “outlaws” left in the sport. He is an innovator as well and many rules have been put into place over the years because of the innovators in the sport.
Tire prep is readily available even on the local level. Go to most any aftermarket racing dealers store or website and you will find it in all forms and fashions, which makes you wonder, where is it going? Well I can tell you it isn’t all going to the likes of Bloomquist! I am not saying that I condone prepping tires to gain an advantage, but I am quite positive that it is going on at most levels including the local level.
Most all sanctions that I know of do not allow tires to be “chemically altered” yet it appears that very little is or can be done about it without going to extreme measures, especially on the local level. The costs seem to be more than most promoters/sanctions can afford or want to police. To be honest, in the local area that I grew up watching races I can’t remember anyone being caught with a “chemically altered” tire, not once. I guess it’s kind of like traction control. Does that mean that it’s not going on? Hell no it don’t! Remember the old saying “ It aint cheating till you get caught”? Oh yeah, that guy was an innovator as well! What was his name, Petty or something like that?
So for those of you who damn Bloomquist for his actions just remember, you may be sitting in the stands at your local track on any Saturday night, cheering for your favorite driver and guess what? Yep, you guessed it, he just might be using it too!
Which makes me wonder why have a rule you can’t police? Or even better yet, why have rules you can, but don’t police? Oh wait, I guess that’s a totally different subject….maybe next time….SF
NHRA: HOT ROD HERITAGE RACING SERIES ANNOUNCES 2010 SEASON WITH ADDITION OF NEW EVENT IN BOISE, IDAHO
Dec 8th
GLENDORA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2009) – NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series officials announced today the 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing schedule, which includes an additional event at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho.
The Napa Auto Parts Ignitor has been added to the event schedule for the 2010 season, and will be held April 30-May 2 at Firebird Raceway. The event will feature Nostalgia Nitro Top Fuel dragsters.
The event addition brings the schedule to a total of nine races for the 2010 season, which will begin with the March Meet, March 5-7 at the famed Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
“A fixture at the Ignitor for four decades, we’re looking forward to the event celebrating its 40th Anniversary next May with the dramatic sights and sounds of ‘Nitro,’” said Bill New, general manager, Firebird Raceway. “As the second stop for Top Fuel in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series, we feel this will further enhance and elevate one of the premier events on our racing calendar.”
In addition to Boise, the series will make stops at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Sacramento Raceway in Sacramento, Calif., Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittman, Ariz., and will finish the 2010 season where it all began at the California Hot Rod Reunion at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
“We’re looking forward to our third year of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series and are grateful for the support shown from our affiliate tracks around the country,” said Steve Gibbs of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series. “The series combined with the Hot Rod Reunions and the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum demonstrates NHRA’s commitment to maintaining the history of our sport.”
The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series consists of two nitro categories: Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters, Nostalgia Funny Cars, and two groups of additional classes. Group 1 includes Jr. Fuel, A-Fuel, AA/Gas, and 7.0 Pro, while Group 2 includes NE I, NE II, NE III, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas and Hot Rod. Each class will run a combination of events in which they will score points toward the championship. Groups 1 and 2 will conclude their points earning events at Speedworld Dragstrip with Champion’s presentations taking place at that event. Group 1 cars will continue race at the CHRR as a non-points event for them.
The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was developed in 2008 to help preserve NHRA’s rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for those enthusiasts who enjoy nostalgia drag racing competition.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks nationwide. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 23 national events in the U.S. featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Two NHRA-sanctioned bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels: the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.