"We're ideal victims," the Pro Stock owner/driver said. "A racer will do anything to get sponsorship. And he'll want to keep it quiet so the others don't find out about his deal. We'll go on a whim and a hope and a prayer."

During the Nov. 6-9 Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, things came to a head for Blackford. He thought he was going to be getting more money

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from one of his "clients." The pro-class client, who asked not to be identified, confronted him about the promises Blackford had given him.

The confrontation occurred in a Pomona motel parking lot. It escalated as the two sat in the client's car. The client said Blackford turned the tables on him by jumping from the car and flagging down a passing police car.

According to Pomona Police Officer Rick Aguiar, "I responded to a man who was standing in the parking lot at a Motel 6, screaming that he had been robbed at knife-point by his client who had gotten angry.

"As I questioned the man, his story got more and more inconsistent, and I began to realize that the motive for him to lie about what had happened was greater than the alleged perpetrator's. After we released the accused, I began to dig and find out more about the deals that have been going on in the pits at the races."

The accusations have not been resolved, and, according to Aguiar, the case is being presented to the District Attorney, as well as being brought to the attention of Federal authorities by several of the victims.

The Pro Stock driver said the bottom line for doing business with Paul Blackford and Blackford Motorsports is "Put your hand on your wallet, and run -- don't walk -- as fast as you can."

DRO's repeated attempts to contact Blackford have been unsuccessful.

Blackford has not been charged with any crime yet.

(Note: A Phoenix-based freelance writer contributed to this report.)

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