DRO: In your
eyes, should there be an official supplier of
Nitro?
DS: NHRA management
has certain beliefs that there are some items
that are real critical to continued performance
of the sport and Nitromethane is one of those.
We have differing opinions on that; it's something
we are still communicating about. I think it
is a mistake to confine who is a supplier of
things out here, whether it be Nitromethane
or anything else. Another area where we have
a single supplier is tires (Goodyear) and they
make a wonderful product for the teams out here.
When I raced in the '60s and '70s we had Firestone,
Hoosier, Goodyear and M&H out here; it was a
good environment. It caused different teams
to run different product and receive different
support that made it positive for the overall
sport. I can't say why NHRA really made the
decision they made on Goodyear being the sole
supplier of
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tires
for the Nitro ranks, but I understand their
concern that we need these tires to race on.
If nobody else if willing to make them then
we have to lock ourselves in with a company
that is making a good product and stand behind
it.
DRO: Was there
a shortage of Nitromethane?
DS: No, in
fact the U.S. Dow/Angus plant blew up years
ago and Nitromethane had to come in from China
because Dow's plant wasnít operating. There
is not a shortage of Nitromethane unless something
catastrophic happens at numerous facilities.
When you rely on just one source, even tires
from Goodyear, God forbid if something happened
to that company or some chairman of the board
made the decision that we are out of that, we
are not making that any longer. I don't care
what kind of contract we have, when they make
a decision like that and it goes against what
you feel your agreement is, all you then have
the right to do is hire attorneys. It doesn't
guarantee a supply of the product.
DRO: Is this
ultimately a big deal?
DS: It's a
costly situation for the teams out here, but
it's something that the teams, myself, my partners
and everybody really don't necessarily want
the public hype going on it and make it something
bigger than life. NHRA is cooperating and working
with us and we are working them. We certainly
don't want to get into "this is a battle" or
"we're mad and they're mad," cause that isn't
the situation. I'm just trying to do what I
feel is the right thing for everybody out here,
including NHRA and the future of this sport
and ultimately the fans that pay our bills,
and cause us to get these sponsorships and allow
us to go out and do these things. It's something
we have a difference of opinion on, but this
isnít something bigger than a difference of
opinion. 
What do
you think? Send your email to response@dragracingonline.com.
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