5/10/05

We got an inordinate number of letters in the last few days, so we are going to divide them. Today we publish the letters about Burk's Blast column concerning the SPORTSnationals. On Thursday, May 12, we will print the letters concerning Jok Nicholson's Dead-On column about contingency decals. You won't want to miss that bunch.

A SPORTING CHANCE

Jeff, good article. I agree with you 100%. I have made many comments on posts at ITA about the unfairness of this situation but it just seems to go over the heads of most people. This is a race where the where the alky classes would be the featured class and get most of the TV time. Not to mention national points. I think they would have a tremendous turnout in both classes even with an entry fee. There are no promoters anymore. Promoters take a risk. It is up to the promoter to sell the show and get the fans out. No Problem Raceway has two major market areas to draw from which makes it easier. One thing that keeps going through my head is the fact that the owners of the track are door car racers and don't care about the alky classes. Maybe this has something to do with it. I personally blame NHRA, though, as they should have made it a condition that if you want the Sportsman Nationals then you run all the classes.

I am not here to bash NHRA but someone there seems to have the attitude that they will go for anything and stand for nothing. All this does in the end is devalue NHRA.

Bob Holley

YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T READ THE MAGAZINE REGULARLY, ROBERT

Mr. Burk: I'm writing in response to your commentary on the Cajun Sportnationals. I'm extremely disappointed that you chose to focus on the "mistreatment" of TAFC/TAD for this article instead of possibly giving Pro Modified the recognition it deserves. I was there for the weekend and the crowds were huge and response to Pro Mod was terrific, with the packed house rising to their feet for each round of Pro Mod qualifying and eliminations. It would have been nice to report on this and acknowledge that Pro Mods might deserve the focus of events such as this. Nobody at the event seemed terribly disappointed with the absence of TAFC/TAD.

Pro Modified has a huge fan base in this part of the country, and in my opinion, with very good reason. The diversity of this class presents some of the most exciting racing anywhere, with side by side Willys, '59 and '63 Corvettes, '67 Mustangs, '57 Chevys, and just about every other body style imaginable. Great looking cars and talented drivers that deserve a lot more recognition than they get, and you complaining about this event doesn't help.

If you would like to talk about mistreatment, consider how the NHRA treats Pro Modified. It's an "exhibition class" and if the timing of an event runs long they either cancel or move qualifying sessions. I understand you're disappointed the event didn't offer what you consider the "premier sportsman classes" (and that opinion certainly varies and is up for debate), but give Pro Modified a chance and some respect. By the way, you may be getting more emails- a link to this commentary was posted on promodifieds.com, a very large site with an extremely devoted Pro Mod fan base that likely won't appreciate the implications of your article.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Benigar Jr.

SPORTSMEN PAY ENTRY FEES

Jeff, I have been thinking about your article all week, then I saw some of the responses today and I see I am not the only one who has some issue with your line of thought. If you want to call the Alcohol cars Sportsmen that's fine, but there is one huge chasm of separation between the alky cars and the rest of the sportsmen classes that to me, says volumes: Why don't they pay an entry fee? Pros and alky drivers don't pay entry fees, but the rest of us have to. Why are they exempt? If it takes so much money to run an alky class, then those teams should be able to afford the entry fees and should be required to pay them as well. That is the main reason why I don't consider them true sportsmen. It's all really said at the gate. Are alky cars are too good to pay entry fees? What is the reasoning behind this? The rest of us have to help subsidize their competition, pay for their clean ups, and that's just not right (not to mention ridiculous schedule changes to make up for the oil downs we all have to suffer).

But I guess nothing will change until it's BHRA ~Beth's Hot Rod Assoc.~, and I don't foresee that happening anytime soon. Bruton's got a much better chance than I do.

Thanks for making us all keep our thinking caps on and continuing the discourse!

Beth Kieffer
Moneymaker Racing
Stock & Super Stock