The Steve Johnson debacle reminds me of another NHRA incident that went uncorrected and cost Frank Iaconio the 1983 Pro Stock crown. What a travesty that was. Remember? Frank needed to go one round to lock up the Championship, Reid Whisnant went blatantly red, and was awarded the round win anyway. I can not recall the justification for the decision other than another of NHRA's pompous "Golden Rules". Frank's apology is long overdue.

And Steve Johnson's victory rings hollow now that he was denied his moment of glory before the crowd and in the winners circle. Shame on Graham Light and the entire NHRA crew that had any input in the original decision. He was talking more double speak than Barry Scheck and Johnny Cochrane put together.

Larry Reindl
Castro Valley, CA

[Ed. Note: The Whisnant-Iaconio incident occurred in 1984.]

I am very glad that Steve Johnson was declared the winner. This is not the first time this has happened. At the 1981 NHRA Springnationals, in the 1st round of Top Fuel, Jim Barnard crossed the finish line ahead of David Pace (driving the Carrol Bros. car).

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the win light came on in Pace's lane. The Diamond P Sports TV cameras revealed that Barnard's front wheels were in the air when he crossed the finish line (because of a bump in that lane). As a result, he broke the beams with his rear wheels and David Pace broke the beams first. Dave McClelland said on the coverage that "the photocells ARE the finish line." (I assume that means it is the racer's responsibility to break the beams.) The final decision was the win went to Pace that crossed the finish line secnd. I did NOT agree with that decision - especially because the wheelie was caused by a bump in NHRA's track. I'm glad that they don't think that way anymore. Thanks for your time.

Al Kean
Prince George, BC

Had the same thing happen to me a few years back with an old system. The two tracks I race at most of the time (Ozark International Raceway and Mo-Kan Dragway) use the Accutime system, haven't had a problem since. I give a hardy "AMEN" to your editorial.

Jerry Stewart
Springfield, MO

This may be the first tiny step in correcting the error of their ways. Steve Johnson was the victim here. NHRA could have said the ruling stands and we could have jumped up and down for the 12 months and the ruling would have gone unchanged. That Johnson didn't get his dues on the day is a shame, but he is part of NHRA history now. But it has changed the governing body's mind-set of infallibility. Its past blunders can't be changed, but we will be watching NHRA and our voice is a lot louder next time.

John Geltink
Arnhem, The Netherlands

The truth prevails in this case and the correct decision was made in PS Motorcycle. I recall a few years ago Kurt Johnson's front missed breaking one of the beams and the clocks showed an unprecedented MPH record in PS qualifying, which was quickly disallowed. For this to happen in the final of the Big Go just shows perhaps Murphy's Law at its extreme.

Perhaps NHRA should look around at updating the technology to that of 2005!

Clarence Sifton
Hamilton, Ontario