One suggestion that was mentioned in the original article was having the sanctioning bodies require the racers to up-date their contingency posting on-line, or at the track during tech-inspection. So after the race, we can look at their sheet, and check the car with them right there, and dispute any problems that occur. This could a year or two before this happens.

Understand that 80-percent of time we don't have problems like this, but they do occur, and many stories exist from them. I once had a team who just won rip our decal off their car and throw it at me because I told them that their cast-aluminum oil pan wasn't ours. First of all, we have never sold a cast aluminum oil pan, and secondly, they said I wouldn't know what our product looked like anyway.

So the debate goes on. I'm not sure what or who is right, but being a racer and a manufacturer, I do understand how both sides work, and it isn't always the best relationship.

Scott Hall
Sales Engineer
Moroso Performance

HE'S JUST THANKFUL FOR ANYTHING

A bracket racer winning contingency is rare. IHRA Summer National win in 2000 looked good and the bonus was going to be $2000 in contingency $$$. Instead of being upset over the half that didn't pay.....I should have thanked those that did. Richmond Gear had a check in my mailbox 10 days after the win!!!!!! The other companies who paid included Comp Cams, Holley, Goodyear, Mopar, and Auto Meter. Contingency decals for these companies are now a permanent part of my paint job. The other half dozen companies must have "overlooked" their promises and never did pay. Lesson learned.....those are not the kind of companies I want to do any business with in the future.

Mike Halverson

LET THE REPS WRITE THE CHECKS

Good work on reporting about the problems with getting paid contingency money.

A few years ago I won Super Pro at a Super Chevy Event, I was paid one check for winning the race, and another check for the decals I had for companies that posted contingency money. After losing the final round at the Gatornationals, Mike Gruber from Valvoline met me on the return road and paid me for their products right then and there. This is the way it should be! All the manufacturers have reps at these national events, they can verify product and decals, and pay the racer on the spot.

Larry Ericksmoen

TRYING TO COLLECT COST $$

Very good article. Well researched and informative! I particularly like the idea of Contingency Sponsors being fined if payment is not made within a set time period. I'd vote for 60 days. I also am owed monies from CSI from IHRA HCS @ Clay City from 2 yrs ago. Not only did I have their decals and card sent in to register with them but also decals were verified by IHRA tech. The only part they were paying for was CSI water pump. However, I had not only their pump but also, trans shield, jetplate, tire gauge. This was X3, since I had 3 cars, all equipped with the same products.. Same story, numerous phone calls, copies of receipts, talked with Karen Raffa, pictures of car not only in winners circle but also won best engineered the same weekend. It ended up costing ME about $25 dollars in phone calls and registered letters to run their product! What a JOKE. Didn't have to worry about Holley and all their bought up and streamlined companies, I don't use any of them for reasons similar to the above.

Thanks for a great article, Jok!

Brad Hutton
NHRA 3031

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