Pro Stock Racers Lobby to Have More Control Following Controversial Decision on Poor Track Conditions in St Louis

Regardless of which side one takes on the NHRA’s decision following the St. Louis race, the consequences will have a major impact. Essentially, the Pro Stock portion of the event would be postponed to be raced at a later date due to poor track conditions.

This is something that seemed to be met with agreement from a wide variety of class participants. It came on the heels of several drivers being forced to abort passes early, letting out of the throttle or even pulling the parachute, as we saw with Jeg Coughlin and Alex Laughlin. Director of Motorsports for Jegs Mail Order, Scott Woodruff, says that “Former NHRA Pro Stock champion, Bo Butner, and second-generation racer, Kyle Koretsky, were forced to abort their runs in the first round to be able to race another day [as well].”

Even more severe, another driver, Deric Kramer, reported a part of the track coming up during his pass. Lastly, and perhaps most severe, racer, Kenny Delco, went on a wild ride, destroying his car in the process, after losing traction.

With that, the format of the postponement would be the question up for discussion. As it turns out, a variety of racers thought that it would be a good idea to rerun the class in its entirety. The idea was that, if the racing surface wasn’t suitable for a class, that a rerun would make sure the playing field was level. Not only does that idea not seem to be in the plans. Being in the middle of an elimination round, the round won’t start over, but instead, picks up right where it left off with the third pair of cars in the quarterfinals.

Those in favor of a rerun argue, essentially, that failing to battle with a surface that isn’t worthy of Pro Stock cars and losing control isn’t something that should put them out of the race while other drivers will be able to continue on a better surface, which the NHRA is capable of providing in most races.

As much as drivers might be on the same page with this concept, it turns out that there is no way for a racer to appeal competition rulings at NHRA events. Instead, they’re only able to appeal a fine or suspension.

Via Competition Plus, “NHRA officials verbally cited the 2014 NHRA Carolina Nationals’ precedent to stand when faced with similar conditions during a phone conversation the following Wednesday with NHRA’s Josh Peterson and Ned Walliser. At that event, there were instances of the racing surface coming up in similar conditions.NHRA’s Graham Light considered voiding out the previous races in the first round of the zMax Dragway. In the end, however, Light opted to let those races stand as is.”

They continue that Scott Woodruff believes, “Regardless of the precedent, a hardly fair race for the participants essentially renders an adverse effect into a championship battle, which could be decided in two races if the NHRA event in Las Vegas cancels as largely rumored.”

Alex Laughlin would also chime in on social media, saying

“NHRA still isn’t doing the right thing about the St. Louis race. They just want to pick up where they left off because the “conveniently” don’t have an appeal process for this. How does the oldest sanctioning body not have that covered by now?” As a solution, he insists that the NHRA should be run by racers instead of the system that’s currently in place. His full post can be read below.

 

 

Photo credit – Mark J. Rebilas Photography, follow him on Facebook and Instagram!