FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

Yes, Jerry Eckman and Bill Orndorf should pay equal shares of the fine. Yes, once the fine is paid, Jerry should be reinstated as a licensed driver, following a physical and license tests. As for NHRA, they need to do a better job of enforcing the rules, as evidenced by Tony Schumacher ignoring the shut-off sign from Rick Stewart. If Rick can't do the job, get someone who will. If it leaks, shut it off. If the driver does not shut-off, the race is awarded to their opponent and the offending driver is levied a one race suspension. End of story. – Russell W. Ganz, Pompton Lakes, NJ. 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I am very familiar with the Dodge boys "backfire" at Indy. I was there as I have been for many years. It was so obviously illegal that they may as well have been running a jet engine. NHRA should be ashamed of themselves how both that situation and Eckman's situation were handled. When I first heard of the Eckman situation I immediately said Eckman is too good a driver and that is too good a team for them to mess with nitrous. The other thing I said was if they were using it everyone was using it. I believe Eckman when he stated it was never used in competition. I for one never considered him a cheater. I think it’s wonderful that he is speaking up on the issue and I hope his story is well received. - Mark Scully, Minooka, IL. 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

Racing is based on how you interpret the rules, appears Eckman should have read the rule book. They put others in danger when the explosion took place. It provided a war zone for anyone within 500 feet of their transporter. They should have contracted with Mike Thomas - Finish Line Racing engines at that time were building more power than anyone. It is history...move on. Thanks and I think your site should be the official site of the NHRA. NHRA.com is like reading Vanity Fan. – Bob Brown, Boca Raton, FL. 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

This was a most informative article.  I'm pleased to know more of the facts behind the incident we all refer to often when speaking of cheating in the Professional ranks of Drag Racing.  I agree with Jerry that there should have been more equality in investigation by the NHRA given the circumstances we are all aware was existing in Pro Stock.  They surely knew others were in violation yet only Eckman was black listed.  That is a shame and it is important that the NHRA (as with any sanctioning body) should treat everyone as equals when facing violations. 

I'll admit to being one who has openly associated Jerry's name with cheaters without mention of Bill and this article has changed that.  There have been others and Jerry will no longer be singled-out by myself in such conversations.

Thank you for the open honesty and thank Jerry! - Bobby Miller, Peoria, AZ
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I think this was a pretty good article on the controversy surrounding Jerry and it made me sympathetic to his plight....but.

The fact is that he's a grown man and made a conscious decision to cheat to be competitive like so many of the other teams. If you're just testing the NHRA tech department and just seeing if you can get away with a cylinder inside the dry sump tank you don't do it with a full bottle. If you're silly enough to do it with a full bottle you don't disable the safety disc unless you want a bomb. Jerry claims it would have never worked. He's either naive or trying to sway opinion. If they hadn't heated the oil in the tank it would have done something whether Jerry was aware of its operation or not. From the conversation I've had on the subject with a Pro Stock engine builder personality there is no reason to suspect the driver would have needed to have a clue about its operation. This is the trust Bill had in Jerry and I suppose some respect to tell him. I don't recall Jerry saying anything about how it was activated.

Frankly this is exactly the same as steroids in professional sports. As a spectator many just want to see a close and exciting performance. As a performer you want to remain marketable and competitive with an edge. It can be very high pressure. With specially blended fuels, admitted and obvious nitrous oxide use, "broken distributor rotors" (remember that excuse?), active ride height adjustment, illegal sized and legally engraved front tires and other little tweaks 10 years ago you were in a snake pit if you competed in Pro Stock. I would have to assume much hasn't changed today.

Its just too bad Jerry and Co. didn't get to use it and get good at it before the unfortunate accident. Look how Billy Glidden has capitalized on nitrous after his expose' in SS&DI. He's been terrorizing the outlaw events for years now and racing where he pleases on his own schedule without the stress and drama of NHRA Pro Stock.

Jerry's team was caught and should be thankful nobody was seriously injured or killed. I also think it’s about time for some amnesty and he should be reinstated without another penny spent on a fine. He's paid his debt. He was always an approachable driver in the pits and I think I still have a couple of his hero cards laying around.

Darrell Alderman was banned "for life" for nitrous use.....no illegal use of cocaine. How long is a life sentence in Glendora California anyways? What's good for the goose.

Bring him back and let’s see what he got. - Mark Andereck, Shawnee Kansas
 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I think NHRA should give Jerry the chance to
drive again. I think he has paid his debt for what he did. Take a look at some
of the pro sports players today what they are doing is a lot worse than trying
to use nitrous oxide. Taking drugs for an advantage is not the message to give
to the young kids who follow sports. Jerry did not do anything that was against
the law. Others may have been doing the same they just never got noticed. I
think Jerry should get a second chance he was involved in Pro Stock racing for
a number of years I used to follow him and the other pro stock drivers back
when he was driving the yellow car. Let the man finish his driving career on a
high note. – Wally Hayes, Norwood,
MA.

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I know Jerry both personally and professionally. I was in the pit next to the Orndorff team when the bottle flew into the pit. It hit myself and my husband in the leg. I don't know if Jerry or Bill is more or less to blame. I suspect other teams have also made errors in judgment. If he has paid his fine, then let's move on. Enough of beating a dead horse. I am sick of hearing about it and the insinuation that other teams have cheated. Cheating is bad for the sport and we all know it. So if you are caught, you do the fine and penalties etc. I don't know if the fine and penalties levied were too little or too great. I can't speak for my husband, however, I do believe in forgiveness. – Amy Hankinson, Newark, Ohio 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I would like to see Jerry back driving. I will contribute 20.00 towards paying off the rest of his fine. – Tony Tymoszek, Cheboygan, MI. 

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I thought it was about time Jerry cleared the air. I've been a drag racer for over 35 years and I remember when this happen. At the time I pointed out to anyone that would listen that I had no way of knowing but it was possible that Jerry didn't know that the Nitrous was on the car. Not like the Mopar drivers. Ray Charles new it was on those cars.

   It always bothered me that NHRA new that the Mopars were running Nitrous, they new that Bob Glidden was running Propelyne Oxide and they know that Billy Glidden had Nitrous on his car. The answer to Billy Glidden was to red light him on the starting line and act like it didn't happen.

  I've wanted to be a pro drag racer my whole life. I never received any support from my wife and family so the best I've ever done was amateur racing. I can't condemn Jerry. If what he says is true he was in a bad position and I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same thing.

Come on NHRA lighten up and give the man a chance. - Robert Afflerback, Willingboro, NJ

You state –not suggest – that NHRA “knew” the Mopars were running  nitrous and Glidden propelyne oxide.  No offense intended, but prove  it. – Ed.

FEEDBACK ARTICLE - JERRY ECKMAN IS READY TO TALK

I personally saw 2 different Pro Stock teams blow the pair of carbs off the intake and through their awnings...at 2 different national events...later I noticed 1 of these cars had a blowout plate on the intake...this all was before the Columbus incident for which I was there but did not witness the incident. I also see a favorite switch his .10th slower motor with a car he supplied motors and the other car didn't lose any et but gained even .05 more whereas he could not match the loaner cars performance and he fell off .17! I also witnessed a huge explosion or MOPlosion at the starting line by a #1 team...bad distributor cap was explained? I believe jerry was the scapegoat NHRA was gifted. Unfortunately, I have seen cover-ups several times by Glendora....in my class...SS...Illegal electronics etc. I've never seen a company (NHRA) that was so arrogant and non-customer motivate! As an owner of many businesses over the years employing over 1000 people, I honestly would not want some of their management people even working for me even at minimum wage! Not only are they rude...but they wouldn't know a piston from a clutch disc. Their only passion seems to be a big paycheck! The grass roots people they employ who actually love the sport and respect and like the drivers, crew and spectators never seem to move up in the organization. They just keep working at their low paying job. God bless them! – Rick Amen, Glendale, WVA.