PRO STOCK IMPOUNDS CONTINUE
Sun, 2009-09-20 08:33
The NHRA continued their inspection of Countdown to 1 finalists in the
Pro Stock Car and Motorcycle divisions on Saturday afternoon. 
Friday
evening, five Pro Stock drivers and motorcycle riders were forced to
leave their cars and bikes in the care of technical inspectors after
second round qualifying.
The process of impounding the cars and bikes is not without precedent although Pro Stock low qualifier Mike Edwards said Friday evening in a press conference that he’d never been subjected to an impound of this nature.
The NHRA has twice performed inspections without representation, first in 2007, with the final four Countdown finalists and last year, the top five points earners were subjected to the scrutiny of the tech inspectors. The NHRA continued their inspection of Countdown to 1 finalists in the Pro Stock Car and Motorcycle divisions on Saturday afternoon.Friday evening, five Pro Stock drivers and motorcycle riders were forced to leave their cars and bikes in the care of technical inspectors after second round qualifying.
The process of impounding the cars and bikes is not without precedent although Pro Stock low qualifier Mike Edwards said Friday evening in a press conference that he’d never been subjected to an impound of this nature.
The NHRA has twice performed inspections without representation, first in 2007, with the final four Countdown finalists and last year, the top five points earners were subjected to the scrutiny of the tech inspectors.
All of the teams who spoke with CompetitionPlus.com had no problem with the inspection of their cars. It’s the fact a representative any of the team was allowed to oversee the inspection process that is the issue.
Today marked the third time that three-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson had been subjected to this type of race car impound.
Anderson welcomes the inspections but the fact he cannot have a team member present opens the possibilities for accidents to happen, he believes.
“You know the intricacies, the wiring and the plumbing, of your cars, better than they do,” said Anderson. “That’s not a cut on them [the NHRA]; they just didn’t build these cars they don’t really know what they are doing. If they are yanking and pulling and disconnecting then what if they forget to put something back together? That’s what we’re worried about.”
Matt Smith said his Suzuki was inspected in Friday’s group. He substantiated Anderson’s concerns by the way he described the return of his bike.
“They unplugged stuff last night and cut off some tie wraps,” Smith said. “I mean they did a lot of stuff. We had to really go back over and check everything and make sure every thing is right and make sure nothing comes undone.”
Kurt Johnson is no stranger to NHRA inspections and while many of his Pro Stock constituents are upset with the notion of leaving their cars in the care of NHRA inspectors, he’s not.
“I trust the NHRA tech officials; I think they are doing their job down there,” Johnson said. “I’m actually glad that they are paying attention. As long as there are no crew chiefs or anyone spying down there they can have that blue and white Cobalt, doesn’t bother me.”
The overwhelming fear, according to those interviewed by CompetitionPlus.com, in addition to the potential for mechanical miscues, is the potential for the sterile inspections to become compromised.
“It’s not a good deal because anybody can come in and take pictures from a distance,” Smith added. “It would be nice if they put a tarp up in between the bikes so you can’t see everybody’s stuff, and you have to sit there; but you can actually watch what they are doing.”
Pro Stock team owner Victor Cagnazzi said this type of inspection is common in NASCAR with that said, as long as the rules are equally enforced, he has no problems. NASCAR inspections are conducted after every race, however, they are done in an open atmosphere where even other teams can view the inspection.
“I don’t have a problem with it as long as my competitors aren’t there,” Cagnazzi said. “I don’t have an issue with it they do it in NASCAR all the time where they take the cars. I guess if my competitors were there and I wasn’t allowed to be there then I’d probably be mad.”
Friday
evening, five Pro Stock drivers and motorcycle riders were forced to
leave their cars and bikes in the care of technical inspectors after
second round qualifying.The process of impounding the cars and bikes is not without precedent although Pro Stock low qualifier Mike Edwards said Friday evening in a press conference that he’d never been subjected to an impound of this nature.
The NHRA has twice performed inspections without representation, first in 2007, with the final four Countdown finalists and last year, the top five points earners were subjected to the scrutiny of the tech inspectors. The NHRA continued their inspection of Countdown to 1 finalists in the Pro Stock Car and Motorcycle divisions on Saturday afternoon.
Friday evening, five Pro Stock drivers and motorcycle riders were forced to leave their cars and bikes in the care of technical inspectors after second round qualifying.The process of impounding the cars and bikes is not without precedent although Pro Stock low qualifier Mike Edwards said Friday evening in a press conference that he’d never been subjected to an impound of this nature.
The NHRA has twice performed inspections without representation, first in 2007, with the final four Countdown finalists and last year, the top five points earners were subjected to the scrutiny of the tech inspectors.
All of the teams who spoke with CompetitionPlus.com had no problem with the inspection of their cars. It’s the fact a representative any of the team was allowed to oversee the inspection process that is the issue.
Today marked the third time that three-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson had been subjected to this type of race car impound.
Anderson welcomes the inspections but the fact he cannot have a team member present opens the possibilities for accidents to happen, he believes.
“You know the intricacies, the wiring and the plumbing, of your cars, better than they do,” said Anderson. “That’s not a cut on them [the NHRA]; they just didn’t build these cars they don’t really know what they are doing. If they are yanking and pulling and disconnecting then what if they forget to put something back together? That’s what we’re worried about.”
Matt Smith said his Suzuki was inspected in Friday’s group. He substantiated Anderson’s concerns by the way he described the return of his bike.
“They unplugged stuff last night and cut off some tie wraps,” Smith said. “I mean they did a lot of stuff. We had to really go back over and check everything and make sure every thing is right and make sure nothing comes undone.”
Kurt Johnson is no stranger to NHRA inspections and while many of his Pro Stock constituents are upset with the notion of leaving their cars in the care of NHRA inspectors, he’s not.
“I trust the NHRA tech officials; I think they are doing their job down there,” Johnson said. “I’m actually glad that they are paying attention. As long as there are no crew chiefs or anyone spying down there they can have that blue and white Cobalt, doesn’t bother me.”
The overwhelming fear, according to those interviewed by CompetitionPlus.com, in addition to the potential for mechanical miscues, is the potential for the sterile inspections to become compromised.
“It’s not a good deal because anybody can come in and take pictures from a distance,” Smith added. “It would be nice if they put a tarp up in between the bikes so you can’t see everybody’s stuff, and you have to sit there; but you can actually watch what they are doing.”
Pro Stock team owner Victor Cagnazzi said this type of inspection is common in NASCAR with that said, as long as the rules are equally enforced, he has no problems. NASCAR inspections are conducted after every race, however, they are done in an open atmosphere where even other teams can view the inspection.
“I don’t have a problem with it as long as my competitors aren’t there,” Cagnazzi said. “I don’t have an issue with it they do it in NASCAR all the time where they take the cars. I guess if my competitors were there and I wasn’t allowed to be there then I’d probably be mad.”
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