Sometimes the photo doesn’t tell the true story. Or at least that’s what Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon has come to believe.

A convincing photo taken by noted photographer Mark Rebilas shows what appears to be Mike Neff crossing the Heartland Park Topeka centerline in the first round race with Pedregon at the NHRA Summer Nationals. The NHRA declared Neff the winner in the race.

“I have to trust the NHRA and I believe they have spotters on the track, if they went and looked and said he didn’t cross the line – I have to trust that he didn’t cross the line.”

There is presently no standard width for the centerline stripe but the average is between five to six inches in width.

Sometimes the photo doesn’t tell the true story. Or at least that’s what Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon has come to believe.

A convincing photo taken by noted photographer Mark Rebilas shows what appears to be Mike Neff crossing the Heartland Park Topeka centerline in the first round race with Pedregon at the NHRA Summer Nationals. The NHRA declared Neff the winner in the race.

“I have to trust the NHRA and I believe they have spotters on the track, if they went and looked and said he didn’t cross the line – I have to trust that he didn’t cross the line.”

There is presently no standard width for the centerline stripe but the average is between five to six inches in width.

“Tire did not cross the line,” confirmed NHRA VP of Operations Graham Light in a text message to CompetitionPlus.com. “Track side official said two inches to spare.”

A photo taken shortly after the run in question confirmed Light’s test.

While Pedregon can accept the ruling, he believes the rule should be revisited.

“Really if you look at the rule, if you hit a block you’re disqualified but if you don’t cross the line, you’re not,” Pedregon explained. “That really doesn’t make a lot of sense. I wouldn’t celebrate a win like that by any means. If you hit a block, you’re on the line.”

Pedregon had already aborted his run in the race and from his vantage point it appeared Neff had crossed the centerline.

“I think even with the photo, there’s a gray area,” Pedregon explained. “But when you look at it, if we had been doing our job a little better we wouldn’t have to be relying on someone crossing the centerline.

“I do think if you look at the rationale of the rule, if you touch the line you should be out.”

 

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