Low budget racers John Hale and Jeff Diehl learned the NHRA rulebook can be as black and white as the paper and ink with which it is printed.

During Saturday’s Q-4 session at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, they were the victims of an apparent malfunction to the Compulink timing system which cost them a final shot at qualifying.

As both drivers were staging, the tree flashed red, sat idle and then illuminated with both sides flashing yellow and green lights simultaneously. The drivers launched only to have a surprise when they received their ET slips.

Low budget racers John Hale and Jeff Diehl learned the NHRA rulebook can be as black and white as the paper and ink with which it is printed.

During Saturday’s Q-4 session at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, they were the victims of an apparent malfunction to the Compulink timing system which cost them a final shot at qualifying.

As both drivers were staging, the tree flashed red, sat idle and then illuminated with both sides flashing yellow and green lights simultaneously. The drivers launched only to have a surprise when they received their ET slips.

The timing system recorded a reaction time, and though both drivers were under power through the lights, a 10.26 elapsed time appeared in Hale’s lane and Diehl was given no elapsed time.

The end result was neither driver was granted a rerun, effectively rendering their efforts as DNQ.

Jeff Diehl remembers what transpired very well.

"We went in, and there was nothing ... nothing ... nothing,” Diehl explained. “At this point, I realized something was wrong. About that time, both sides of the tree went red. Then I went, 'uh oh, this ain't good.

"I kept waiting for [starter] Mark Lyle to come walking over to tell me to shut off and just as I was about to push the clutch in, Then, all the lights came on, yellow and green at the same time, so I just stood on the gas. My brain told me not to go because I bet I could have shut off and get back in line."

“Jeff and I were staging the cars and the red lights on the tree flashed, but we decided to roll into to the second beams,” added Hale. “We both sat there on the high side with the clutch out and I thought about shutting off. The tree flashed all at once and I went ahead and stepped on it.” 

Hale figured when the lights flashed in the staging process, the run should have been suspended until the system was inspected.

“If the starter or NHRA believed that they could not give an accurate time slip for the cars then they should have shut us off and let us go refuel and come back and complete the runs,” said Hale.  

The result of the decision left Hale, who made a full run to the finish line and Diehl, who pedaled once and got back in the throttle, on the outside, while Australian Peter Russo, who coasted through the finish line in the field with a 6.248 elapsed time, earned a berth into the field.

NHRA's Communications Director Geno Effler said acting Race Director Bob Lang made the decision based on the rules presented in the NHRA Competition Policies and Procedures manual. He said the rule is enforceable regardless of who the situation affects.

"Reruns will NOT be granted to TF, FC, PS, PSM, TAD, TAFC or PM contestants not receiving an elapsed-time for a qualifying run regardless of the cause (i.e. timing equipment malfunction, other car hitting cones, etc). Awarding a rerun may result in a contestant receiving an unfair advantage due to atmospheric changes; also, in many cases the turnaround time could impact curfews, television airtimes, and/or other schedule issues."

Bob Brockmeyer, founder of Compulink Timing system, said the malfunction was likely caused by a power surge.

Diehl said he didn't bother pleading his case to the NHRA.

"They know how I feel," Diehl said. "I told the officials I'd service and come back to run again. They never came by. With Graham not here, I knew which path they were going to take. They should have let us run again. It's unfortunate that this lands on the guys who don't have the budget. The bottom line is, if this were two big names, what would they have done?"

Hale echoed Diehl’s sentiments citing, “I didn’t need to beat a dead horse any further.”

Diehl admits the most disappointing aspect of the situation was the lack of effort by the NHRA to try to rectify the situation. 


"It's just disheartening that they don't come look at our computers," said Diehl. "I know I would have had at least a 4.80, even with pedaling it. I know I ran quicker than a 6.24. I know John Hale made it down, and ran quicker than me. It's an unfortunate situation. It's really a clubhouse here, and there's nothing you can do it about it. They [NHRA] are going to make the call and I'm not going to whine and cry about it."

The plight of the drivers did catch the attention of iconic driver John Force, who said he didn’t go to race control on anyone’s behalf. Force said he sought clarification, after he too was the victim of a timing system snafu last weekend in Denver.

"Last week in Denver, we ran a 4.08 and Robert ran a 4.11," Force explained. "I had lane choice for the final, and then I got a call and was told they gave it back to Robert. They had numbers to go by. They said my car didn't run that fast, [they said] it probably ran a 4.15. They gave it to him."

Force said he pointed out Peter Russo's 6.24 was an early shut-off run, while the two affected drivers were apparently quicker.

"They went A-to-B, so you KNOW they had to go quicker," Force explained. "I was told they had no facts and it wouldn't be fair to the other guy. They said it's just the way the rules are. If there's a timer malfunction, there's nothing for them to go on."

Force continued, "I didn't like it but I left it at that."

Because of this situation, the participation of both teams in Seattle appears to be in question.

"It's going to hurt us in qualifying, and possibly will knock us out of going to Seattle," admitted Diehl. "It costs me $5,000 every time I run this car, so the run essentially cost me the money. I'm on the fence right now about going, and right now I'll have to dig into my pocket to go."

“This team is seriously considering not going to Seattle because on that run it kicked the rods out. That might have been caused from waiting on the tree for so long and was burning up more fuel and suck some air out at the top end,” Hale added. “Steve [Plueger, team owner] is dejected now and thinks NHRA did not do the right thing here.” (Michael Dennis contributed to this report)

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