2000 NHRA Oildown Final Report
By motorsport.com
Note: The NHRA imposed fines and point losses on those fuel racers who
slowed the show with engine explosions and other incidents resulting in
oildowns. Here is the final tally of racers fined both dollars and points in
2000. What's your opinion of this rule? We've had an entire year to
evaluate it. Do you think it's fair? Do you think it helped speed the
show? Do you think the racers did anything different to accommodate the
rule? Or do you think it's just another tax on racers? And by the way,
where do you think the money is really going? Let me know at
bilden@draglist.com
and I'll print your responses. Bill Pratt
Here's our first response:
I think they are just another way to line NHRA's pockets.
-- TSTS1056@aol.com
Following 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series
and the Winston Showdown all-star race
Name, Category, Penalties Fines, Points Lost
David Grubnic TF 17 $10,500 40
Bob Vandergriff TF 11 $8,000 50
Joe Hartley TF 10 $5,500 10
Ron Capps FC 9 $7,000 50
Doug Herbert TF 8 $6,500 50
Frank Pedregon FC 8 $5,500 30
Scotty Cannon FC 7 $5,000 30
Andrew Cowin TF 7 $4,500 20
Rhonda Hartman-Smith TF 7 $4,500 20
Luigi Novelli TF 7 $4,500 20
Tony Pedregon FC 7 $4,500 10
Bobby Baldwin TF 6 $4,500 30
Terry Haddock FC 5 $3,000 10
Al Hofmann FC 5 $2,500 0
Doug Kalitta TF 5 $4,000 30
Cory McClenathan TF 5 $4,000 30
Del Worsham FC 5 $3,500 20
Joe Amato TF 4 $2,500 10
Jim Epler FC 4 $3,000 20
John Force FC 4 $2,000 0
Don Lampus TF 4 $3,500 30
Todd Paton FC 4 $2,500 10
Cristen Powell FC 4 $3,000 20
Kenny Bernstein TF 3 $2,000 10
Phil Burkart FC 3 $2,000 10
Dale Creasy Jr. FC 3 $2,000 10
Gary Densham FC 3 $1,500 0
Larry Dixon TF 3 $2,500 20
Gary Scelzi TF 3 $2,500 20
Melanie Troxel TF 3 $2,500 20
Tim Wilkerson FC 3 $2,500 20
Whit Bazemore FC 2 $1,000 0
Johnny Gray FC 2 $1,500 10
Terry Mullins TF 2 $1,000 0
Dean Skuza FC 2 $1,500 10
Mike Smith TF 2 $1,500 10
Ron Smith TF 2 $1,000 0
Steve Smith TF 2 $1,000 0
Louis Sweet FC 2 $1,000 0
Gary Clapshaw TF 1 $500 0
Bob Gilbertson FC 1 $500 0
Larry Huff FC 1 $500 0
Tommy Johnson Jr. FC 1 $500 0
Bobby Lagana Jr. TF 1 $1,000 10
Arley Langlo TF 1 $500 0
John Lawson FC 1 $500 0
Mitch McDowell FC 1 $500 0
Clay Millican TF 1 $500 0
Shirley Muldowney TF 1 $500 0
Freddie Neely FC 1 $500 0
Cruz Pedregon FC 1 $500 0
Rit Pustari TF 1 $500 0
Wyatt Radke FC 1 $500 0
Robert Reehl TF 1 $500 0
Bruce Sarver FC 1 $500 0
Tony Schumacher TF 1 $1,000 10
Craig Smith TF 1 $1,000 10
Scott Weis FC 1 $500 0
TOTALS 212 $141,500 700
NOTES:
* Top Fuel driver David Grubnic earned the most penalties overall (17).
* Ron Capps was penalized the most in Funny Car (nine times).
* The drivers with the most Winston point deductions were Doug Herbert, Bob
Vandergriff, and Ron Capps (-50 each).
* Grubnic paid the most fines ($10,500).
* There were 120 Top Fuel violations (75 qualifying, 45 eliminations).
* There were 92 Funny Car violations (66 qualifying, 26 eliminations).
* 29 different Top Fuel drivers were penalized.
* 29 different Funny Car drivers were penalized.
* The only Winston Top 10 driver finishing the season with no penalties:
Jerry Toliver (FC).
Race-by-Race Clean-up Summary:
Event, Oildowns, Clean-up time
Pomona Wint 10 1 hour, 36 minutes
Phoenix 14 2 hours, 21 minutes
Gainesville 5 24 minutes
Las Vegas 11 1 hour, 56 minutes
Houston 1 10 1 hour, 32 minutes
Richmond 5 32 minutes
Atlanta 4 30 minutes
Dallas 1 3 19 minutes
Chicago 14 2 hours, 11 minutes
Columbus 7 1 hour, 5 minutes
St. Louis 5 43 minutes
**Bristol 2 14 minutes
Denver 7 1 hour, 4 minutes
Seattle 9 1 hour, 10 minutes
Sonoma 4 29 minutes
Brainerd 13 2 hours, 3 minutes
Indianapolis 11 1 hour, 39 minutes
^Englishtown 4 31 minutes
Reading 17 3 hours, 21 minutes
Topeka 11 1 hour, 45 minutes
Memphis 16 2 hours, 51 minutes
Houston 2 12 1 hour, 39 minutes
^Dallas 2 4 22 minutes
Pomona WF 14 1 hour, 24 minutes
TOTALS 212 31 hours, 41 minutes
-- Top five cleanup times for single oildowns:
1. 49 minutes, Joe Hartley, TF, (Brainerd)
2. 44 minutes, Jim Epler, FC, (Reading)
3. 37 minutes, Johnny Gray, FC, (Pomona 1)
4. 34 minutes, Mike Smith, TF, (Houston 1)
5. 32 minutes, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, TF, (Topeka)
*NHRA Oildown penalties include $500 per occurrence during qualifying rounds
and $1,000/10 Winston champion points per occurrence during eliminations.
** Non points event.
^Rain-delayed event.
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