Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Per the ASCS rulebook:

"A white line or Cone will be placed on the turn 4 area for all double file starts. All cars must remain in proper order until the lead car or cars reach this point. Flag man will be instructed not to throw the green flag until then. If in officials judgment the front row car or cars are out of position a yellow will be displayed, after the green and a warning given to offender. Any further violation will result in the offender being placed a row back with car behind offender being brought to front row. Any other car not in proper position in officials judgment will be penalized a minimum of 2 positions plus one position for each position gained over one. This penalty will be imposed on the next yellow or red flag. If there is no flag after penalty then it will be enforced at end of race."

In other words, the pole car starts the race and if another car "jumps" the start, they are given a warning, then penalized for a second infraction. The rules say "any further violation" (ie a second jump) "will result in the offender placed a row back ......" This is unless you're Jason Johnson running the Gulf South region. JJ jumped the heat race start 3 times, the first two of which were called back, but with no "penalty". He also jumped the 3rd attempt, but they (the officials) let it go. Then, during the re-lining up after the second caution, JJ shows his displeasure with the 21T pole car of Ray Allen Kulhanek by using the chrome horn, again with no penalty. Granted, it was probably academic where JJ started since he was the class of the field, but NO ONE should be exempt from the rules, especially the cherry-picking National guys. JJ knows he can get away with almost anything because of the home cooking environment. It would be nice to see the rules enforced across the board - there'd be a lot more respect shown.

Maybe the pole car had a "stumble" in the motor when picking up the throttle, so it looked like JJ jumped the start, when in fact the pole car caused it to look that way.

Or maybe the pole car was jerking around on the starts.....just sayin.....

Chuck.....

Nope!!! From a person that was there and who has watched JJ race with the gulf south guys for years. JJ jumped the start 3 times, which only 2 of them were called back!!! The reason for not losing his spot was because the officals blamed the 2nd start on the flagman saying that he waved the green flag to soon. Now it really didnt make a diffrence on the results but he should still race by the same rules.

Completely agree with that!!! Nobody has a problem with JJ himself but more a problem of him getting to come down and race with his Dad and Uncle being the officals!!!! Oh yeah and the other major point made in the drivers meeting the last 3 weeks was that the driver starting on the outside front row was not to be in front of the pole sitter at all!! I guess in terms to JJ in the gulf south that means if your nerf bar is even with the front bumper of the pole sitter its ok.

Unfortunately, the car counts will suffer before anything is done with this situation. With fuel prices as they are, car counts don't need any more negative effects. The officials simply don't listen. There has been a lot said about this topic for the last couple of years, and not a thing has changed. There was hope Estes would step in and maybe enact a rule about National tour drivers being limited to the number of regional shows they run per year, but who knows now. There is definitely a conflict of interest in the Gulf South when JJ shows up. How the powers that be can't see that is amazing - or maybe they don't want to see it????

Well, lets see. JJ shows up and wins. What else is new. Give the guy credit, he is a hell of a racer. He races to "make a living". its not a hobby to him.

The complaining will never stop, this horse has been beaten to death!!!!!

And then you question the integrity of the Johnson family that puts on the races for the FANS and DRIVERS. If it were not for Keith, Craig and Debra there would be no Gulf South region. They do it for the love of the sport. And have for many years. But there are always critics, no matter what they do. Before you condem them, maybe you should thank them for the races they schedule at YOUR local racetracks

Now, would you like some "Whine with your cheese"?

Read the opening post, credit was given where it belongs.

Don't see where anyone has been "condemned", flamed, thrown under the bus, or any such bs you can come up with. Everyone understands and appreciates what the Johnsons do. At the same time, grow up and understand there will be criticism, (some constructive, some not) complaints, b*tchin, moaning, thanking, applauding, etc. If you're in that position, it comes with the territory. People need to listen to all feedback to make it a better sport for everyone. Just because someone does something good, nice, or altruistic doesn't give them a free pass from comments, judgement, etc. Everyone can make mistakes, just as everyone can make good, sound decisions. You get your hand shaken when you do good, or get your hand slapped when you do bad. The world we live in. This is not about whining or calling anyone out. This is calling it as it happens or happened, and discussing. Get off the message boards if you don't like it.

And, at the very least, get the cliche right before you quote.

Nobody is questioning how good of a racer JJ is!! Nobody is questioning that on all other nights when JJ isnt there, that the Johnsons do a great job. But you cant have two different levels of the rules being inforced. JJ is a great racer and has great equipment but he should have to race in a region where his family are not the officals. The gulf south is a great racing region with a good number of local cars that show up every weekend. All outside region racers are usually welcome but not when you your family runs the show and when you can do whatever you want!!! Keith has preached that they will not tolerate the bad starts. That we would start at the cone and nobody is to start until the poll sitter starts the race. Also that the car on the front row outside was to not be in front of the poll sitter at all!!!! Both of these things happened 3 times sat night. The 2 times the caution flew no one was pentalized . The final attempt at starting the race JJ still jumped and they let the race go! Most of us down here cant compet with his equipment or experience behind the wheel. But one place we should all always be even is when it comes to the rules!!!!!