Fri, 4 Oct 2002, 02:23 PM Froscher's Forum

By Norm Froscher

It's time for cleaning out the summer notebook of quotable notes and notable quotes still simmering from the heat and late-arriving hurricanes and storms.

So, from NHRA drag racing to motorsports and other-sports, what about?

Drag racing fans may wonder what all the fuss was about concerning folks who have no business being on pit road or in the NASCAR garage area. For the price of a pit pass, they can mosey right up to ropes of all the cars (and drivers and crews) taking part in a NHRA National Event.

And to our knowledge, no problems.

Well, you noticed the fairly recent flap about a female "fan" who claimed she was "assaulted" or shoved on pit road by NASCAR/Winston Cup driver Tony Stewart, who already has been fined and is on probation for the reminder of the season.

A grand jury refused to bring charges against Stewart, but a NASCAR spokesman has said the sanctioning body's rules of garage and pit access is under study and there may be some new rules in 2003.

Good, but let's don't allow this crackdown to hamper members of the press -- read that media -- who already have enough trouble. That is, getting to drivers in the NASCAR garage area, not reaching drivers or crews at NHRA National Events.

As an example of folks who should be targeted for a crackdown are two young men I encountered in the garage area at Talladega Superspeedway not too long ago.

Patiently waiting with tape recorder for a driver -- I believe it was Mark Martin -- to emerge from his hauler, at the request of the media rep, I couldn't help but notice the plastic bags filled with picture postcards toted by the two "fans". Just making conversation, I asked them what they were doing, had they also requested the driver's presence through the media rep?

And I'm not making this up, but the reply was:

"If you paid what we did to get in here, you'd want some autographs, too."

Autographs? In an area in which we have to virtually sign our lives away to gain media access? Give me a break.

But whatever new rule NASCAR comes up with, I dare say it'll be dubbed "The Tony Stewart Rule".

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Miller Lite Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon probably looks back on the heat of the summer with dismay. After his earning the second quarter Driver of the Year vote with an outstanding performance, he slumped during the heat, while Kenny Bernstein picked up the pace and probably celebrated a few post race swigs of Budweiser. Ah, yes, the Beer Wars.

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Bumper snicker: "Don't Like My Driving? Then Quit Watching Me!"

            
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And Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called the mid-summer All-Star game a tie when it went well into extra innings deadlocked. Lordy, let's hope NHRA's All-Star races are not called by Tom Compton because of weather. After all, a baseball game, one sport not decided by the clock, could go on...and on. Not so with any type of racing.

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You know how TV sporting events are interrupted with those loud car ads? So loud you have to grab the remote and tone it down?

Here's one, I promise you that aired in my area recently and maybe just solves that. The name of the dealership?

Holler Honda. Really.

	
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Bumper Snicker II: "Hang Up And Drive".

            
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If football has its "skill people" as they like to say...I guess quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, maybe kickers. What would drag racing's "skill people" be? Naturally, the driver and crew chief, but what about the chassis folks, those who worry about the bottom end? Are they, like offensive guards, unskilled people?

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And speaking of football, what do you think John Force's "Red Zone" is? He probably leaves the hotel lobby like he's leaving the lights.

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