A Message from Chris Blair to all Alcohol Racers

This letter is in response to an email I sent Chris asking about his position regarding Top Alcohol racing at the Las Vegas facility:
"Dear Gerry:
Thanks for taking the time to write and address your concerns. Yes, in some ways it may look like we are picking on Alcohol but that isn't the case. I firmly believe that if a track is going to host an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event then they should have to run every single class, provide a good racing surface and make a commitment to the class. Please remember that we are one of the tracks that has not taken the "we'll run every class but alcohol" stance in an effort to save a buck.
I know there are a few issues that people are talking about and I will address then on a case-by-case basis:
#1 - It is totally not true that I don't like alcohol or don't support the program. I did a total on my costs for the LODRS event the other day and I can directly rate that my support of alcohol will approach $40,000. This includes the cost of the purse + my hourly operating expenses that are in the ballpark of $2,000 per hour (this reflects the costs of fire and safety, ambulances, jet dryer, track officials, security, oil disposal, additional VHT, equipment fuel, garbage service, toilet paper, etc.).
That's a pretty hefty investment in the alcohol classes and it far exceeds what any other track has to do to host a LODRS event. I have many, many friends who race alcohol (or at least they might still be my friends) and, for the record, my favorite class to watch is Top Alcohol Funny Car. I would love it if alcohol was contested in both of our National events.
#2- When we saw that the entry list had grown out of control, we wanted to do something to at least bring it back into control. That's one of the reasons we tried to limit it to the people who still remain in contention for a title. There are several teams out there who haven't supported the series all year who will come rolling in to basically get a shot at a cheap test session at the track or they decided to roll in here to get a grade point while the car has been in the garage most of the season. Is that really fair to the teams who are making a run at the title? I would hate to see us having three alcohol qualifying sessions of 3 or more hours each (which is a reality) due to an excessive amount of oil (which is a reality). I don't want to see teams who are contesting for the title sitting in the lanes for hours on end with their engines cooling, the track cooling, etc.
#3 - Strict oil-down policy. Really, is it too much to ask from all teams to take a close look at their car and their maintenance before going down the track? Hopefully this will serve as a catalyst for teams to make sure everything is installed properly, the puke tank isn't overflowing, all the bolts are tightened, etc. It's just a reminder to take responsibility for the team's actions. Which they all should from the entry level classes all the way up to top fuel. If someone leaks (causing equipment to be used to perform a clean-up) in session number 1 then we are going to move them to the back of the run order for session number 2 and number 3. If they leak again (again causing equipment to be used to perform a clean-up) in one of those sessions then we will have a problem.
#4 - Parking. Some people are complaining that we won't be parking Alcohol until Wednesday. We are making every effort to get all of the teams a spot in our pro pit/midway. However, to accomplish that we have to wait until all of the pro teams vacate the pits. That is followed by the extensive task of emptying nearly 250 oil drums, solvent containers, etc. by Safety-Kleen. We also have to completely tear down the manufacturer's midway, the ACDelco hospitality tent, Nitromall, move out all of the vendor trailers (that gets completed on Tuesday afternoon). Tuesday night our maintenance department has to vacuum up all of the debris from the tents and vendors and, in some cases, scrub the asphalt due to any spillage that may have occured.
The reason we are able to park the sportsman classes on Tuesday is because they go into areas that have either been occupied by sportsman teams or motorhomes during the National or in the area that is serving as the World of Outlaws pits. If the alcohol teams want to occupy the prime spots then they need to provide us with time to do the changeover. This wasn't an issue when our event was the standard three day event. It is an issue now that our event is a four day show. If an alcohol team really insists on getting in on Tuesday I will let them in, they will just have to park in the upper pits near the dirt track. If they wait until Wednesday they will get to park in the pro pit area that has been properly serviced.
We already have crews who will be working overtime to do the changeover. I don't want you having to park in someone else's filth and won't let our facility be dirty for new arriving teams.
Believe me, we don't have a anti-alcohol stance and our commitment to host a Lucas Oil event with alcohol while other tracks bail on your classes should be noted. Because we do get 900 other cars who help pay the bills our burden isn't as great as some of the smaller family run facilities. We also need to make sure that these races are friendlier to those 900 other guys so they can continue to help pay the bills so that everyone benefits.
I hope this answered your questions. I know that it probably won't make everyone happy but hopefully it cleared the air on a few things. Please be sure to look me up when you are here in Vegas next week.
Sincerely,
Chris Blair - Sr. Director
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Home of America's Greatest Drag Strip!
7000 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas, Nevada 89115
Phone: (702) 632-8226
Fax: (702) 632-8235
E-mail: Cblair@LVMS.com
Web: www.lvms.com
P.S. - I have copied a few of my Top Alcohol friends as well as Mike Rice on this e-mail and you are also welcome to pass it along. "

 

They could have saved themselves a lot of grieve if this would have been explained in this way with the original release...

Thanks for clearing the air Chris...

Dan

 

thanks for shutting everyone up

Chris,

well written and restrained response to a few minor issues that seem to have everyone riled up. I think everything you said makes perfect sense. Why is it that we (alcohol racers) think everybody (nhra) is out to get us or out to eliminate our class? i personally get a little tired of everyone jumping on any little issue and beating this same drum. I say, "be careful what you wish for" and "if you believe it long enough it will happen". As a business man, It is easy to see the "lure" for tracks to host LODRS races without the expense of the Alcohol classes. Luckily there are still a majority of track owners /operators that see the value and the draw that the cars provide. I think the "others" are a minority and i do believe that NHRA should only allow the to be run, at tracks that have demonstrated a commitment to having a facility capable of running cars this fast. If they don't want to make the improvements, or they don't want to run the full program, NHRA should just give the race to another track that will.

See you next week.

 

I might have a salution for this race, CHANGE THE DATE!
Could it be that easy? If you don't have the event the week before Pomona, you won't have as many cars in all catagories. Make Noble Ok. the last division race of the season.

 

last race

Dennis WAY to go Thats too simple of a fix nhra would have never figured that out

 

Just a note here. I didn't write to Chris complaining about things, merely to let him know that comments were being made regarding "His" stance on Alcohol and thought he would like to set the record staright for himself..as he well did

 

We finally got a chance to play with our junk and were planning on going to LV. We were in the process of making motel reservations and looking forward to a weekend of Casinos and Drag Racing when I read the press release from Chris. We changed our direction and went to Oklahoma instead. We throughly enjoyed our trip to Oklahoma (except for the rain) and got our needed drag racing fix.

After reading the letter from Chris to Woz I have a better feeling and understanding of his decision. Still don't understand the $100 test and tune (ouch). Besides, 28 cars knocking the chit out of each other for 8 spots is going to be brutal. You guys have fun and we will see you in Pomona.