For years and years, we in the drag racing industry have seen what favoritism looks like, what rules look like when you allow the manufacturers to have any say in them, and what it really means to play in their sandbox. So when do the rule makers finally say enough is enough?

Over the previous 25 years, I have seen some seriously stupid shit when it came to making rules. I have seen the buddy club bullshit when it came to rules, and I have seen manufacturers have a say in the way that rules were written, perceived, and even enforced. It has caused the destruction of classes, limited the ability of other manufacturers to play in the sandbox competitively, etc. Yet very rarely do the rule-makers get taken to task over it because racers fear retaliation.

Before any of you get some stupid idea, I am not talking about any one specific rule maker within the industry. This is an industry-wide issue. Beneath it all lays a layer of issues. First and foremost is that coming up with a rule set for any heads up class is one of the most difficult things that any single person could possibly do nowadays. The number of different combinations, even in something like an all motor class is tremendous. Start adding in all the new technology, power adders, etc. and you have a recipe for a rule book longer and more confusing than the Warren Commission report was.

So what exactly is the issue at hand? The issue/s that I see are the buddy issues. Let’s face facts here for a second. Most people within our industry are friends in some way or another. Whether it is racers, manufacturers, rule makers, promoters, media, etc. Now there are some of us that don’t like each other, and those that really aren’t fond of each other, but when it comes down to it, everyone, for the most part, plays nicely with each other (which is an issue for an entirely different article). Problems arise when friendships leak into rules making.

Take for example an organization that has a rules committee that consists of racers that participate in the exact same classes they are supposed to make rules for. That is the true definition when we talk about a conflict of interest. With that said, there is a way to address that, and racers should always have input, but should never serve on a rules committee that directly involves the class that they have a vested interest in.

The next issue is the series owner/racers. Never should a series owner, that is also a racer have anything to do with the rules of the class that he or she competes in. This is the most difficult issue to address, as you, the series owner want to make sure you are doing what is best for your series. Over the years, I have seen almost all series that are owned by a racer, move to a rules committee of some sort so that any issues of bias are gone. I can’t think of a racer owned series at this point where the owner is making rules for the class they run in. So kudos to all of you for making those changes over the years.

Manufacturers. This is the one that I take the biggest shot at. The manufacturers and sponsors are the two worst at being a part of something that they shouldn’t be. Either make the product or cut the check and after that keep your damn nose out of the business of rules. I understand that they have a vested interest because of the time, money, R&D, etc that they put into their products, but in no way shape or form should they have any hand in making rules. They can certainly make suggestions, just like every other racer can, but keep your hands out of the rules. While we are at it, hey sponsors…shut up and write checks. As a sponsor, your objective is to grow your brand and brand awareness. Chances are you aren’t cutting a check with some expectation of huge ROI because you sponsored a class. With that said, a class sponsor should NEVER have any sway over the rules of the class that they sponsor, and a promoter or rule-maker should never take a check from a sponsor that would create said pressures.

I think that rule-makers across our industry attempt to be as fair as possible, but I think there is outside pressure from promoters, sponsors, manufacturers, racers, etc. all the damn time. This isn’t something new, the difference is that the only ones that call them out on it are the same racers doing it. I see racers all the time lobbying for their combo in some way shape or form to get this or that, and then turn around and bitching and moaning when they think someone else is doing the same damn thing they were doing. Or a promoter that won’t have a class at their race until they feel that the rules are what they want to see and start putting their opinion into it.

There are personal beef between people in this industry. There are cutthroat people in this industry. There are people who only care about themselves and no one else. And there are people that will do everything they can to make sure the rules fit their combo the best. Then there are those that look at the rules, decide what the build, and test the shit out of their program to compete at the highest level possible.

What I am saying is this…let the rule-makers handle the rules. Let the promoters promote races. Let the sponsors sponsor classes. Let the manufacturers make products. Let the racers race. That is all called staying in your own damn lane.

It’s 2021…let the racing begin!