Many of you might not know who I am by looking at my user name as I don't post much. I'm Jim Layden, 2006 dhra QD Champion, 2007 dhra QD East Coast Champion and 2007 dhra QD National Championship runner-up. This is going to be quite lengthy so hang on. This is mainly going to be my story, but two other QD friends and competitors share most if not all of the same feelings as I do. We'll call these two friends Bruce and George. Anyway here goes.
In 2007 I attended every dhra drag race event and did quite well, winning the East Coast Championship. In October I went to Houston and raced for the national championship taking second place in the finals. I had a great year racing, representing the diesel community and dhra. I was unable to attend the dhra banquet in January. A little over a week after the banquet I received a "Rudy" for the 2007 East QD series. Great!! I was expecting this plus championship money for the East QD series and second place money for the national championship. I waited another week yet received nothing. Now Bruce, George and I are all expecting something from the east series and Bruce and I are expecting something on the national level as Bruce placed third nationally. I finally emailed Rita at dhra with the following:
"Rita, I have a question concerning the 2007 QD Championship. Isn't there a payout and plaque awarded for 2nd place? I am sure it paid 3 or 4 places.
Jim Layden"
Bruce also emailed dhra. A few days later we got this email from Eric McBride:
Bruce/Jim,
Cash prizes were only awarded to the champions last year, here is a reminder of the rulebook amendment that came out last year once Dunbar refined the championship:
DHRA Rulebook Amendment 8/10/07
Section 3 Points and Related Programs
The DieselPower! Drag Racing Series has three classes of championship drag racing: ET Bracket, Quick Diesel, Pro Street. The Series is divided into and East series, and a West series. Competitors must choose one series in which they will compete for the championship. Racers are, however, allowed to compete in out of area races without earning points.
Championships can be earned in each of the three classes in each region (East and West). Each of the champions from each region will receive a “Rudy” trophy.
The DieselPower! Drag Racing Series will culminate with the Nowel Thomas Memorial Drag Races at the Texas Diesel Nationals in October, where the champion and runner up from each class will face off East vs. West. First round (semi-finals) will pit East champion against the West runner up and vice versa. Second round will be for the DHRA National Drag Racing Championship between first round winners. National Champions will receive cash prize and a special “Rudy” plaque commemorating their victory.
Eric McBride
At this point in the story I have a couple of thing I will address:
1. David Dunbar had nothing to do with "refining" the championship. This amendment was cooked up on the way back from the Denver dhra event when dhra's "guy" didn't win the West Coast Pro Street championship and wouldn't be competing for the national championship in Houston. He's doomed! No, wait, we'll just amend the rules and get him right back in there. Also, now remember that NHRA changed their format (at the beginning of the season) to the "count down to the championship" or something on that order. So this amendment will make us look "cool" and progressive just like NHRA. Man we're golden. So the point here is Dunbar didn't "refine" the championship but was thrown under the bus by dhra.
2. Next is the amendment and the way it was handled. Did dhra send a letter or email to the membership informing them of the amendment? No!! They posted it on an internet forum. That's good enough. Some of the members will probably see it. In the dhra 2007 rule book (page 69) it states: "Championships can be earned in each of the three classes in each region (East & West). Each of the champions from each region will receive a Rudy. The top five points-earners in each class will receive cash prizes." I CHALLENGE dhra to show where they made this amendment known to all its members (especially the ones with competition endorsements) and where it states they rescinded paying the top five points earners. My point is its unbelievable how this was done.
To date Bruce, George and I have not received a dime. I had first in the east and second in the national. Bruce had second in the east and third in the national. George had third in the east. Now does anyone believe that competitors would travel thousands of miles to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Texas to race knowing that only the national champion would receive a cash prize? I think not.
To top this off on my part of the story, I spoke to the owner of the second place national bracket winner and he received a cash prize. I have also spoken to the driver of the second place national pro street truck and he received a cash prize. Apparently QD is the ugly step-child of dhra. Its entirely possible that dhra will read this, say there's been an oversight or some such thing and throw an entry level person or maybe Rita under the bus as that's about all that's left from 2007. If there is someone who wants to belong to a diesel motorsports organization that treats you like a mushroom (keeps you in the dark and covers you with $hit) I strongly recommend dhra. They are PROFESSIONALS. "Man the bilge pumps." I'm thinking Ronald Regan had Alzheimer's "before" he became president. Folks, stay tuned as I'm planning weekly episodes of "As the worm turns".
Jim "Lucky Dog" Layden
Sorry folks, I thought I was done but there's something else I'd like to mention. In Houston, racing for the national QD championship, I pushed myself through the staging lights at launching boost, handing the championship to my opponent. I didn't even wait for the tree to come all the way down. I just left because it was game over for me. 300' out I snapped the input shaft. I wasn't meant to win this race. $hit happens, right. I'm walking around in the pits looking for a trailer so I can install my spare tranny. Mr. dhra walks up to me, shakes my hand for the first time EVER and says "You should change your name from Lucky Dog to Chokin' Dog.". Thanks Eric, you are my hero. Thanks for all your support.
In 2007 I attended every dhra drag race event and did quite well, winning the East Coast Championship. In October I went to Houston and raced for the national championship taking second place in the finals. I had a great year racing, representing the diesel community and dhra. I was unable to attend the dhra banquet in January. A little over a week after the banquet I received a "Rudy" for the 2007 East QD series. Great!! I was expecting this plus championship money for the East QD series and second place money for the national championship. I waited another week yet received nothing. Now Bruce, George and I are all expecting something from the east series and Bruce and I are expecting something on the national level as Bruce placed third nationally. I finally emailed Rita at dhra with the following:
"Rita, I have a question concerning the 2007 QD Championship. Isn't there a payout and plaque awarded for 2nd place? I am sure it paid 3 or 4 places.
Jim Layden"
Bruce also emailed dhra. A few days later we got this email from Eric McBride:
Bruce/Jim,
Cash prizes were only awarded to the champions last year, here is a reminder of the rulebook amendment that came out last year once Dunbar refined the championship:
DHRA Rulebook Amendment 8/10/07
Section 3 Points and Related Programs
The DieselPower! Drag Racing Series has three classes of championship drag racing: ET Bracket, Quick Diesel, Pro Street. The Series is divided into and East series, and a West series. Competitors must choose one series in which they will compete for the championship. Racers are, however, allowed to compete in out of area races without earning points.
Championships can be earned in each of the three classes in each region (East and West). Each of the champions from each region will receive a “Rudy” trophy.
The DieselPower! Drag Racing Series will culminate with the Nowel Thomas Memorial Drag Races at the Texas Diesel Nationals in October, where the champion and runner up from each class will face off East vs. West. First round (semi-finals) will pit East champion against the West runner up and vice versa. Second round will be for the DHRA National Drag Racing Championship between first round winners. National Champions will receive cash prize and a special “Rudy” plaque commemorating their victory.
Eric McBride
At this point in the story I have a couple of thing I will address:
1. David Dunbar had nothing to do with "refining" the championship. This amendment was cooked up on the way back from the Denver dhra event when dhra's "guy" didn't win the West Coast Pro Street championship and wouldn't be competing for the national championship in Houston. He's doomed! No, wait, we'll just amend the rules and get him right back in there. Also, now remember that NHRA changed their format (at the beginning of the season) to the "count down to the championship" or something on that order. So this amendment will make us look "cool" and progressive just like NHRA. Man we're golden. So the point here is Dunbar didn't "refine" the championship but was thrown under the bus by dhra.
2. Next is the amendment and the way it was handled. Did dhra send a letter or email to the membership informing them of the amendment? No!! They posted it on an internet forum. That's good enough. Some of the members will probably see it. In the dhra 2007 rule book (page 69) it states: "Championships can be earned in each of the three classes in each region (East & West). Each of the champions from each region will receive a Rudy. The top five points-earners in each class will receive cash prizes." I CHALLENGE dhra to show where they made this amendment known to all its members (especially the ones with competition endorsements) and where it states they rescinded paying the top five points earners. My point is its unbelievable how this was done.
To date Bruce, George and I have not received a dime. I had first in the east and second in the national. Bruce had second in the east and third in the national. George had third in the east. Now does anyone believe that competitors would travel thousands of miles to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Texas to race knowing that only the national champion would receive a cash prize? I think not.
To top this off on my part of the story, I spoke to the owner of the second place national bracket winner and he received a cash prize. I have also spoken to the driver of the second place national pro street truck and he received a cash prize. Apparently QD is the ugly step-child of dhra. Its entirely possible that dhra will read this, say there's been an oversight or some such thing and throw an entry level person or maybe Rita under the bus as that's about all that's left from 2007. If there is someone who wants to belong to a diesel motorsports organization that treats you like a mushroom (keeps you in the dark and covers you with $hit) I strongly recommend dhra. They are PROFESSIONALS. "Man the bilge pumps." I'm thinking Ronald Regan had Alzheimer's "before" he became president. Folks, stay tuned as I'm planning weekly episodes of "As the worm turns".
Jim "Lucky Dog" Layden
Sorry folks, I thought I was done but there's something else I'd like to mention. In Houston, racing for the national QD championship, I pushed myself through the staging lights at launching boost, handing the championship to my opponent. I didn't even wait for the tree to come all the way down. I just left because it was game over for me. 300' out I snapped the input shaft. I wasn't meant to win this race. $hit happens, right. I'm walking around in the pits looking for a trailer so I can install my spare tranny. Mr. dhra walks up to me, shakes my hand for the first time EVER and says "You should change your name from Lucky Dog to Chokin' Dog.". Thanks Eric, you are my hero. Thanks for all your support.
