Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Truck decision drawing ire from owners, drivers

Thursday, July 26, 2001 | 9:27 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

The NHRA's announcement Tuesday that it was dropping the Pro Stock Truck category from its pro class and forcing those teams to compete in the Federal-Mogul (sportsman) class beginning in 2002 caught most Pro Stock Truck competitors off guard.

Jerry Haas, a Pro Stock Team owner, said it would have been nice of the NHRA to give them more than a five-race notice.

"If they wanted to do away with the class, they should have said, 'OK, we're going to race this class another year, 2002,' " an indignant Haas said. "This would allow everyone enough time to phase their equipment out. Right now we've got five races left this year. We might as well throw our stuff in the trashcan; a million to two million (dollars) right in the trashcan."

In announcing the reclassification of the Pro Stock Truck category, NHRA president Tom Compton said the move was designed to direct more attention to the remaining four pro classes: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"We spent a lot of time conferring with fans, sponsors, teams and track operators before making the decision to reclassify the Pro Stock Truck vehicle," Compton said. "This was not an easy decision to make but this direction is designed to strengthen our sport for the future.

"NHRA has responded to what our fans want to see on-site at our national events and watch on ESPN."

Like Haas, Pro Stock Team owner Bob Panella Sr. said he wasn't given enough notice from the NHRA.

"I had been hearing the rumors that the NHRA was going to do away with trucks but I was led to believe that there was no validity to the rumors," Panella said. "But I guess where there's smoke, there's fire."

Jeff Gracia, who drives a Pro Stock Truck for Panella, said the decision has left him disappointed and bitter.

"I don't think any consideration was given to the truck teams in this matter," Gracia said.

In addition to Pro Stock Truck drivers losing their "professional" status, Gracia said a lot of people will be losing their jobs as a result of the NHRA's decision.

"They also took a lot of jobs from a lot of different people," Gracia said. "Out of the 40 to 45 Pro Stock Truck teams, 20 probably had full-time employees. Each of those teams probably had three to five employees. That's 60 to 100 people who are going to be looking for new jobs.

"It will also have an affect on the companies that sell parts to the truck teams. No trucks, no parts; it's like a company when they downsize."

"Sometimes, when (the opposition) knows that you're capable of running a number, they'll push it," Force said. "I think that's what happened to Gilbertson because we didn't really run well enough to win."

Force ran 5.225 seconds at 288.39 mph -- his slowest run of the weekend -- in the final.

Dixon, who is averaging slightly better than a third-place qualifying position this season, owns the longest active opening-round winning streak (15) in Top Fuel, dating to Oct. 29, 2000 at Houston.

Bernstein leads the category with 1165 points, Dixon is second with 1162 and Doug Kalitta is 177 points out of the lead, in third place. Defending Top Fuel champion Gary Scelzi is in fourth place, 242 points off the pace.