After today,I have lost all respect (and possibly support) for USAC. To show up at the track and see CJ Leary racing tonight is totally unacceptable. No matter which side of the fence you're on, his actions on Friday were out of bounds, and warranted a suspension for CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE SPORT. Seems as though Ballou was suspended from USAC in 2018 and on probation for 2019 FOR TWEETING about track conditions at Eldora, because it was CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE SPORT. Keep in mind that Ballou is an owner/ driver of his own equipment, therefore HE is the one paying the bills on his team. Ballou is to USAC as Hank Williams is to the Opry. They both have their boys club and Robert isn't welcome in it. He is crass and speaks his mind, which offends some people. No, he's not some polished twenty something kid looking to advance his career, he's doing what he loves. But for USAC to stand by and let a driver attack/assail any
driver that is buckled in his car under a red flag is the last straw.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Don’t think to many people think it’s fair to get suspended for a mean tweet and not for kicking a strapped in driver twice. :10:

* on a side note, Hank Williams was kicked out of the Opry for his alcoholic no shows. Was never reinstated and never will be. Only living artists are members. Not my rules. *. I absolutely get your point.

Originally Posted by Chief Wahoo:
Don’t think to many people think it’s fair to get suspended for a mean tweet and not for kicking a strapped in driver twice. :10:

* on a side note, Hank Williams was kicked out of the Opry for his alcoholic no shows. Was never reinstated and never will be. Only living artists are members. Not my rules. *. I absolutely get your point.

And that caused his biggest pain.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

This will not be a popular post Streetglider...its like it didnt happen at GC...Please re-read last line of rulebook:
"The sanctioning body may or may not enforce the rules listed herein, and may alter or eliminate rules without notice in the name of fair competition." Go Hank!

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Glad that USAC has approved fighting! I remember back in the day, one of the great Sprint car drivers, had to catch someone in the parking lot at a USAC show. So, he would not get tossed by USAC. He threw more than one punch, in the pits at non USAC shows. Glad that, they now allow fighting.
Maybe we, could get a sponsor, do something like a best fight of the night. Maybe a $100 a fight. With a point fund at the end of the season.

Originally Posted by ShamrockRacin'48G:
This will not be a popular post Streetglider...its like it didnt happen at GC...Please re-read last line of rulebook:
"The sanctioning body may or may not enforce the rules listed herein, and may alter or eliminate rules without notice in the name of fair competition." Go Hank!

You are correct shamrockracin’ , hence the USAC cover up of the tire doping earlier this year.

You got CJ with a FLO girlfriend and CJ’s daddy in with Spridge. What you think gonna happen.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Gone are the days when we could freely say on tv ... "If he don't like it he can kiss my dick, and if I get the chance he's going too."

Also I like Ballou but the poor me stuff from him and his supporters gets old and do not help his cause. :43::

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by streetglider:
After today,I have lost all respect (and possibly support) for USAC. To show up at the track and see CJ Leary racing tonight is totally unacceptable. No matter which side of the fence you're on, his actions on Friday were out of bounds, and warranted a suspension for CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE SPORT. Seems as though Ballou was suspended from USAC in 2018 and on probation for 2019 FOR TWEETING about track conditions at Eldora, because it was CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE SPORT. Keep in mind that Ballou is an owner/ driver of his own equipment, therefore HE is the one paying the bills on his team. Ballou is to USAC as Hank Williams is to the Opry. They both have their boys club and Robert isn't welcome in it. He is crass and speaks his mind, which offends some people. No, he's not some polished twenty something kid looking to advance his career, he's doing what he loves. But for USAC to stand by and let a driver attack/assail any
driver that is buckled in his car under a red flag is the last straw.

Thank you for pointing out the Actions detrimental to the sport part. I like to add this every time something comes up. It’s clear there is a club for certain guys within and some are not welcome. I love non wing racing but have little to no respect for the group running it.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Just an apples to apples comparison. There was a worse fight at Williams Grove Friday night. Have heard nothing of suspensions. There was also a fight at Fremont, not sure if anything happened there. I feel those were both worse, because they happened in the pits, and others got involved. I am not sure I remember anyone ever being suspended for fighting. I do remember people being fined. I think Leary probably needs a fine and probation. May not have been the best way to do it, but I think the whole thing created excitement, and was in no way detrimental to the sport. It may even sell tickets. I am not going to compare something years ago that is not connected. I welcome anyone who has an example of a suspension in any sprint series for a one time altercation. Sorry, but I cannot call that a fight. No matter what is said and done, CJ will have to live with the video of a very weak drop kick forever. For me that would almost be punishment enough. I am going to the races. You guys enjoy your conspiracy theories.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by opnwhlmnd:

Also I like Ballou but the poor me stuff from him and his supporters gets old and do not help his cause. :43::

More so his supporters. I like Robert too. His so called supporters make him look bad. They care nothing about him, it's a just an extension of their " the whole world is wrong except me mentality." Then they try to make Robert their martyr. It doesn't help him at all, if anything it probably hurts.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
More so his supporters. I like Robert too. His so called supporters make him look bad. They care nothing about him, it's a just an extension of their " the whole world is wrong except me mentality." Then they try to make Robert their martyr. It doesn't help him at all, if anything it probably hurts.

Wow, so your grouping all Ballou fans into one group? Not Bias there too much are ya Bro. You know nothing about me, so maybe your the one with “ the whole world is wrong except me mentality “? I don’t think a Ballou fan threw a bottle out on the track at GC. Those weren’t Ballou fans running up to the fence to flip him off. We all see things differently and should respect the fact that we agree to disagree. We’re all here for the same reason because we love the sport. I’m not a fan of all drivers, but I’ve got friends who are fans of a few of the ones I’m not a fan of. We’re still friends and have great time. I don’t judge a stranger because they are wearing the shirt of a driver I don’t like. And to say his fans don’t care about him, come on :21:

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

10.30 Assault or Battery – Any person that goes into another competitor’s pit area or car and becomes involved in any type of
altercation will be subject to disqualification and/or fine and/or suspension and/or loss of points and/or any other action deemed
appropriate by USAC.

Brent-
These are the RULES of USAC. They aren't my rules !!!!!! The rules should apply to ALL competitors, its not a conspiracy fella!

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by Chief Wahoo:
Wow, so your grouping all Ballou fans into one group? Not Bias there too much are ya Bro. You know nothing about me, so maybe your the one with “ the whole world is wrong except me mentality “? I don’t think a Ballou fan threw a bottle out on the track at GC. Those weren’t Ballou fans running up to the fence to flip him off. We all see things differently and should respect the fact that we agree to disagree. We’re all here for the same reason because we love the sport. I’m not a fan of all drivers, but I’ve got friends who are fans of a few of the ones I’m not a fan of. We’re still friends and have great time. I don’t judge a stranger because they are wearing the shirt of a driver I don’t like. And to say his fans don’t care about him, come on :21:

Well Bro, I agree with you partially. Those were not Ballou fans booing him. It was a can that was thrown on the track, not a bottle. I am the one who said that person should have been arrested. I really meant that. I personally like all the drivers. I just want to see a good race. I just think the fans that defend Robert whether he is right or wrong, don't really help his bottom line. Just for the record, I haven't said a bad word about Robert. I felt bad for him. He finally starts up front, and his car isn't handling well. Usually he starts in the back and is the hard charger. Hope the rest of the week is safe for everybody.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by streetglider:
10.30 Assault or Battery – Any person that goes into another competitor’s pit area or car and becomes involved in any type of
altercation will be subject to disqualification and/or fine and/or suspension and/or loss of points and/or any other action deemed
appropriate by USAC.

Brent-
These are the RULES of USAC. They aren't my rules !!!!!! The rules should apply to ALL competitors, its not a conspiracy fella!

So if he gets a fine, then that covers it. Have you ever seen anyone suspended for something like that before? Of course, I never really saw something quite like that.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

One more question. I was at Haubstadt several years ago. Robert went after Daron Clayton in victory lane. Did the MSCS suspend him? Was it because his wife at the time was the MSCS scorer, or was it because they didn't deem it necessary?. My guess is they didn't deem it necessary. Why no conspiracy theories then?

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
So if he gets a fine, then that covers it. Have you ever seen anyone suspended for something like that before? Of course, I never really saw something quite like that.

1.Stay on topic there Brent. The subject here is USAC rulebook, not MSCS. I can't speak on MSCS rules as I'm not privy to their rulebook.



2. Have you ever seen someone suspended for a TWEET (other than Ballou) ?

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

I would think Leary being embarrassed on video with two lame drop kicks to the side of a full containment seat would be punishment enough. :34: Maybe he needs to go to the A-Aron Reutzel school of two wheeler throwing.

The sport needs the emotion showed while the adrenaline is flowing instead of the cookie cutter name my three thousand sponsors interview.

My take on the two Ballou incidents:

I thought he could have left a lane open for Brady and think he meant to but spun the tires and got sideways into Brady.

I thought he took a giant push on the bottom and Leary also came off the top to try and hit the moisture that was in the middle coming off turn four and they hit.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

I remember a few years back at Kokomo. Windom taking a couple swings at someone in victory lane ceremony and ended up clocking Levi. No suspension there. Was that because His GF was Flo Girl then?

Sure glad Drake isn't someone's GF :5:

P.S. I got nothing against anyone of them or their GF's. A drivers wife or whatever working with USAC has happened for years. I remember getting a pit pass at THAT and Mrs. D was the seller.

Lot’s of different perspective and points on the topic. I will say one thing I do agree with Brent on is a fine and probation would suffice. No penalty at all is inappropriate in my opinion. But let’s get some more racing in with all our racers and hopefully some more drama, because it’s surely entertaining.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Just an apples to apples comparison. There was a worse fight at Williams Grove Friday night. Have heard nothing of suspensions. There was also a fight at Fremont, not sure if anything happened there. I feel those were both worse, because they happened in the pits, and others got involved. I am not sure I remember anyone ever being suspended for fighting. I do remember people being fined. I think Leary probably needs a fine and probation. May not have been the best way to do it, but I think the whole thing created excitement, and was in no way detrimental to the sport. It may even sell tickets. I am not going to compare something years ago that is not connected. I welcome anyone who has an example of a suspension in any sprint series for a one time altercation. Sorry, but I cannot call that a fight. No matter what is said and done, CJ will have to live with the video of a very weak drop kick forever. For me that would almost be punishment enough. I am going to the races. You guys enjoy your conspiracy theories.

Brent you can never ever ever forget the suspension by Usac for something that did not happen on the track. This is no conspiracy theory. If Usac and their favorite son Phony Stewart got butt hurt about truthful tweets, but not for a clown attacking a strapped in driver, then we come from different worlds of reality.
You have also grouped all Ballou fans as people who don’t care about him just the social bs. I hope you don’t meet some of his fans and say that to their face. As a fan of his I take issue with that.
You hold the water bottle for Usac and that’s fine. Just understand not everybody buys into what they say. Also no suspension means every time someone gets dumped, kung fu fighting is fair game. I’ll take Ballou.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
One more question. I was at Haubstadt several years ago. Robert went after Daron Clayton in victory lane. Did the MSCS suspend him? Was it because his wife at the time was the MSCS scorer, or was it because they didn't deem it necessary?. My guess is they didn't deem it necessary. Why no conspiracy theories then?

How much did you have to drink that night Brent seen you stagger down enough bleachers over the years, because you need to correct yourself here . Robert was at Daron's when in victory lane he was standing on Daron's right rear tire as Daron was unbuckling and all that was done is he was saying something to him about the feature race that night he was not happy about never laid a hand on him or touched him. If you find a video you will see me standing about 15 ft. away from this happening. Everyone knows on here you are a usac cheerleader which is your choice not mine but you need to stop flaming everyone who says they are not a professional organization they play there favorites and do not enforce rules and there tech is bush league. Been a fan in the stands to sponsoring and working on these cars for a lot of years you learn a lot just by standing by watching the circus in action.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by yeleyfan76:
then we come from different worlds of reality.

Yep. And thank goodness.

Originally Posted by Sprint63122:
How much did you have to drink that night

Ugh!!!!!!!! If you can't make your point without going there, then SHUSH.

Aren’t we glad they didn’t suspend CJ? I know I am

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
I remember a few years back at Kokomo. Windom taking a couple swings at someone in victory lane ceremony and ended up clocking Levi. No suspension there. Was that because His GF was Flo Girl then?

Sure glad Drake isn't someone's GF :5:

P.S. I got nothing against anyone of them or their GF's. A drivers wife or whatever working with USAC has happened for years. I remember getting a pit pass at THAT and Mrs. D was the seller.

Windom told me that he and his Dad were fined $10,000 each. Both had to pay before he could compete again. By the way that was before flo did the USAC races. It was SpeedShift and she never worked for them. Hate when facts ruin a good conspiracy. Nice talking to Chief Wahoo tonight.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Nice talking to Chief Wahoo tonight.

And we did it without Kung Fu Fighting. We agreed on some things and didn't on others. Still believe that Leary should have gotten some sort of punishment out of the deal. What made me cringe the most (and some people tonight told me that they had forgotten about it), was Ballou's arm. Not sure which one he severely broke, but I was hopping that it wasn't the one Leary was trying to kick. How would that have looked or turned out if he damaged that arm he had all the surgery on?

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Windom told me that he and his Dad were fined $10,000 each. Both had to pay before he could compete again. By the way that was before flo did the USAC races. It was SpeedShift and she never worked for them. Hate when facts ruin a good conspiracy.

That is Correct Brent, Chris was fined $10,000 for that

Just to add a couple more items, one Brent touched on. So there has been some extracurriculars in other series. As many of you know, and Funk added, Outlaws had a dust up, as well as the AFCS series in Fremont. Also a WOO official appeared to attack a crew member at a race in Wisconsin recently. I want to be clear, I might have missed it, but haven’t seen any statements from any series on disciplinary action for those activities. I know Duane from AFCS is on here occasionally, maybe he can elaborate. But my point is that to put it all on USAC, like they’re the only ones that may or may not make the right call, is really short sighted. No one is perfect, but USAC still has the best racing!

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
Just to add a couple more items, one Brent touched on. So there has been some extracurriculars in other series. As many of you know, and Funk added, Outlaws had a dust up, as well as the AFCS series in Fremont. Also a WOO official appeared to attack a crew member at a race in Wisconsin recently. I want to be clear, I might have missed it, but haven’t seen any statements from any series on disciplinary action for those activities. I know Duane from AFCS is on here occasionally, maybe he can elaborate. But my point is that to put it all on USAC, like they’re the only ones that may or may not make the right call, is really short sighted. No one is perfect, but USAC still has the best racing!

I hope I only have to remind you, Funk, and everyone else carrying the torch for Usac one more time. They set the precedent for their series and no other by suspending a driver for tweeting. Yes 55 I said tweeting. It’s kinda like putting a school kid in detention for name calling but letting the same kid get away with punching another and say well they don’t do anything about it in the other schools. Usac brought this on themselves. They decided to play the suspension game. Once again this wasn’t WoO, ASCoC, ASCS, Fed Ex, UPS or any other anything. It was USAC. Let’s please stay on course here. At Lawrenceburg Sunday a Usac official was asked hours before the event if Leary was suspended. His response was no. He sighted the Tmez/Axsom deal at Kutztown last year as an example of no suspension. Don’t remember him trying a drop kick to the driver on that tho. So the official was then asked does that mean that anything similar to Friday nite is fair game??? Perplexed the guy really didn’t want to answer. It’s not a conspiracy when a precedent is set and that happened in 2018 when they suspended a guy for playing on his phone.

I’m going to paraphrase here but Funk says the Ballou fans are a cult and care about RB. So sadly mistaken he is. It’s ok tho, I’ve said it before, I feel like big changes are coming next year and this may not be a topic to discuss again.

Sure hope the weather holds tonite for Kokomo. Usually the best race of the week.

Bobbie Ballou is the driver that everyone is so proud of for speaking his mind in public forums. He bitches about other drivers, race track conditions and everything else under the sun. He always lets us know he has a full time job (poor me). At Gas City he took out Darland, Bacon & Leary. They are 3 guys that will be in the Hall of Fame. I may have missed it but I haven’t heard a peep out of him. If he is such a stand up guy wouldn’t he apologize or at the very least offer some sort of explanation?

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Why does it feel like we have revisionist history about the Ballou suspension. It wasn't one tweet. It was a series of tweets over a period of time.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Let me make this very simple. I don't care if you are a Ballou fan or not as we all like different drivers. This are USACs RULES directly from their organization (previously posted). The RULES must be enforced top to bottom, not cherry picked, and randomly enforced.
Example 1- USAC sprint car RULES state car (and driver) must weigh 1375 lbs. I think we have all seen DQs for being light at the scales by a few pounds, it's in the RULES. That does not mean that driver A can weigh 1373 lbs and get by with it, and driver B weighs 1368 lbs and wins the race. It is simply ENFORCING the RULE BOOK. To run any successful organization of any kind the RULES must be followed. I posted the penalties for 10.30 Assault or Battery previously.
Example 2- Traction control devices are prohibited. The penalties for this according to USAC 315 D are suspension/loss of points. That does not mean that driver A can run with traction control and driver B can not run with traction control, because it's in the RULE BOOK. If an organization wants to run a biased good ole boys club then they should throw away the rule book and not randomly enforce penalties. I think that traditional sprint car racing is the best thing since sliced bread, however the recent trend of the USAC organization is disappointing.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

So if Leary is fined. Then there is no complaint? Am I right?

"IF" any kind of "punishment" is passed down I'd be very surprised if it happened this week,or at all?

Originally Posted by streetglider:
10.30 Assault or Battery – Any person that goes into another competitor’s pit area or car and becomes involved in any type of
altercation will be subject to disqualification and/or fine and/or suspension and/or loss of points and/or any other action deemed
appropriate by USAC

Please keep in mind these rules that you have quoted have created a gray area. It says deemed appropriate by USAC which leaves it open ended and creates a judgment call. Not all parties will be happy when a judgement is made.

I understand a guy was strapped in his car when there was a temper tantrum thrown, but how many of you have posted about the way rough driving was handled in the past? There aren’t stories of suspensions and fines, it’s about throwing a punch or getting a black eye to solve the issue based on the way a lot of you talk. While all these issues could have been handled more appropriately, you live and learn.

Personally, a guy owning up to a mistake goes a long way but there are 22-24 victims that start the feature on most nights. While each of these guys had a mic in their face yesterday, there were no apologies issued from either party.

I believe if there are fines, suspensions, warnings, or what have you, they don’t always need to be known for the public. It’s ok for not everyone to know all the details.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

But if we did know the details, like most other professional organizations provide, then this whole conversation wouldnt have happened, correct?

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

I've said it once and I'll say it again, USAC is missing Levi Jones. He was caring, fair, respected, and kept the house in order. Roger Penske ain't no fool!

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

BINGO - not what you know its' who you blow - typical political BS - Leary is a COWARD

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by racefan20:
But if we did know the details, like most other professional organizations provide, then this whole conversation wouldnt have happened, correct?

All making the details public does is show you that the sanctioning body did something (or not), whether the action they took (or didn't) is still up for debate.

Frankly I think the Jack Hewitt solution worked very well for a long time. Sadly, in this day and age of lawsuits, kiddies at the wheel, crew and family members stepping in, the real message never gets across.

Re: USAC Respect/Rules
 

Originally Posted by FrankR63:
BINGO - not what you know its' who you blow - typical political BS - Leary is a COWARD

Well...... I don't know about all that, but I have always thought it cowardly to physically confront somebody strapped in their car.