FEEDBACK ARTICLE – GUEST COMMENTARY - BOB VANDERGRIFF DELIVERS

I would like Bob to send me an application to drive his race car. You are in the
wrong position! You need to work as management within the NHRA to move the
entire sport into the 21st century of sports marketing. For the Pro racer as
well as the sportsman racer. - Dave Ebbert

FEEDBACK ARTICLE – GUEST COMMENTARY - BOB VANDERGRIFF DELIVERS

I would like Bob to send me an application to drive his race car. You are in the
wrong position! You need to work as management within the NHRA to move the
entire sport into the 21st century of sports marketing. For the Pro racer as
well as the sportsman racer. - Dave Ebbert

I couldn't agree more with Vandergriff on this one. I think the whole Dark Side Racing is pure genius. I’m a Hot Rod Fuller fan and I love it. I always look back to the days of Force vs. Hoffman. Those were good times … Snake and Mongoose ... Connie and Shirley. There have been some great rivalries in this great sport. Let’s turn it up a notch and give the fans something to talk about. - Brian Hirsch

First, I am a looooooog time Drag Racing fan and go back to the mid 60's as to my first race. This is my first comment to CompetitionPlus, but if the articles keep coming in like this one it will not be my last. I have raced, but due to any number of things have become a informed spectator. All I can say for Bob Vandergriff and his Heartbeat article is...Very Well Done!!!

Bob hits it right on the head. Back in the day you could find all kinds of rivalries. It didn't matter what class you looked at, something was going on. Now when the drivers get to the mic all you hear are a bunch of sponsor endorsements. Don't get me wrong, we all know we are in a new millennium and it's all about the Benjamin’s today. The point however is the last controversy I remember is when Doug "Dougzilla" Herbert got his nickname. I'm sure fans will remember when he had a "little" spat with Clay Millican at the 02' race in Reading, PA. OK, enough ranting... The sport needs characters just like back in the 60's and 70's when the sport really grew. Until they, Ho Hum. - Michael Kohn

Great article Bob, you are spot on man. I live in the same town as Hot Rod did here in Arkansas. My kids go to the same high school and I know he'll appreciate you for this. We live in the United States of the Offended now days but it's refreshing that some folks still have pride in something and willing to stand up for what (team) they support. You got a new fan in me sir! - Darrell Allison


I agree with Rob 100%. Just remember Hoffman versus Force, those were great battles. Or, how about the Pro Stock staging wars? NHRA drag racing needs these battles within battles to keep everyone’s attention. I hate to mention NASCAR but when someone bumps Tony Stewart everybody watches to see what he does in return. It just seems good for the sport. - Dwayne Hargrove

A-freaking-MEN!! Well said Bob. Lighten up people I thought the shirts were funny and I root against Fuller because of his sportsman days. - Mike Greene


Bob, Very well said. I agree. I'm not a fan of you. Don't mean that in a mean way, but with this recent article maybe I'll pay more attention to you . I think you hit it right on the head - Robert Keelan Jr.


Great article.  Brings back memories of Connie Kalitta, The Bounty Hunter, gunning for a win against all the names he had painted on the side of his rail. Also the Snake vs. the Mongoose, Stone Woods & Cooke vs. Big John Mazmanian, and many more whom I've long forgotten. - Bruce McClurg


I admire Bob so much for saying what is on his mind. I have learned so much about how sponsorships work and I really care for the guy.

Bob should be a color columnist and write at least one article a week. - Wes Welch


I totally agree with Bob Vandergriff Jr., on this. Over here in England we have a much closer relationship with drivers (for a start we are much closer to the track than NHRA strips) and there are regular interviews with them over the PA. OK, we don't have as many but their personalities are brought out and, maybe, it helps having a little competition fron all the different countries involved. - Richard Haszko


Bob Vandergriff made a lot of good points and I would like to add one --It is Drag Racing not NHRA drag racing as the people who attend (that would be the paying customers)came to see the Cars/Drivers not the NHRA. NHRA's life long insistence on being the corpse at every funeral and the bride at every wedding has over the years hurt both the sport and NHRA. - Frank Oglesby


Well, I am A HUGE fan of the Army team. If Bob feels that way... good for him. I think HOT Rod has been the greatest jerk for a drive I have ever had the displeasure of watching. It did not further it for me ...I turned it off. He is so offensive he makes me ill. Tony has nothing but class. I take BIG offense  to people who make excuses too, I lost weight... and my foot came off the pedal.

Tony should have told him right then and there, your foot should be as big as your mouth, and also that of your imagination ....but Tony as we know has total class unlike others WE know of. This is my opinion, and yes I will for sure BOOOOOOO Bob from now on since he wants this type of promotion you can be sure! I do totally understand Bob’s point, I just don't like crap like that. - Linda Schmitz


I agree with what Bob has to say. I miss the good rivalries. I think the darkside shirts are funny and am also sure it in no way pertains to the US ARMY.

It's all good.

I was at the Columbus race and heard his remarks that day. It made for some humorous responses from all the locals I can tell you that.

Bob came across as an ass that day...but he gets it now, or maybe I do? - Brian DeHart



I will now and forever applaud Vandergriff For this article. Finally another driver that understands where this sport needs to go and what little nuances will help it get there. One of the many things that has helped this sport has been rivalries. The one I feel that really helped put Force on the map was the rivalry between he and Al Hoffman. That wasn't the rivalry people are making the current one between Fuller and Schu, out to be. But rather it was perceived to one. That helped both of them. I will say I have really never paid any attention to Vandergriff, but I will say that he at least has one more set of ears listening!

As an editorial staff I urge you to push your contributors to these levels. Some may never be as blunt or to the point of Asher. But it is refreshing to know that someone other than the usual suspects won't be afraid to let their voice be heard. - Robert Dittmer



I’d say stick to getting the UPS (that’s the sponsor right?) dragster down the track for a win someday maybe instead of trying to stir the pot. NHRA is so politically correct they would probably toss you from the race for booing a sponsored car. Fuller is a punk and a no class act. Love ‘em or hate ‘em the army dragsters TUNER is the best and has been since he raced with his brother which is why they win not because of the driver.(hasn’t Antron won already in Top Fuel?) - Rick Rzepka

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