FEEDBACK ARTICLE: TONY PEDREGON - TALKING DIVERSITY

If you are not an ethnic American it is hard for you to understand why Tony proudly made his comments.  I'd like to comment on the person that brought up the "hyphens" among Americans.  No Latino, person of African decent, Indian, Asian or persons of color came up with the "hyphens".  Americans of African decent did not come up with the rule that says if you have 1% of African blood running through your veins that you are Black.  Brush up on your American history and you find out where the "hyphens" and labels came from. - Marc A. Powe

FEEDBACK ARTICLE: TONY PEDREGON - TALKING DIVERSITY

If you are not an ethnic American it is hard for you to understand why Tony proudly made his comments.  I'd like to comment on the person that brought up the "hyphens" among Americans.  No Latino, person of African decent, Indian, Asian or persons of color came up with the "hyphens".  Americans of African decent did not come up with the rule that says if you have 1% of African blood running through your veins that you are Black.  Brush up on your American history and you find out where the "hyphens" and labels came from. - Marc A. Powe

12-06

I like Tony’s comment on the diversity about the different skin tones and about his dad being a pioneer in drag racing our race team raced in that era and we consider ourselves pioneers also thank you for the opportunity to comment - Byron Parmenter


We are a country of Red, White and Blue not Black Brown or White once everyone understands that I believe we will all be better off.  I fully appreciate the ethnic and gender diversity in the NHRA and would like to see more, most notably in Pro Stock.  I believe Tony's comments were not racist motivated but, as he said merely a way to communicate with his community.  I do however, believe that with today’s climate of political correctness had a white racer made the same type of comment he or she would have been at least censored if not fined by the NHRA and even possibly lost their license and sponsorship.  When the time comes that everyone remembers that we're all just drag racers then any comments made by folks like Tony will not only be a non issue but not necessary. - Steve Camp


NHRA "Full Throttle" drag racing is not a platform for his personal beliefs.

It's like the awards shows where any actor/actress is allowed his/her 30-90 seconds to voice an opinion on almost anything! I don't need to hear it over the PA system. Save it for an appropriate venue! - Dirk Olsen


As long as hyphenated Americans put their heritage first we should continue to call them out on it.

Does Tony Pedregon think no one knows he is of Mexican decent? No one cared and everyone was proud of his accomplishments until he decided to shout it out he was more proud to be Mexican than American. Hell, everyone thought he was American first until he proudly proclaimed different. - David Covey


Diversity aside - the demographics and the spending impact that the Latino market is having, and will continue to have, is going to have a major impact on the economy prior to the end of this decade.  The numbers can be easily checked on the HispanicBusiness.com website, and the numbers are staggering.  There is no "race card" involved when it comes to Tony...only a triumph card that is related to business and the market appeal that he and Cruz have in motorsports.

The sponsors know it, IMG knows it as well as NHRA. 

Those that have misconstrued the remarks that Tony has made are way off base and they have no perception of the fact that he is a shrewd "race politician" and Master of Business when it comes to Marketing and Public Relations.  Both he and Cruz are a tribute to the diversity of drag racing and what can be accomplished if one uses their potential to its' fullest. 

For those of us that "get it" Viva La Raza! - David Gutierrez, Detroit, MI.


My god between Cruz dogging Shirley after winning and showing no class after losing a qualifying run when Scott was KILLED, now Tony wants to fix the minority issue in America. Hey Tony did you check to see how many Hispanics work for Quaker State before taking their money? I can get the political crap ALL day on CNN or FOX. My god can’t I read my favorite drag race site without getting the pity party for Hispanics? Not sure if you noticed but AMERICANS are hurting too! - Rick Rzepka


I'm a big fan of NHRA and I very fawn of Tony, Cruz and Hector Arana.   I love to go to their pit and be able to have a conversation in Spanish with them.   I back Tony 100% and some.  We need to let go of the past and make something of us and people need to give us the room (or maybe they are just afraid).  I myself came from Cuba when I was 6, we came only with the clothes we had on and my parents left everything behind including their parents and families to give my
brothers and I a better life.   I consider myself a better American then many born here. SO to see someone accomplish as much as Tony and Cruz has my salute to them. - Adelaida Casanola
 

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