Richard Freeman smiles when he mentions the concern some of his fellow racers have over his team, a self-proclaimed group of rednecks from Oklahoma.

Freeman became a conversation piece during last Tuesday’s WFO Radio Nitro show last Tuesday during an interview with Chris McGaha.

The topics brought up on the show included a post-race NHRA Midwest Nationals test session, an argument over Freeman attempting to buy parts from Mopar Pro Stock team owner Dave Kramer [Deric Kramer’s father] and the acquisition of McGaha’s crew chief Brian “Lump” Self.

Freeman addressed those issues on Monday.

The “test session” as Freeman put it, was nothing more than a single run at Gateway Motorsports Park after the event was completed and driver Erica Enders made one run to half-track.

“There’s no rule against it,” said Freeman. “I had a meeting scheduled for the Monday after the event and we were committed to running Vincent’s [Nobile] car. After we shook in the final round, we thought something was broken in the car. We just didn’t understand why the car did what it did.

“Chris Blair and the guys at the track told me they had already taken up the timing system but if we wanted to unclutch it to check it, we could. We went first, second and third and then shut it off. We brought it back and loaded it up, then headed for home.”

Freeman confirmed he and McGaha did have words over an issue over wanting to purchase parts from Kramer, a McGaha engine customer.

“I needed some parts that the Kramers had,” Freeman explained. “He had told us that anything we needed, he would help us with like blocks etc. To make a long story short, Chris told him not to help us.”
Freeman said a short memory on McGaha’s behalf was the impetus for the argument.

“When Chris was struggling, we opened our shop and showed his crew chief Lump, who has been a long-time friend of mine, and a roommate while I was in college … and I have known him longer than anyone out here … he came to the shop and we showed him how we honed (the engine block) and of course Chris won’t acknowledge it. It helped them fix their problem.

“What he was doing was making it hard on me just to start the season next year.”

Freeman said he did make a move to make his efforts easier next year while subtly confirming he will field four cars next season.

“Of course I recruited Lump,” admitted Freeman. “I needed help for our expansion next season. Brian lives 45 minutes from my shop. We have talked for a while and Brian has worked for me off and on dating back to my IHRA days and some of my NHRA. It made business sense for him.

“I will say this, he was not leaving mid-stream. He was going to finish what he started. There were some accusations going on, and one of those is that I was paying him under the table to help me. Last I checked, I have a pretty strong team here already.”

Freeman said he will use others concern for him, to forge ahead towards trying to win another championship.

“In all of this stuff, I don’t really see where it is anyone’s business as to what I do,” said Freeman. “It blows my mind how much people care about what I do. As long as they are talking about me, and giving a crap about what I do, they aren’t working on their own stuff. So good luck to them.”

EDITOR'S NOTE - Freeman will appear on Tuesday's editor of NHRA Nitro, October 13, 2015, aqt 8 PM, EST. For more information, visit www.wforadio.com.