I posted a very personal story on my blog today. Its about a very traumatic experience I had 9 years ago, the first reason I ever pushed to want a professional career in Drag Racing. I've never publicly spoken about this until now.

I was nervous at first about posting it, but I've received quite a few emails from folks that benefited from the story, so I thought I'd post it here for you all too. Maybe someone will benefit from my experience...

It feels good to get the weight off my shoulders almost a decade later.

Here ya go:

HORSEPOWER & HEELS: Crossing the Finishline of Fear..

I am fired up.

There has been a lot of great news happening in Drag Racing, and really all of Motorsports lately.
2 weeks ago, you see the media firestorm surrounding IRL superstar Danica Patrick winning her first race in Japan. In doing so, she is the first woman to win a major IRL event: a journey 3 years in the making. All of motorsports, and especially all women in motorsports rejoiced at her victory.

Then this weekend, we see our own Ashley Force win her first Funny Car race, being the first woman to win a National event in that class. Ashley now joins several other PRO category National event winners: Shirley Muldowney, Angelle Sampey, Melanie Troxel, Peggy Llewellyn, Karen Stoffer, etc.

The event, though very much historic as well, did not receive the media attention of Danica's win, a fact that we have grown accustomed to in our sport as a whole. Though NHRA Drag Racing is one of the most actively participated in and watched of all motorsports, its seems to be the ugly step-child of the motorsports divisions in the media's eyes.

This isn't new to us as drag racers. The media's only mention of drag racing is normally incorrectly portrayed as the illegal street races that end in tragedy. I know for certain, that events like this one being labeled as drag racing instead of illegal street racing, has caused many a sponsor from becoming involved in the sport, as they are unsure of the legality of our very legitimate sport.

So understandably, several drag racers took offense to reports by the media on Danica's win being "the first female racer to win any major motorsport event" as a slap in the face to our many female champions and event winners (Shirley Muldowney captured 3 World Championships in Top Fuel nearly 20 years ago). They did what any citizen reading an inaccuracy in their news would do... they took to writing letters to educate them of the many NHRA female national event champions.

But this time, someone from the media fired back. In a message sent to the popular drag racing message board, Nitromater.com, Charles Everett wrote:

Subject: NitroMater on Danica: Childish and unprofessional

The people who post to Nitromater are a bunch of reactionaries, not unlike
a right-wing pressure group. I've been in the newspaper industry for over 30 years. I've dealt with a lot of selfish people but I've never seen a more self-centered bunch than the clique that follows the NHRA.

People who follow the NHRA expect the media to bow and scrape before your sport. They don't and for good reason.

Every time there's something you don't like, you whine and cry like a bunch
of babies. It's not unlike the censorship advocates at the American Family
Association or the Parents Television Council.

Jon Asher lied when he said the press was following an IRL press release.
Sounds to me like he's never worked in TV or newspapers. The New York Times was relying on the Associated Press wire. So were CNN, Fox Sports and most other news outlets. ESPN had instant access because ESPN Classic televised the race live. Mr. Asher told your board to flood the local press and TV with complaints. That's not gonna help your cause -- in fact it might prompt the local press and TV to tell you to CEASE AND DESIST or you'll get sued for harassment. It's bad enough that newspapers all over are laying off people. Targeting the press with a flood of complaints won't help.

I also love how the NHRA clique worships Shirley Muldowney. She won a lot of races but she treated so many people like dirt, they want nothing to do with her. How you treat people goes a long way in how your sport gets covered.

Danica Patrick and the Indy Racing League do not owe an apology to anyone. Nitromater and its members owe an apology to Ms. Patrick and the IRL.

As for the New York Times? It ran a very telling story on the front page on April 20: All those retired generals appearing on TV news are nothing more than Pentagon pimps.

Signed: Charles Everett (as posted on Nitromater.com)

Never before have I seen such arrogance, and ethically challenged diatribe coming from someone claiming 30 year veteran status in journalism. The very fundamentals, the CORE of journalism lies in the Tenets that govern the trade. This is in direct violation of those core values.

Let's break this down:

"People who follow the NHRA expect the media to bow and scrape before your sport. They don't and for good reason. Every time there's something you don't like, you whine and cry like a bunch of babies. It's not unlike the censorship advocates at the American Family Association or the Parents Television Council. "

So by this, you are admitting that the media knowingly persecutes drag racers because they are believed by your type to be "a bunch of babies"? What about Tenet 4: Maintaining an independence from those they cover? Injecting your personal beliefs about who you deem media-worthy because of their alleged attitude is a direct violation.

"Mr. Asher told your board to flood the local press and TV with complaints. That's not gonna help your cause -- in fact it might prompt the local press and TV to tell you to CEASE AND DESIST or you'll get sued for harassment. It's bad enough that newspapers all over are laying off people. Targeting the press with a flood of complaints won't help."

Oh okay. We are not entitled to exercise our freedom of speech to tell you when you are not being factual? What about Tenet 6: Provide a forum for public criticism and compromise? Had you properly exercised Tenet 1: Journalism's first obligation is to the truth and Tenet 3: Discipline of verification, we would not have something to "whine & cry" about, now would we? And maybe your jobs and livelihood wouldn't be threatened by the growing Citizen Journalism movement aimed at getting out the true stories you are above reporting. Even more appauling that you threaten us with legal suit for asking you politely and repeatedly to simply do your job correctly.

"I also love how the NHRA clique worships Shirley Muldowney. She won a lot of races but she treated so many people like dirt, they want nothing to do with her. How you treat people goes a long way in how your sport gets covered."

So now, your personal opinion about the personality of a member of our sport dictates what coverage our sport receives as a whole? What about Tenet 8: must keep the news comprehensive and proportional? Your personal bias against drag racing, and your slant to other areas distorts the comprehensive and proportional coverage. Not to mention that you are admittedly violating Tenet 2: First loyalty is to citizens, namely us DRAG RACING citizens, when you exclude us from coverage on our historical and newsworthy events.

That leaves us Tenet 5: It must serve as an independent monitor of power, which by your bullying tactics should be focused back on monitoring YOUR power of biased reporting; and finally Tenet 9: practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience, which I do not see you truthfully doing in such a bigoted approach to drag racing coverage (or lack thereof).

Maybe the IRL doesn't owe drag racing an apology, and drag racing doesn't owe IRL one either, but you my friend, are another evil entirely.