Most Popular Driver

[W. J.]

Who counted the votes is irrellevent. It is the fact that you can fix it by obtaining the ballot form from people who can't be bothered, or leave their programs behind when the event is over. Having said that, the only way to make sure it is a true representation is to have the County Board of Elections make sure that only one person gets one vote. Not too likely, so you have to live with the way it is, and give it that much credence.

[Ka$h25]

I always thought Steve Barrick- who doesn't really have much affiliation with Riverhead drivers at all, did the counting. I worked for programs about 5 or 6 years ago, as did 2 of the Larsens. We weren't even allowed to vote for that reason. This contest has NOTHING to do with standings or on the track performance. If anything, it's pretty impressive to win the award without any outstanding performance. Just goes to show the work she puts in AFTER the races, is really paying off.


It's also a bit ridiculous- from what I hear, the way 00ne driver reacted. N00 names mentioned. If it were any driver but a 17 year old girl, I think he would've reconsidered his rampage and childish antics.

[wayne]

So if I buy 100 programs filled them all out with a drivers name, that driver gets a 100 votes? So this is about $$$....again, you have to spend it in order to get the dominant vote!!

[W. J.]

Yeah, Wayne, now you understand it.

[rabbid1]

I'm wondering where Crazy Eddie finished. Seems that when he wins the crowd loves it. And he did throw quite a bash, and when it comes to signing certain body parts, He's a master!!

[racerwife]

Well Wayne, if that's how you would get your Most Popular Drivers trophy it would be very sad.. now wouldn't it, to buy it for yourself.
The idea of the vote is... if you purchase a program, you are asked to vote for someone you think deserves your recognition. A lot of drivers do things for racing off and away from the track and have a lot of exposure elsewhere. Then when you also see them at the track, you may just respond in a positive way by saying/thinking... this one I remember... I'll vote for so and so...
Let's see... I've seen the figure 8 cars of Tom Kraft displayed at cars shows, at their sponsors businesses and in Patchogue at their "Alive at 5" I think it was called nights. Jessica was there, too, with her car... and a lot of people were there looking at, talking to, and getting autographs from both. I saw other cars there, too, once or twice, but not everytime like these two. More exposure = more potential votes!
Regardless, of how it's achieved... it was a contest... ballots counted... a popular vote. If it cost you out of your pocket to get it... how sad no one likes you enough to care to vote.

[wayne]

Racerwife, read my post AGAIN. Since you need it to be explained, I wasn't saying that "I" would buy them for MYSELF!!....I was stating that ANYONE that had enough money to buy any number of books, could fill them out for ANY driver of their choice, and vote as many times as they want as long as they were buying the books. I wasn't saying I would have someone buy them and vote FOR ME.... "PLEASE"!! Instead of it being one vote per person, you CAN vote as many times as you would like. Thats ALL I WAS SAYING. And, as far as stating that someone isn't picked because their fans don't like them enough to pay money to vote is pretty SAD and sorry statement in my opinion. If it were a fair contest, it wouldn't cost money to vote, but HEY... thats Riverhead Raceway.

[bulldozer]

I was on the track with jessica and tomm w comes into the track area and starts booing a 16 year old girl because she won the most popular driver.I really thought he was kidding or i would of went over there and stuffed my trophy right up his you know what.NO class is all i have to say for that guy.I hear bob f call jessica out when she finishes good and you hear the fans chear.She deserved the award because i know i voted for her.All i can say is tommy w is a selfish,arrigant self center piece of crap for booing her while she was trying to make he speech.Its only an award be happy for someone else.CLASS ACT NOT oo.CHRIS TURBUSH

[The"Roof"Rider]

It's cheaper to go buy a 10 dollar trophy!

[Fig8 T.K.]

This award has been given out for numerous years and no complaints. Why is this such a problem this year? Some ballots are given in at the track and some are mailed directly to PDI. The votes are counted by Steve Barick who owns the program company. Steve is there every year on the last night to announce the winners because he is the only one that knows who the winners are. After the behavior of this driver towards a young girl hopefully his sponsors will take a page from John Wellman's notebook. If this driver needs that trophy so bad he can have mine and pull Chris's out of his you know where and than he can have two.

T.K.

[Wheel Racing]

This is a funny topic that seems to be complained about every year. Years ago my family bought programs every week and filled out my name. They thought for sure that I would win and when I didn't, they were upset. I told everyone that it wasn't a big deal because if they were the only ones voting, then it really wouldn't mean that much.They actually stopped voting and I won the next 2 years in a row without any family votes, which felt better. The deal with the voting is that if one crew is voting for their driver, they fill out the rest of the ballot with their favorites in other division which can spike a vote. If you ask Steve Barrick how many total votes there were, you would be surprised how few there really are. Not too many "fans" seem to fill out a ballot and vote. There should be more hype for the award all season and a "vote box" somewhere at the track to encourage weekly votes. A few years ago the JAM had popularity votes with only one vote per member and the vote was very similar to the tracks outcome. I really don't know what the best answer is, but this is definitely not the first time these awards have been questioned. I remember a part-time driver winning the award in a different division a few years back. I really don't feel the award was fixed, the family and Program Dynamics have more integrity than that, but the opportunity to vote multiple times exists for all teams and some take better advantage of that. Congratulations Jessica on the award, you guys did a nice job of making yourself available and being in the public eye (Newsday,etc.). If people are really not happy about the outcomes in the different divisions, than they should also vote. That seems to be the only way to get your favorite driver awarded now. Popularity contests are always questioned. How long did Sanjaya last on American Idol last year??

[Wannaberacer]

I think she's great and kinda look up to her, since I'm looking to get into a Blunderbust when I get money and a license in a year. Did Tommy W. really come out an boo her? That's terrible, if that's true, then he lost a fan in me.

[wayne]

Do I think it was fixed? no. I just was unaware of how the voting process worked. I've been racing here for a couple years and I never purchased a magazine to see that that was where you got your ballots. All these posts were just my opinion. I'm not trying to take anything away from Jessica.

[Wannaberacer]

Sorry I mis-read your post

[KickItUp]

Know what I honestly don't care for?? Why is it when she finsihes a race, it gets announced? She isn't the first 16 year old to drive a racecar, there are other rookies, too, who don't get nearly the recognition. And if you use the being female thing as an excuse, there should be no classifying.. A driver is supposed to be a driver, and that's it. I hate the fact these days that some really hard working people, whether veterans or rookies, get lost because they are not a 16 year old female..

Boy, do I wish freedom of speech really existed, I'd have a mouthful to say, but really, you can't have an honest opinion without being beaten to death these days..

I rememeber thru the years, folks complaining of winners of this thing.. A certain truck driver ran 2 races, won it.. A charger driver ran 6 races at the end of the season, won it.. Another driver who had more boos all season long than any Cup driver won it.. Those few stand out.. But who cares..

As for what the 00 did.. He expressed his opinion.. His honest opinion.. And where I was sitting, there were plenty of drivers in all classes and each had nearly the same things to be said.. As well as fans and families.. So he wasn't the only one, just the only one seen I guess..

I wish racedrivers were just that, racedrivers.. But they don't seem to exist anymore. It's more about what sells than anything else.. Ahhh well..