In Saturday’s qualifying sessions, and subsequent ESPN Television broadcast, John Force was very vocal about the current state of John Force Racing now that Ford has announced they will not be a part of the team after 2014. Force stated that he knew Ford was talking about lowering their financial commitment to NHRA Professional Drag Racing, but thought that this would mean they would only cut his funding in half. He claims to have been as shocked as the rest of the public when the announcement came out, and says that this may change a lot at John Force Racing because they may not be able to afford to race the way they do now without another partner stepping in.
Just as concerning to John Force is the recent sale of Castrol to British Petroleum. What does this mean for Castrol’s sponsorship of Force Racing? Force himself has said he is concerned and isn’t sure. Castrol has been a part of Force Racing for nearly three decades, and losing them would be a hit that this race team may not be able to survive without some serious changes. On ESPN’s broadcast of qualifying n Seattle, Force stated that Robert Height and Courtney Force would clearly stay in Funny Car because of their great sponsorships with AutoClub and Traxxas. However, it said that he might need to change over to a Top Fuel Car like Britney currently drives which means that he would also have to pull Jimmy Prock, the only John Force Racing crew chief with Top Fuel Dragster experience, over to the new dragster team as well.
This could get ugly before it gets good, and we’ll just have to see. We’ll keep you posted with more information as we hear it.
Those that watch history of other motorsports, Ford will not be the only one to pull back.
I think the NHRA needs to rethink it’s pro racing, as it’s way out of line, cost wise.
The years of treating the sportsman racers like redheadedstep children isn’t going to help matters..
Amen and Plus 1 !!! The NHRA has been doing everything imaginable over the last 20 years to bury itself into obscurity and irrelevancy …. and at their current rate of progress they may very well succeed ….. unfortunately
As to the ‘ Socialism ‘ comment below …. more than a bit out of context in this case I’m afraid . No …. its not Socialism thats destroying the Worlds economies ( take special note … we have Zero socialism in the US 😉 ) … its rampant and ever waxing corporate boardroom and investors greed thats sending us all into a tailspin … plain and simple … read the facts Mr Smrtic …. not the conspiracy theory vaporware websites
Zero socialism in the US?
Please! We’ve got a 50% increase in welfare recipients under the current administration, as well as government extending its’ reach into private industry with the healthcare reform that was passed as well as tighter and tighter restrictions in other private industries, especially coal.
It may not be labeled as socialism, but don’t be foolish enough to think these things aren’t rooted in socialism.
“Those that watch history” is a good start. Those that don’t have a clue about world politics would be a good place, too. Socialism IS destroying the world’s economies. This is just one, minor, insignificant example of how it will affect our everyday lives.
Zero Socialism in the United States? Someone has been following to much drag racing, and not keeping up with what is happening in Washington.
Less funding (watch for others to follow suit), leading to smaller teams, de-tuning cars to save parts, smaller fuel pumps to save fuel, slower cars, meaning a return to 1320 foot pro racing and hopefully more independent racers coming up from the sportsman ranks. Look, I feel bad for JFR losing all that money from Ford, but I also believe that the mega-teams are a big part of what is wrong with our sport. The New England Nationals proved that a packed house at a smaller venue is (in my opinion), better than empty stands and thin fields at the big “Plexs.” Our sport will never die, and maybe backing off a couple of notches will make drag racing as enjoyable as it once was. It seems to work for the IHRA.
We do have rampant ‘socialism’ in the ‘good ole USA’ that is taking us down the same road as the rest of the world and it’s eventual presence into our racing world is inevitable. Tax and over burden businesses out of the country and eventually the whole country will resemble Detroit.
As a racer I can attest to feeling ‘less than wanted’ at the big races but as a racefan I’ll be the first to say that after the Pros are done I’m back in the pits checking out the action….I can see all the sportsman I want back home at the local track.
With politics aside, most of the interviews I’ve heard from Force as of late show his concern for his kids & “the future of JFR”. He knows better than most that professional racing is simply way too expensive without corporate sponsorship & that has destroyed “the good old days of drag racing”. NHRA itself has made some poor decisions with their 1000 ft. rule.
I believe that while he doesn’t want to step down, he will consider that a feasible option if he doesn’t acquire new sponsorship. He’ll do it for his kids & I for one believe he should consider the option of running a less expensive nostalgia funny car & being the very vocal owner of a race team. I think he could be just as happy there after 15 world titles but that’s just my opinion..!
One thing is certain, change always happens & with or without politics, corporate greed, race rules, etc. John & JFR will need to adapt to it like everyone else –
Dodge already left NASCAR and NASCAR is by far the more valuable racing series in terms of marketability, the main reason car companies invest in racing.
This shouldn’t be too much of a shock to anyone. The NHRA for years has disregarded the sportsmen racers who are the backbone of the sport.
NASCAR spends a lot of money to market the lower ranks, promoting not only the Nationwide series, but the Camping World truck races as well as local and regional races too.
They’ve also taken steps to bring some resemblance to production cars back to their race cars so the fans can relate to them on the track again.
as much as I love Force.. he is always very kind at the TASCA bbq
he is part of the problem..he has 15 champs.. and that good for him.. but for the sport..
not so much.. why watch when you almost can bet the outcome before it starts..
the BIGGER problem is the NHRA thinking they need that high mph/et to bring fans through the gates, they don’t they need close racing..
slow the cars down, make it easier for a team to field a car (cheaper)
remove the fines/points b/s when a car oils down the track..yes it sucks to have to wait for the clean up.. but it kills smaller teams.. that can’t afford to replace everything every round, and if they get to a bunch of finals and semi finals, one oil down kills all that work..
bring back the 1/4. put a restrictor plate on the cars at tracks that can’t safely take the speeds today.. or change the gearing to slow them down at those tracks if that’s easier/cheaper .
Prostock.. back these down to a showroom engine size.. ford/mopar/g.m. have 6.2 v8’s. well why they running 500 c.i.d. maybe even open up a turbo class with a 3.8ltr limit. so you have 2 prostock classes.. or 3 prostock v8 /prostock v6 turbo and prostock 4cyl turbo. with s 2.4ltr limit.. and maybe even prostreet v8 turbo
stop having all the pro cars at one track.. if the top fuel is running in texas, the pro stock classes are running somewhere else..( with 3-4 classes of prostock it work
and allow enough time in the program not to screw over the sportsman guys..
nascar doesn’t have the nationwide and sprint cars trying to get both races in ,at one track in one day..they either run sat at same track or sat at a different track..
if the NHRA split the shows and had the top fuel/alky cars and sportsman at one track and the pro stock and sportsman at another.. it work so much better than, planning on getting everything in, with a wish and a prayer, and screwing a class of racers because they had an oil down or a wreck,etc…
instead of it being a mad dash to get it all in.. it have as much racing and everyone will get to race and be happy..
Scion and Rev oil will help you
I hope he retires. I’m sick of him and his entire family. Sorry, but I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I live England and guess what we;ve just lost ESPN . So bang goes my one and only sport on TV thats worth watching . Drag Racing will carry on so long as people want to go quickly but dont expect it to be televised , I now have the chance to watch Golf ,Horse racing ,football etc what an arse !
Well John you being a die hard dem and Obuma lover what did you expect.. Now use some of your own money to race..
I’m a hardcore drag race participant and fan, but I can’t watch Pro Drag Racing on TV unless I record it so I can fast forward it. To sit there and listen to all the insipid interveiws,the stories of how “we struggled, but my crew finally came together;’ blah, blah; and Courtney Force spewing every sponsor out of her mouth to make one statement is mind numbing. I know there are tons of people like me who do the same recording. My wife laughs and says didn’t I see the same thing last week and the week before, and the week before,etc.
Really, does someone like JEGS Pro Stock winning inspire me with awe when I’m sending them half my check each week to buy parts? I don’t think so.
I dont feel bad for JFR.he gets what he deserves.Im tired of seeing him win races and manipulate the top fuel system by losing races on purpose so his daughters or teammates can have a chance at the final rounds.Hes always been accused of this but never has been caught.whenever hes had to face one of his family members in the championship race,especially his daughter,he almost always redlights or spins the tires,but the rest of the night,hes had holeshot wins.mhmmm?!
Well, if JFR goes away I will stop following the NHRA. This is the only team that truly promotes the sport. Teams like DSR should be watched more closely. At the last two races I have been at I have seen them using and selling drugs in the mens room. I agree that NHRA is NOT doing right by all of the teams. ESPN & ESPN2 are a joke whenh it comes to coverage of this sport. OH YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really want to watch a little league game, or tennis, or any other so called sport, in stead of something I really enjoy. And yes, go back to the 1320 by slowing the cars if need be. As a former driver I do know some of what I am saying.
Wtf is wrong with you fucks? This article is about Drag Racing and John Force not fucking socialism. I wouldn’t mind seeing John in a Top Fuel Dragster next year. I think 2 funny cars and 2 dragsters would be cool as shit.