Hight Makes Fifth Test; Drivers Cry Foul

[funnycarguy]

I have been a fan of NHRA since I was 5 and am still involved with funny cars. This is not a good decision for the sport. If a press release is wrong it should have been clarified a long time ago. Before it became a problem. We need all fans no matter who they cheer for. Makes for a healthy sport. One word, arrogance........this is so unbelievable!

And I am a fan of JFR for how it helped grow the sport. Don, you are too kind! thanks for setting the record straight.

 

[rpasley]

So let me get this straight...the driver gets the points, regardless of the car, but the car gets the tests, regardless of the driver--except the RULE states that it's the team AND driver are limited to 4 tests. I didn't hear anything about Hight getting kicked off of the JFR team, did you? Or is it that the car gets the tests, the driver gets the points, and the team gets only one car?

If it's mathematically feasible, DSR should put Hagan in either Capp's or Beckman's car for Maple Grove and Indy to push Neff out of the top 10. And Cruz should take TPed's, too.

This is a pitiful sham of a travesty created by an ill-conceived, poorly devised, and arbitrarily managed committee of one (G Light), who's been played by a man smarter than him (J Force).

Considering Light and NHRA screwed this up, the only really fair solution is for them to require that Hight NOT be allowed to drive the #7 car for points at the next two races, just as capriciously as they allowed this testing to go forward.

 

[Dave]

Since the sh*t's flyin', I couldn't resist getting involved. If anybody really believes that NHRA's rules are clearly written and make sense; they haven't been paying attention very long. In my opinion, a rule is subject to interpertation. How it is written and how it is read really depends on who is reading it. Why do you think lawyers need to be involved in writing big deal contracts? They know how to write things and where to put in "has, is, will, was, & shall, etc. NHRA writes rules that they do not always enforce. When someone breaks a rule and is called on it, NHRA can't find their ass with both hands, and their ass. They explain it as best as they understand it because I'd bet they don't fully understand it. Remember, this sport is run by a bunch of bean counters and not racers. Racers know rules and how to bend them, bean counters only know money.

So if Force is or isn't breaking a rule, he got NHRA's blessing so more power to him. Not to piss off any team owners but if NHRA let's Force do this, you can do it too. A precident has been set so don't complain about it. Go test all you want and if NHRA says no, just remind them of Force. If they still b*tch, call you're lawyer.

NHRA has done a few odd things over the years when it comes to rules. I'm sure we all still remember how they screwed the Don with the Nitro thing. I believe the Schumacher group was not in violation of any rule, but NHRA stuck 'em anyway.

Besides, I'd bet some others have gone over their tests limit. There has got to be some track someplace that somebody has run on and didn't let NHRA know. If nobody says anything, how is NHRA going to know? They can't be everywhere all the time.

Just my 2 cents.

Dave

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

If NHRA OKed this is all this discussion really necessary? If they told Don he could now bring his own nitro to the track - would he be getting bashed when he did it because of the rule books verbiage?

My point is the sanctioning body writes and enforces the rules. If they waive them - it's THEIR fault for inconsistency not the recipient. On the other hand I can also see, that with very few exceptions, most posting remarks here are showing their feelings about JFR and I completely understand page after page of negative discussion. Sorry for the interruption. We now return you back to your regularly scheduled session of Force bashing!

 

[Porkchop]

So let me get this straight...the driver gets the points, regardless of the car, but the car gets the tests, regardless of the driver--except the RULE states that it's the team AND driver are limited to 4 tests. I didn't hear anything about Hight getting kicked off of the JFR team, did you? Or is it that the car gets the tests, the driver gets the points, and the team gets only one car?

If it's mathematically feasible, DSR should put Hagan in either Capp's or Beckman's car for Maple Grove and Indy to push Neff out of the top 10. And Cruz should take TPed's, too.

This is a pitiful sham of a travesty created by an ill-conceived, poorly devised, and arbitrarily managed committee of one (G Light), who's been played by a man smarter than him (J Force).

Considering Light and NHRA screwed this up, the only really fair solution is for them to require that Hight NOT be allowed to drive the #7 car for points at the next two races, just as capriciously as they allowed this testing to go forward.

Dont forget Grahams kid works for Force!!!......Mmmmm?

 

[shoe]

All

Please understand that I have never talked to Graham Light or any NHRA official about Robert and John testing in Brainerd. The written policy issued by NHRA is clear to me and my teams.

 

[Randy]

So according to the comments made by Robert, even he thought he was out of testing days. So if each driver is allowed 4 days, then on a multi-car team you can just rotate the drivers through each car and maybe even bring in someone like Cory Lee, John Lawson, etc. to get unlimited testing. This could open up many possibilities. NHRA screwed up AGAIN!!!!

 

[Lori]

I think that if this is the way it was to be 'interpretted', that other teams would have been testing in this creative way too all year long. Like someone else said, if this is the way it was meant to be interpretted, then other teams should follow suit if the need presents its self. Everyone should be given the same treatment from now on. I doubt any penalty will be imposed on Hight, as they were given the nod to go ahead. I just hope this doesn't backfire on JFR, but even some of the fans here are a little uneasy about the way this might reflect on the team. Seems like they always are on camera and for once this isn't good media for JFR. Wonder what kind of spin is coming up from the team, and you can rest assured there will be dialog on camera at the next race from him pleading his case in some spastic way. Or, maybe not...........

 

[NHRAMike]

I thought scenarios like this were discussed here when this rule came out. Someone had brought up if Doug Kalitta had used up his testing quota that Connie could just bring out Grubby or Hillary's cars and circumvent the NHRA's rule.

 

[Toejam]

I knew John Force had Glendora by the Balls, but I didn't expect this!

 

[Solid Rock]

As has been stated earlier, if anyone has any complaints about this they should be directed at NHRA, not JFR.

It sure looks to me like NHRA is hell bent on destroying itself.

 

[Kelly]

All

Please understand that I have never talked to Graham Light or any NHRA official about Robert and John testing in Brainerd. The written policy issued by NHRA is clear to me and my teams.

Thanks for your input Shoe! So, I guess that means you won't be asking if you can manipulate the rule like they did?

 

[Gary H]

Wouldnt it be easier to just limit the car to 4 testing days, no matter who the driver is? If a chassis gets damaged, allow one testing day. But they arent allowed to run the damaged chassis again.

 

[Frank]

It bothers me more that they're switching cars than the testing piece. Hight and Prock have had 16 races to prove they are a top 10 team just like everyone else and they haven't been able to do it. To me this is just like laying down in eliminations. I understand John's thinking and reasoning and the business implications but I still don't agree with it. I know I'll be labeled as a JFR basher but I'm really not. I just don't always agree that putting the business side ahead of the racing side is a good idea. Schumacher did it a few years ago with Bazemore and Scelzi (was it the Seattle race?) and from that day forward he said his cars would race to the finish no matter what. T. Ped and C. Ped ran all out at Brainerd even though C. Ped needed the points. I guarantee that if Hight lines up against Ashley or John in Reading that Hight is getting the win. Like I said I understand why he does it I just don't agree with it. John has done a whole hell of a lot for this sport, but in my opinion, these kinds of things hurt the sport.

 

[club]

If NHRA OKed this is all this discussion really necessary? If they told Don he could now bring his own nitro to the track - would he be getting bashed when he did it because of the rule books verbiage?

My point is the sanctioning body writes and enforces the rules. If they waive them - it's THEIR fault for inconsistency not the recipient. On the other hand I can also see, that with very few exceptions, most posting remarks here are showing their feelings about JFR and I completely understand page after page of negative discussion. Sorry for the interruption. We now return you back to your regularly scheduled session of Force bashing!

What Bobby said

 

[rick]

Wouldn't be interesting with all of this fuss if Robert still didn't make the countdown?

I'm not going to root against him, but it would be ironic if he ends up not making it in.

 

[rollingthunder]

I disagree. If people have a problem with it they should be saying something to both NHRA AND JFR. Nhra for caving in and JFR because they think they are the ultimate and I can do whatever i want because I AM JOHN FORCE.
Because this is what it comes down to.

 

[Nunz]

NHRA could have told Force "No". Also, this means that Shoe has the ability to implement the same type of switch, should he decide it is beneficial, right?

 

[rollingthunder]

are we allowed to talk bad about this since Sponsers read these sites ?

 

[MM]

I disagree. If people have a problem with it they should be saying something to both NHRA AND JFR. Nhra for caving in and JFR because they think they are the ultimate and I can do whatever i want because I AM JOHN FORCE.
Because this is what it comes down to.

what a crock of $hit....you think they woulda went through with the test if Light had told them Robert was not allowed to test in an FC for the rest of the year? They asked NHRA for an interpretation of the rule and it was laid down before them and they acted within the boundries of the rules as they were explained to them....how is that their fault?