Pedregons lose the sportsmanship trophy!!

[Paul]

I see a fine coming, and it's T-Ped who should get it, he was the one who instigated the thing, T-Ped was the one who walked over to the other side of the return road to shoot his mouth off, and pushed John to get it started, T-Ped should have stayed on the other side with his car, and cried like the whining little baby that he is.

Why T-Ped, he wasn't the one flipping out like a lunatic? John was an embarrassment to himself and the sponsors he represents by the way he acted yesterday. A man of his stature should be a bigger man and walk away knowing he did indeed fix the race and Tony was correct with what he was saying.

 

[cp]

Hmm, last two years JRF 0 Championships vs. Pedregon Brothers 2 Championships on a fraction of the budget. Yeah, they are jealous. You also must be a WWE fan considering what we saw yesterday. I am rooting for anyone but the 4 JFR cars to win the title after what I saw yesterday. Notice I am not acting like a first grader by saying "I hate em both", grow up and act like an adult.

I don't remember how much of a lead Tony had two years ago before the countdown, but who would even call Cruz's championship a real championship. Cmon Wilkerson was on fire last year, give me a break.

 

[Paul]

I don't remember how much of a lead Tony had two years ago before the countdown, but who would even call Cruz's championship a real championship. Cmon Wilkerson was on fire last year, give me a break.

Well, Cruz's championship is every bit as real as the championship that will be won this year. Cruz's name is in the record book, he has the trophy, and he has the check so that would classify his championship as real. Next.........

 

[turbo ken]

Why T-Ped, he wasn't the one flipping out like a lunatic? John was an embarrassment to himself and the sponsors he represents by the way he acted yesterday. A man of his stature should be a bigger man and walk away knowing he did indeed fix the race and Tony was correct with what he was saying.

What race were you watching Paul, T-Ped was the lunatic that started it (he went out of his way to start it), he's the one who should be fined.

 

[Greg]

Why T-Ped, he wasn't the one flipping out like a lunatic? John was an embarrassment to himself and the sponsors he represents by the way he acted yesterday. A man of his stature should be a bigger man and walk away knowing he did indeed fix the race and Tony was correct with what he was saying.

This makes me laugh. You have a guy who was approached by the cameras on at least three different occasions in less than 2 hours telling him what Tony said and what Cruz said. Just trying to get a rise out of him. He took the high road and said he wasn't going to play that game and trash talk them. Every man has his breaking point. It's not like he just went bananas for no reason. He tried to take the high road from the beginning, but they just kept pushing.

Force comes from a different generation of hardcore racers where they handled things with a fist to the jaw if they needed to. Thankfully times have changed, but I'm glad he at least stood up for himself right or wrong. I believe if this would have happened 25 years ago, Tony would just now be waking up trying to figure out what the hell happened and asking Cruz to help him find his missing teeth.

 

[Billy]

This is crazy, people wanting Force to be fined and suspended for getting into a shoving contest with officials and a shouting match with Tony. It sorta reminded me of the good ol' days, but alas, those days are long gone. Actually, now that I think about it, did Force get fined when he got into it with Lee Beard? Not trying to be a smart a@*, I just don't remember. Honestly, I don't know why everyone is so pissed, it's not the first time a JFR car has taken a dive. I knew when the pairings were shown what was going to happen. Cruz had his shot at controlling his own destiny, it didn't work out. Not to mention he's had nearly 6 and a half months to earn enough points to make the chase, looks like zero off season testing finally came back to bite him. Don't get me wrong, I don't like or support what happened on track, but like it or not, racing has become business. In this case, John protected his interests, and from a business standpoint, it was the right thing to do. From a competitve one, it was transparent what went down.

Yes - John Force was fined $10,000 for the Memphis 2003 incident. And the best reaction to that was Shirley as part of her acceptance speech to the Don Prudhomme Award said "John Force - I loved you in Memphis, but I would have gone for the $25,000 fine!" Love her!

 

[DLB]

I have taken about a 1 year hiatus from this place, and I knew there would be a lot to talk about on this so I came to see.

Let me say, after leaving and coming back, this board has a couple of good posters on it. I'll let you all speculate, but they know who they are.

DLB

 

[Nunz]

A lot of good points have been made here, on both sides of the fence. Truth is, the minute one owner has more than 1 car in a class, there is NO WAY to police it. And it's certainly not an NHRA problem, it's in every form of motorsports. And it's been there since long before the countdown. I read an interview with the Candies & Hughes guys just this year reflecting on their 2 car team final, in I believe 1970. I can't remember which guy said what, but one of them said he regretted throwing the race because he could have made a 6 sec. run, I think they had decided to give the race to the then-new Cuda body. Someone on here can probably set the story right, but the point is this stuff has been going on since almost the beginning, even when it wasn't anywhere near the business it is now! If people think owners make huge investments in infrastructure to field more than one car, just for "data acquisition", they are way off. Having more than one car gives you blocking ability, so everyone should just accept it as part of the deal and move on.

 

[Earl]

I read but hardly ever post. Here is my .02 cents.
John Force is a racer and a business man.
For the good of JFR you get your team in the points and the money rounds.
Thats racing and business. With out business you have no racing.
NHRA has rules about how you run your own races???
Didn't Dan Wilkerson "lay down" for Tasca?
Again, I say thats business and racing.
Did Mike Dunn ramble on about that??
For Cruz to say John Force cheated is just not thinking before opening.

Matt Shaff

Well I agree with lots of the replies, and I understand the emotions from everyone’s perspective, John, Tony, Pure Racers, Fans of both sides. But one important thing has been left out here. When the NHRA allowed multi car teams for business reasons (without them there would not be full fields of quality cars) that puts sponsors in a position of wanting a return on their investment. One of the big racing reasons for having multi car teams is to have more chances to win, wither it is by being a blocker, or taking one for the home team. The truly sad part is that the NHRA will not let the teams admit what they are doing by making a big game and a sham out of the whole thing. It is after all not pure racing, but a combo between showmanship and racing. Just be truthful about the whole thing and tell it like it is.

Earl Helm

 

[PJ]

Costing Cruz twenty precious points?????? Business smart??? No - he needed those points today!

Now, for all the Pedregon lovers/Force Haters - lest we remember the end of last year with an obvious dive in Vegas giving Cruz the points necessary over Wilkerson to win the championship. If you hate Force today you MUST also hate the Pedregons for their team orders.

Lastly, for the DSR darlings, please don't be so blind to forget Neff/Scelzi in Seattle picking the wrong lane in an effort to further the team's point situation. This was Jim Jannard's first win after spending millions on this sport but he was denied due to team orders. You're simply kidding yourself to believe it's not happening. This is big business and the smart one still has all his teams running and funded while the ones crying "Cheaters" today are watching the wheels fall off.

p.s. Dickie seems happy over at AJs place, don't you think?

Remember, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Research your history before finger pointing.

don't forget year one of the countdown when Tony didn't have to beat other countdown cars but was able to race his brother a few times to win the countdown


They are both right and both wrong in this

I hate the dives but I also get why they happen. Sometimes its a business move and although I do not know of Castrol/Ford rules I do know other teams have had sponsors make that call in the past. Kinda hard to say no to the people paying the bills.

Tony lived under and even won a championship under these rules, which he was ok with then. Seems wrong to be all self righteous about it now. With that said I fully understand his and Cruz's anger. If I were in their shoes I would be too and also would have said something and If I were in John's shoes I would have done the same thing for Hight




Since Hight was the first annual receiptant of the screwed by the countdown award in Funny car and since with Tony and Cruz gave both won under the wefare points system, I guess its kinda poetic justice or karma that this happened. The only won because they were given points to catch Wilk and Hight. Hight was now just "given" points to catch Cruz. Yeah yeah it was in the rule book so thats the difference right??? As we've seen this year between changing qualifying points, testing interpretations weight being added and such The rules are kind of a moving target.


Also you can't fully blame this on the countdown (yeah I know ya'll are shocked) Dives happened long before the countdown. Of course in the past it was only the last race or two and only very few people but now with the countdown it does open up allot more possibilities of this happening so that is bad. Which I believe was one of the predictions made when they went to this farce hmmmmmmm

 

[megadeth]

I just want to thank John and Tony for making the mater come back to life!
I haven't seen this much traffic here in a long time!

 

[Bullard Anderson]

John Force has to man up, realize he will still be a millionaire and the richest owner/driver of the lot no matter what his 4th car does. He has to respect the integrity of racing.

Period.

 

[Joker]

Considering how Wilk didn't face Tasca at Norwalk, I'd say he definitely didn't lay down for him.

However, since you want to question Tim's character, let me say that I know Tim and I know many people close to him that would back me up on this...Tim's too old school and one of the most genuine stand-up guys you'll ever meet on and off the track. Just ask any other racer out there.

In fact, I'd say that he's a rare example in today's professional sports world of what represents good sportsmanship and hard work. Plus he shows total respect for his peers and also is genuinely humble when it come to the opportunity to be where he's at in life and what he has at the track, in his business and at home with his family.

He's just not that kind of guy.

First of all, I never said anything about Tim. Matter of fact, I like Tim and Tasca. I dont mind seeing them win at all. However, thats got nothing to do with what I asked which you didnt answer.

So it wasnt Norwalk, I was wrong. Oh well, but at some race this year that Daniel drove he qualified and had to race Tasca 1st rd and they even said he threw the race b/c he wasnt in the pts. Whats the difference is my question to you Drew? Answer, there isint any. Its the same thing. So if your going to condemn Force, then you have to condemn Wilk/Tasca aswell.

 

[Paul]

What race were you watching Paul, T-Ped was the lunatic that started it (he went out of his way to start it), he's the one who should be fined.

Just watched it again, Tony was calm, cool, and collected as he was explaining why he thought it was a sham to John. After poked by Gary, John became unglued like a lunatic and had to be restrained as he was pushing NHRA officials. Tony didn't have to be restrained by anyone. Again, who should be fined?

 

[Paul]

I just want to thank John and Tony for making the mater come back to life!
I haven't seen this much traffic here in a long time!

I would have to agree, it hasn't been this busy on here since last November after we were debating the Countdown.

 

[Joker]

Hmm, last two years JRF 0 Championships vs. Pedregon Brothers 2 Championships on a fraction of the budget. Notice I am not acting like a first grader by saying "I hate em both", grow up and act like an adult.

Laughable. You never cease to amaze me Paul. You and NHRA can call them champions or whatever you want but it doesnt change the fact they won a charity championship.

 

[TJ]

Yes..Pedregons have beat up on the JFR camp and have two championships.

Guess during that charity race the JFR camp could not produce when the pressure was on!

 

[Jake]

My question would be this: Would all what transpired between Tony & John have happened if Tony would have just kept his damn mouth shut?

This whole deal to me is just going to light more fire under Force to win the championship this year. I mean he has all 4 of his cars in the Countdown and the way they have been running the last couple races, the other 6 cars in there with them better be a little worried. A Force car will win it this year!

 

[Art]

This whole deal to me is just going to light more fire under Force to win the championship this year. I mean he has all 4 of his cars in the Countdown and the way they have been running the last couple races, the other 6 cars in there with them better be a little worried. A Force car will win it this year!

We'll see more of this in upcoming races. That's what NHRA has reaped for selling out the sport and the real racers/fans with NASCAR $$$ in their eyes. WJ says it all the time about the Countdown, 'it's pathetic, destroyed the sport.'

 

[Paul]

Laughable. You never cease to amaze me Paul. You and NHRA can call them champions or whatever you want but it doesnt change the fact they won a charity championship.

Just because you don't agree with the championship format, it doesn't mean they are not the champions. No where in print will you see the term "charity championship", only in you and a few others (ok, maybe more than a few around here ) minds is that the case.