Prock in, Hight out

[Tom Slick]

Robert Hight president of John Force Racing and driver of the AAA Funny Car is stepping out of seat for health reasons and JFR Top Fuel driver Austin Prock will take over driving duties. Hight says he plans to return to the seat once his health is in order. Wonder if this means parking Procks dragster, or if another driver will fill in that seat?

 

[pixrthis]

Wasn’t expecting this, I hope Robert will be ok. Drag racing is better with him in it.

 

[boatpi]

On a related note, flava-pac drop their sponsorship so his car and Britteny‘s car is without sponsorship for half the year. Huge $$ loss, so maybe robert had some elective surgery or close to that he wanted to do and the timing was right with this sponsorship loss.

 

[JM21]

On a related note, flava-pac drop their sponsorship so his car and Britteny‘s car is without sponsorship for half the year. Huge $$ loss, so maybe robert had some elective surgery or close to that he wanted to do and the timing was right with this sponsorship loss.

That is not good. They were throwing JFR some heavy coin. Hopefully they don't lose anyone else cause if we lose Force at the races, we lose the NHRA in my opinion.

 

[Don65]

This would be a great opportunity for IN N Out to step in and sponsor those two cars, monster is in for half of the season with Brit and AAA and Cornwell on hights car, they could sponsor the cars at half of the cost of full sponsorship

 

[got wood]

Sad times in nhra when force is chasing money to Robert

 

[JM21]

This would be a great opportunity for IN N Out to step in and sponsor those two cars, monster is in for half of the season with Brit and AAA and Cornwell on hights car, they could sponsor the cars at half of the cost of full sponsorship

I was hoping the same thing would happen. Perfect partnership in my opinion. I hope last resort Monster will fill the gap.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Sad times in nhra when force is chasing money to Robert

is it? or is it a sign that maybe NHRA should be focusing more on the sportsmen type classes?

 

[napanutt]

is it? or is it a sign that maybe NHRA should be focusing more on the sportsmen type classes?

Sportsman’s classes don’t bring in the fair weather fans. FW fans want the roar and smell of nitro methane.

 

[dread Pirate]

Sportsman’s classes don’t bring in the fair weather fans. FW fans want the roar and smell of nitro methane.

Sonoma brings in more money from drifting than bracket racing. There are quite a few fans in the stands for the drift guys, but the stands are empty at the drag strip. I think Sonoma only hs 5 bracket races on the calendar for 24 excluding the National.

 

[rivrrts429]

Sonoma brings in more money from drifting than bracket racing. There are quite a few fans in the stands for the drift guys, but the stands are empty at the drag strip. I think Sonoma only hs 5 bracket races on the calendar for 24 excluding the National.

I feel like bracket racing is a love it or hate it form of motorsports. There doesn’t seem to be any in between. Where drifting seems to appeal to a wide range of people.

I’m not much into drifting but can appreciate the art and talent it takes to do it well.

I’d be in the stands for bracket racing but it too isn’t my favorite form of racing on a drag strip.

 

[Tom Slick]

I wonder what the PRO Superstar Shootout next month will be like? Many of the top NHRA teams will be in attendance. Is PRO going to supersede the NHRA at some point?

 

[dread Pirate]

I feel like bracket racing is a love it or hate it form of motorsports. There doesn’t seem to be any in between. Where drifting seems to appeal to a wide range of people.

I’m not much into drifting but can appreciate the art and talent it takes to do it well.

I’d be in the stands for bracket racing but it too isn’t my favorite form of racing on a drag strip.

Not many heads up classes left. Top Fuel, Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Mod. Pro Stock Bike too. Rest of the classes are bracket or index.

The drag strip manager for Sonoma is a friend of mine. Hell, he taught my daughter to drive the top end. He explains the business of running a multi track facility like Sonoma and even with Sacramento closed, they can't get the car counts to justify shutting down the road courses for the weekend. Fans don't show up for any drag races except the National.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Sonoma brings in more money from drifting than bracket racing. There are quite a few fans in the stands for the drift guys, but the stands are empty at the drag strip. I think Sonoma only hs 5 bracket races on the calendar for 24 excluding the National.

Does Sonoma still do the Wednesday night drags? I don’t see it on their calendar

 

[dread Pirate]

Does Sonoma still do the Wednesday night drags? I don’t see it on their calendar

Yes, but I have not seen a schedule either. They still require mufflers and have the curfew for Wednesday.

 

[got wood]

Pro mod ls my favorite they don’t alike at least not yet

 

[rrrr]

I’m not much into drifting but can appreciate the art and talent it takes to do it well.

Isn't that kinda funny it's a true sport now? Back in June 2003, there was a drifting exhibition at Texas Motor Speedway before the IndyCar race. They were running down the pit lane and around the Legends oval in front of the flag stand. The previous day, while their practice was going on, we stood in our pit watching and laughing at the silliness of drifting.

Now I watch those guys hauling ass in pairs around portions of road courses, just inches apart, and it's fascinating. Seeing in cockpit video is amazing. Steering, throttle, gears, brakes, all in a precision dance that looks damned difficult to do. Those are balls out race cars they're driving too. I dunno how they achieve those crazy steering angles.

I hope Robert's health issues aren't serious. I think of him as being young, but he's 54. He's been driving for JFR since 2005.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Not many heads up classes left. Top Fuel, Alcohol, Pro Stock and Pro Mod. Pro Stock Bike too. Rest of the classes are bracket or index.

The drag strip manager for Sonoma is a friend of mine. Hell, he taught my daughter to drive the top end. He explains the business of running a multi track facility like Sonoma and even with Sacramento closed, they can't get the car counts to justify shutting down the road courses for the weekend. Fans don't show up for any drag races except the National.

bracket racing may be more fun for the drivers but people don't like watching it. It's no fun to watch unless it is a heads up style race.

if they had heads up "stock" races I'd be a regular visitor.

how bout a modified heads up class. you must use a real street vehicles original chassis, and original size/family engine. chassis may be strengthened and modified but engine location/drive configuration and wheelbase must stay the same. Upgraded rotating assemblies allowed and over bore up to .040" (for rebuildability) but must retain factory stroke. factory style heads only but can be worked over.

can have NA and forced induction classes.

that's a style of drag racing I wish there was and I would show up for and watch on the regular. I believe there would be more everyday man participants AND people would enjoy watching too

 

[rivrrts429]

Isn't that kinda funny it's a true sport now? Back in June 2003, there was a drifting exhibition at Texas Motor Speedway before the IndyCar race. They were running down the pit lane and around the Legends oval in front of the flag stand. The previous day, while their practice was going on, we stood in our pit watching and laughing at the silliness of drifting.

Now I watch those guys hauling ass in pairs around portions of road courses, just inches apart, and it's fascinating. Seeing in cockpit video is amazing too. Steering, throttle, gears, brakes, all in a precision dance that looks damned difficult to do. Those are balls out race cars they're driving too. I dunno how they achieve those crazy steering angles.

The steering angle is nuts!!! I saw an episode on Cleetus McFarland’s YouTube channel some years back how they do it. The engineering and dollars spent is pretty incredible. If I spent that kind of money to drift I’d at least want to see it and show it but it’s all hidden under the chassis of these drift cars. The mechanical aspect gets my attention for sure.

 

[dread Pirate]

We were racing Redding and The Dirty 530 drift crew were doing exhibitions in the burnout box. My friends 13yr old won a drawing and got to ride shotgun with them. The in car footage of the kids face was priceless!! Those guys were super cool with all the kids and came up to watch them when the jr's ran.

Those are the first drift cars I actually ever paid attention to. They were beat on race cars with a lot of hand fabbed parts. LS in a 240sx with a pro charger etc. Not afraid to break shit, thrash in the pit and get it back out there type of stuff I love.

 

[rrrr]

bracket racing may be more fun for the drivers but people don't like watching it. It's no fun to watch unless it is a heads up style race.

if they had heads up "stock" races I'd be a regular visitor.

Heads up competition is one of the reasons I really like Pro Mod. The other, of course, is that they're insane race cars that have the ingenuity and inventiveness of the late 50s and early 60s. I can see a bit of Dyno Don, Art Chrisman, and Art Arfons in those hot rods.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Heads up competition is one of the reasons I really like Pro Mod. The other, of course, is that they're insane race cars that have the ingenuity and inventiveness of the late 50s and early 60s. I can see a bit of Dyno Don, Art Chrisman, and Art Arfons in those hot rods.

but it's still just a fiberglass body over a full tube chassis race car. there is a disconnect.

if they were out there racing real cars it would bring a lot of fans back.

basically, bring back the kind of racing that inspired the phrase, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday." Same goes for Nascar for that matter.

 

[pixrthis]

My friend races a 10” tire class that’s heads up and the only performance rule is the tire. Pretty cool class

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

but it's still just a fiberglass body over a full tube chassis race car. there is a disconnect.

if they were out there racing real cars it would bring a lot of fans back.

basically, bring back the kind of racing that inspired the phrase, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday." Same goes for Nascar for that matter.

You’d kill a lot of drivers. The reason cars are fiberglass bodies over full tube chassis is drivers safety. Production cars are not meant for accidents over the speed limit.

 

[Shlbyntro]

You’d kill a lot of drivers. The reason cars are fiberglass bodies over full tube chassis is drivers safety. Production cars are not meant for accidents over the speed limit.

i never said "dont put a roll cage in it". but my point is it should be real cars that the public can connect with

 

[rrrr]

but it's still just a fiberglass body over a full tube chassis race car. there is a disconnect.

if they were out there racing real cars it would bring a lot of fans back.

basically, bring back the kind of racing that inspired the phrase, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday." Same goes for Nascar for that matter.

The class has changed a lot since the outlaw days. They have evolved from sick doorslammers to a big money deal. But the noise and speed is pretty damned cool!

The success of no prep racing at South Georgia and other tracks makes me hopeful it'll cause a resurgence in the sport.

 

[ToMorrow44]

bracket racing may be more fun for the drivers but people don't like watching it. It's no fun to watch unless it is a heads up style race.

if they had heads up "stock" races I'd be a regular visitor.

how bout a modified heads up class. you must use a real street vehicles original chassis, and original size/family engine. chassis may be strengthened and modified but engine location/drive configuration and wheelbase must stay the same. Upgraded rotating assemblies allowed and over bore up to .040" (for rebuildability) but must retain factory stroke. factory style heads only but can be worked over.

can have NA and forced induction classes.

that's a style of drag racing I wish there was and I would show up for and watch on the regular. I believe there would be more everyday man participants AND people would enjoy watching too

I think that’s the idea of the Factory X class which is pretty cool. Stock bodies cars, production motors from the big 3, manual trans, etc. It’s a little slow going, but the idea is to have it as a full heads up field at some point.

 

[pixrthis]

The stands clear when the fuel cars are done, after seeing cars go past you at 330 mph everything else is kind of anticlimactic. I love door cars that leave with the front tires in the air but they don’t compare, even the alcohol classes which are insanely competitive are boring to watch compared to fuel. Add how competitive fuel has been lately and it’s definitely where the money is at from a promoter’s standpoint.
I spent five days at a million dollar bracket race last summer at Gateway drag strip in St Louis and I would guess there were less than 1000 spectators there for all 5 days of racing, everyone else was associated to someone racing and it was great racing. NHRA treats the sportsman like shit but there wouldn’t be a crowd if it weren’t for fuel cars, thank god there are people willing to spend that much to go racing.

 

[timstoy]

Funny Cars are all carbon fiber bodies now and most have titanium body supports that just adds more money to compete.

 

[Brian]

This would be a great opportunity for IN N Out to step in and sponsor those two cars, monster is in for half of the season with Brit and AAA and Cornwell on hights car, they could sponsor the cars at half of the cost of full sponsorship

I'm not so sure this would be a good idea. I hope they don't and continue to focus on growing the sport in other ways.

In my opinion, the biggest problem with JFR and retaining sponsorship is there is no B to B connection there. Force doesn't own any business other than his racing teams. Many of the other fuel racers have their hands in businesses outside of racing which allows them to work deals for sponsoring their teams by leveraging other business deals. JFR struggles here.

The vibe I get here is that Hight will miss a chunk of the season, will prob come back mid to late season and John will announce he's getting out of the seat and Robert will take John's car in 25'. I also won't be surprised if the dragsters go away for good in a year or so. Brittany is getting married soon so I'm sure the baby factory will open up for business just like it did for her other sisters.

 

[ChrisV]

My friend races a 10” tire class that’s heads up and the only performance rule is the tire. Pretty cool class

28x10 is my favorite class. Biggest street race “class”