Force fined
 

NHRA LEVIES FINE AGAINST JOHN FORCE
GLENDORA, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2009) – Funny Car racer John Force has been fined $10,000 by the NHRA for an incident involving physical contact with an NHRA official on Monday, Sept. 7 during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Videotape from the event showed Force making physical contact with an NHRA official at the top end of the race track during a confrontation with fellow Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon. Such physical contact violates the Participant Conduct policy as stated in the 2009 NHRA Rulebook. The fine, which can be appealed by Force, must be paid in full prior to participation at any future NHRA event.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.

Re: Force fined
 

Fining John Force $10,000 is like fining me $10.00. In between the Pros "diving" for team members to get into the countdown and Sportsman "diving" to save their precious, under-rated HP factors, Indy should be re-named the National Diving Championships. Drag racing is NOT about taking a dive!

Re: Force fined
 

ESPN should have to pay for it, those people at ESPN are trying to stir up **** so they have something to report on the show. That's why I have not watched Drag Racing on the TV since 1999. Just not anywhere close to being there and way to much politics play who is on there and gets interviewed.

Re: Force fined
 

Very good point Joe, The first thing they told him when he got out of the car was Hey John, Pedregon
says that you are cheating and you could see him start to Boil! They did not even talk to Robert who
had just beat John is all they were worried about was if he took a dive. DUHHH he just changed drivers
to get Robert into the count down do you think he would take him out first chance. I belive this whole points
structure change and the drama reality show was a very big part of ESPN to draw the viewers..
It has become the WWF of drag racing. It really surprised me when Dunn kept going on and on and on
about it how the whole thing stinks!! Your right Dunn the whole damn program stinks and its too Bad.
Deleted from my TVO...from now on.

Re: Force fined
 

The way Force has been acting on TV lately, it's about time they (NHRA)ask him to take a drug test..... WJ

Re: Force fined
 

espn stirred the pot and nhra created the monster with the count down and allowing 4 car teams,limit this to 2 car teams and take away the count down it wouldn't happen.force did what he did because the rules allowed him the wiggle to do this.

Re: Force fined
 

Re: Force fined
 

$10??

I think it is more like $1.00,actually 99 CENTS!

It is ashame that their TV ratings must be getting so low that they have to resort to WWE stuff.

Re: Force fined
 

I can't believe anybody on here even watches that sh#t! ESPN FIND A BETTER SHOW!

Re: Force fined
 

ESPN does not show racing, and does not do much..if anything, to further the sport. The rain delays could have allowed sportsman coverage, and the coverage at previous 2009 events have been terrible. Lots of 'phone interviews', commentary, graphics.....sorry. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but, the espn/NHRA tandem of race presentation is horrible. The drama they were able to drag up, at least, prevented the cutaway to frisbee golf.... People want to see racing, just not in the form being presented.

Re: Force fined
 

As far as the fine, I agree. He should be fined, as well as Pedregon, for unsportsman like conduct. It happens. The monetary transaction is only a formality anyway. If they don't all four line up and race at VMax, then maybe Dancin' with the Stars in 2010 ??

Re: Force fined
 

LOL...I'd rather watch another "Newlywed Game" with Ashley! NOT! $10,000...HA! Someone pass the Crown (Royal, that is)

Re: Force fined
 

Does anyone know exactly where the funds end up, or who/ what is the beneficiary of the money received? I've always been curious if the NHRA has a funnel for the money directly to Children's Hospital or perhaps another meaningful charity.

Re: Force fined
 

Robert,I believe all proceeds go to the Tom Compton wing of the AA ward in Glendora,managed by old Tom hisself.

Re: Force fined
 

If I had spent the $150,000 that it takes to hit the index in my class you can be damn sure I would shut off to protect it. Not to mention not screw the others in my class less fortunate that an index hit would maybe be the difference for them to qualify or something down the road. Let us not forget some of these indexes are now vulnerable due to thoughtless rule changes in recent years. i.e. allowing canted valve heads in SS/CM and lower classes after decades of only allowing true wedge heads. In a class where you mostly have to dial in to win, now you have to have a comp car and don't shut off or some low buck DH will whine about you diving... this is sportsman racing, not everybody is rich, those with the big bucks or big mouths should go race the pro's.

Re: Force fined
 

Personally, I enjoyed the show and feel ESPN was reporting on what happened. Get over the fact that ESPN is not going to show Stock and Super Stock. Just get over it! It's obvious that I'm a huge fan of S/SS and I also love Comp and Pro Stock, but even Pro Stock is pretty boring to watch on TV. I would like to see ESPN utilize more of the obscure camera angles to liven up Pro Stock.

As for Force and Ped, ESPN didn't create the controversy, it reported on it. Did ESPN stir the pot, of course, but so what, it was great to see some emotion in the sport. I'm sure the conflict was NOTHING compared to what when on back in the day with Connie, Shirley, Big, Snake and all the other down-and-dirty Fuel racers. I do, however, agree there is way too much John Force on the show.

Re: Force fined
 

It would have been a 'two hit' deal......Pedregon hitting Force and Force hitting the ground.

Re: Force fined
 

Evan..I agree 100% with everything you said....I remember the days of controversy..w/ big daddy and shirley... so on and so forth...fun to watch.

Re: Force fined
 

Watched the video and I didn't see where Force roughed up an official. Looks to me like the official got in his personal space with his hand and Force just moved it out of his way. Gotta love when the rich fight over nothing...hahahaha. Pedregon was firing up Force though and he should get a fine for that.

Re: Force fined
 

Drag racing on TV. Part of a run, commercial, interview a driver, commercial, part of a run, interview with drivers. It's like watching GOLF. THey need to show more Sportsman racing. That is exciting.

Re: Force fined
 

Money AND LOSS OF POINTS should be the fine !!!!!!! Mostly points---Force is an A #1 A--hole anyway---there are 15 other pros out there on the same track how about giving them some equal coverage??? Comp387

Re: Force fined
 

God I miss Steve Evans and Diamond P.

Re: Force fined
 

My two cents...... Team cars have always helped others on their team. Force and Pedregon did together years ago when Tony raced for him.

If you fine one, fine them both. I didn't see John do anything to an official either. I did see Tony just about dare him to swing at him, that was just as bad in my opinion. Poor professionalism for Tony.

I'd like to know where the fine money goes also.

The reality is you are just 2 team owners, and a handful of sponsors away from not having a FC class at all.

I agree also that ESPN was reporting on what happened, but when you go to Force after the run to tattle on what someone else said, that's getting a little kindergarten like.

Re: Force fined
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3BqQ65nbc

Round the six minute mark, you see Force put his hands a few times. Nothing really hard, but still a violation of rules, I imagine.

Re: Force fined
 

The race to 10 is stupid...but in this case you can fix stupid...drop it.

Re: Force fined
 

I agree lets have 3 hours of S/SS and comp. Also they should fine Tony for dropping the F bomb on TV but he will say he did not know the cameras were on. Also I get tired of he and Cruz playing the race card come on race and shut up. Oh I forgot what they do is not racing it's like WWF. More sportsmen please

Re: Force fined
 

I agree, the countdown to 10 thing was made to make controversy and stir it up. There was nothing wrong with the whole season points counting, it worked for years. Now you are penalized, so to speak, if you have a runaway lead by Indy. It cost Wilkerson the title. Wilkerson did well early and mid season 08, Pedregon got lucky at the end. The title goes to Pedregon. Why were his wins at the end any more important than Wilkersons from earlier?

I know I'm off the subject here.

Re: Force fined
 

Perhaps someone should introduce Force's daughters to Bo Kenney and Paul Cambria?

Re: Force fined
 

Why don't you introduce your daughter to them,or maybe Larry Flint,you no name asshole.Or even better tell that to John Forces face.Amateur.

Re: Force fined
 

Here we go again...not interested

Re: Force fined
 

twenty bucks sez it's the other way around;)

Re: Force fined
 

I thought the best part was Dunn's commentary.

Forcie shouldn't have gotten all worked up about being called a cheater. He knows he's done it for years.

Re: Force fined
 

I like full contact drag racing.

Re: Force fined
 

I'm not so sure about that. Pedregon never so much as flinched......Force was already half worn out from all his struttin' and blusterin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3Bq...eature=related

I'm no fan of either of 'em..... but 'ya gotta' admit that was some good humor. -Al

Re: Force fined
 

I did not see the broadcast,did Dickie Venables pants stay on during the entire Indy telecast? LOL !!!!

Don't shoot the messenger trust the facts mam lol
 

Jerry guess nothing has changed your still a clueless knuckelhead that couldn't drive his race car out of a wet paper bag !!! LOL

Re: Force fined
 

Jerry,

How is the I/S Cobra. Have you run it yet and do you have any photos?

Evan

Re: Force fined
 

I have to say that tony was lucky that force did not knock him out. Do not mess with a Extruckdriver

Re: Force fined
 

Tony is an ex-boxer.

Re: Force fined
 

Evan,

No pictures yet; the plan is for a major comeback tour starting next Spring!