Force Team to sit out 2020
#2803247
07/31/20 11:47 AM
07/31/20 11:47 AM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,514 Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,514
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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I don't know why it took them so long to announce this but... https://www.nhra.com/news/2020/john-force-racing-issues-statement“When I first got into racing, I always had a love for cars, I loved the comradery of the team, I loved the competition. As I evolved, I realized what it took to become a winner. It took money and that’s when I started chasing corporate America. I had no personal wealth, I had to find sponsors to get me the crew chiefs I needed to win,” said Force, owner and CEO of John Force Racing. “As the winning happened, I found a new love. The fans. The fans are what kept me motivated and made me never ever think anything would come to an end. Even in the hardest of times, I call them crossroads, I got through it with the help of the fans and my sponsors. I went from a one car team to a multi-car team, to having machine shops, chassis shops and paint shops and the technology to win. “Suddenly, the virus hit, and it changed the world. Robert Hight, President of the company, and I got back from Gainesville and we started working on a plan, we had to reset John Force Racing. Everyone was having to adapt. We had to make cuts everywhere. We ran numbers over and over. In our contracts with sponsors we have guarantees. They get social media, certain number of races, certain number of race days, activation at races and other commitments. No matter how I looked at it I couldn’t deliver on those commitments. It just wasn’t fair to them,” continued Force. “The impact of not being able to deliver on these commitments makes sitting out the rest of the 2020 season the right thing to do. No matter how I looked at it, no matter how much I personally invested, I couldn’t make it. “At that point, I made the decision to ‘live to fight another day.’ We can’t fight now, we can’t race right now, but with what I have, with the help of my sponsors and my own personal money, I can maintain. I have to protect my family, my employees, my teams and my sponsors. What I built was a team that could win. All I have to do is get to next year. It will look different, but I have all my department leads and my sponsors, Auto Club, Chevrolet, PEAK, Monster, Frank Tiegs owner of Flav-R-Pac and Montana Brand, Cornwell Tools, Parker Store, Baldwin Filters, they’re all supportive,” said Force. “What I’m saying is that I’m going to prepare to come back next year stronger than ever. Watching all the people that went racing, NHRA, the track, Safety Safari, TV, the media, all the winners, all the teams, thank you for racing and keeping the sport alive. I am really heartbroken I’m not out there. If I had stayed and raced, I couldn’t come back. If I step back now, I can. I want to be with all of you again and I want to be competitive. We will continue to support all our sponsors, doing their promotions as planned and stay relevant on social media for the fans; we are going to continue to build race cars, as we always have, build engines, mount bodies, parts and do everything we can because we are open for business in Indy and California,” concluded Force.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: stumpy]
#2803529
07/31/20 11:38 PM
07/31/20 11:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,483 On the run…
BloFish
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,483
On the run…
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I wish him nothing but the best!
It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose… as long as you look good doing it!
‘65 A100 ‘69 ‘Cuda ‘73 Vega GT ‘06 Mega Cab ‘14 Mercedes SLK
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: topside]
#2803600
08/01/20 09:34 AM
08/01/20 09:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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Wow. That's just bizarre. Somehow DSR and the smaller teams & other sponsors are showing up, what the heck is up with JFR ? His personal values and depth of his resources differ?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: topside]
#2803638
08/01/20 11:01 AM
08/01/20 11:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,795 Greer, SC
TooMany62s
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,795
Greer, SC
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Wow. That's just bizarre. Somehow DSR and the smaller teams & other sponsors are showing up, what the heck is up with JFR ? I think some of the other team owners may be supporting their operations with their own money. I understand Force is not able/willing to do that. I wouldn't do it either.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2803642
08/01/20 11:07 AM
08/01/20 11:07 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,832 east side of Ohio
basketcase
master
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master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,832
east side of Ohio
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I didn't even know he wasn't running Fords. Got fed up with eh NHRA years ago.
Dave
1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: topside]
#2803983
08/01/20 10:09 PM
08/01/20 10:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,179 Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,179
Park Forest, IL
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The rumor I read a couple months ago was that sponsors were withdrawing money because of no racing and appearances that couldn't be made.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: kevin69bman]
#2804681
08/03/20 02:02 PM
08/03/20 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,667 South Dakota
hotairballoonpilot
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,667
South Dakota
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imagine if he or team contracted it and got out that the sponsors pushed them to race. bet he threw that at sponsors or sponsors threw that at them that the sponsors or his racing would get a black eye potentially so best to park
Contact Me about AMD Prices
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: stumpy]
#2804696
08/03/20 03:21 PM
08/03/20 03:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680 Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,680
Wichita
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Force has a huge organization and shops as well as crew and cars transport trucks and motorhomes. His costs are tremendous compared to the smaller teams. The last event I went to at Heartland Park he had 10 trucks there. 2 per team, 4 teams, a hospitality truck and a merchandise truck. ![shocked shocked](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/shocked.gif)
'63 Dodge 330 11.19 @ 121 mph Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs. 10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: BloFish]
#2804909
08/04/20 09:50 AM
08/04/20 09:50 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,981 new jersey usa
11secdart
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,981
new jersey usa
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I admire Force and he has done a lot for the sport but it will be nice to open National Dragster and not find yet another article on Force or his team ,theres more to racing than John Force. I don't understand if theres racing going on at least that is some exposure for him and his sponsors why they wouldn't be participating.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: 11secdart]
#2805074
08/04/20 03:34 PM
08/04/20 03:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,179 Walton, Indiana
TimS
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,179
Walton, Indiana
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His explanation still seems odd. Why don't all the other teams have this same issue. They all don't have deep bottomless pockets either.
1968 Barracuda Fastback 318-2BBL 904 2.76 Frost Blue Survivor 1970 Roadrunner 440+6 BBL 727 AT 4.10 SG Dana Blue Fire Metallic 1971 Cuda 340-4 BBL 4spd 3.91 SG Curious Yellow 1972 Barracuda 318-2 BBL 904 AT 3.23 1 Legger Tor Red/White Vinyl Top 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi AT Patriot Blue 2011 Dodge Challenger RT 5.7 Hemi 6spd 392 SG Triple Black 2014 Dodge Charger RT Max AWD 5.7 Hemi AT 305 Billet Silver
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: TimS]
#2805354
08/05/20 11:15 AM
08/05/20 11:15 AM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,514 Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,514
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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His explanation still seems odd. Why don't all the other teams have this same issue. They all don't have deep bottomless pockets either. I would agree. As mentioned, Schumacher refuses to race out of his own pocket even for his son. I think it could have something to do with John being in his seventies. No telling what other heath issues he might have after all the fires and clutch dust he has been around over the years. However even without any other health issues he is in a high risk COVID group. However no reason to sideline the younger guns on his team.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: TimS]
#2805398
08/05/20 12:55 PM
08/05/20 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,934 Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,934
Grand Prairie,Texas
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His explanation still seems odd. Why don't all the other teams have this same issue. They all don't have deep bottomless pockets either. It probably has to do with the large difference in size of the operation. He has a lot more equipment to deal with then most teams.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: BeEtLeJuIcE !]
#2805410
08/05/20 01:24 PM
08/05/20 01:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,825 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,825
Kirkland, Washington
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Another factor that might be true is that by sitting out 2020 he can enter 2021 in better financial shape than if he limped through 2020 with the rest.
Last edited by Pacnorthcuda; 08/05/20 01:25 PM.
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2805454
08/05/20 03:22 PM
08/05/20 03:22 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,981 new jersey usa
11secdart
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,981
new jersey usa
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That always cracks me up " won't race out of their own pocket "…..I understand they have bigger expenses and are " Pros " But most of us race out of our own pocket!
Last edited by 11secdart; 08/05/20 03:27 PM.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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Re: Force Team to sit out 2020
[Re: 11secdart]
#2805506
08/05/20 06:13 PM
08/05/20 06:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,825 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,825
Kirkland, Washington
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That always cracks me up " won't race out of their own pocket "…..I understand they have bigger expenses and are " Pros " But most of us race out of our own pocket! Difference between pro and amateur.
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