We know Force Racing has another funny car built and ready to go, but do you think with Kevin Poynter made crew cheif for JR Todd TF do you think he'll be joing force racing? We know the bond him and Eric Medlen had and I remember seeing John Force talking about JR Todd before Poynter was added. We also know John is big on have the "Next Generation" come in and take over.

What do you guys think?

art

 

I really think it may happen JR is a very talented driver...

 

i think he would be a perfect fit. im hoping for jr to make a good run in the TF championship and make the move to FC with JFR next season. i think hell be a beast.
-Roger

 

The only thing I can see that would cast some doubt, is that John Force likes to promote from within the company. He might pick another one of the crew guys over JR Todd.
Although JFR might have a better chance at getting some sponsorship dollars using Todd.

 

i don't see it happening. Todd is doing fine in the dragster. why step down to funny car?

 

This is what get's me. Eric Medlen, Brandon Bernstein, and Morgan Lucas and J.R Todd are all good friends and buddies. Eric and John Medlen from Force racing, Brandon and Kenny Bernstein from the the Legacy of Kenny Bernstein with Lucas Oil and Budweiser and Morgan Lucas from Lucas Oil. When J.R Todd debuted in NHRA not IHRA he ran a partial schedule and season and became a legitimate spoiler taken out Shumacher in the finals a couple of times and a number of heavy hitters. Qualifying for over 85% of the partial schedule as a rookie. He basically came out and shocked a lot of people becoming a consistent driver and a great candidate for rookie of the year.

My question is this, where's the funding? everyone saw the potential this kid had and the only one who gave him a shot was Evan Knoll from Torco. He was basically getting it done on a partial schedule with a shoe string budget. I could understand if this was a sportsman class or car, but this NHRA Powerade. There are quite a few partial schedule racers out there running NHRA(Joe Hartley and a few others) but this Kidd was in the top 15 in points as a rookie was winning rounds and winning races. This is my opinion but with friends like these in the industry wouldn't someone help him out? Not only for the return on investment but the exposure. We went to a couple of Powerade races and this guy would drive and wrench at the same time and had half of the crew(but had a great tuner Walsh.) I would think this would be great person to sponsor and is showing a great winning potential. I just want to get some other opinions on racing and sponsorship. Whether he burned some bridges in the past or is not very personable person I don't know but has me curious. While I'm rambling on I completely forgot about "Hot Rod Fuller" this guy is No.1 in points without a title sponsor is something wrong here? Which makes me wonder is all about winning races? Or is it about putting together a complete package and winning being towards bottom? Or is about building a strong foundation with a sponsor and developing a strong relationship and hoping they like what you offer and are willing to keep you around eventhough your winning percentage isn't as high as others?

If Eric(R.I.P) hadn't gone to the big show above would this rumor or oppurtunity ever have happened? Not to mention he also had 3 crew chiefs in 3 different races after Walsh left.

Sorry about, the essay but Powerade coming on today and I want to take Mike Dunn's job!......

 

another reason why JR Todd wouldnt make the move over to force to drive funny car is because it would make more sense for Bob Tasca III to move up fom TAFC, since he is already sponsored by JFR.

 

The reason I brought this up is because John force was asked about the spare car and he brought up JR Todd as a possible driver for the other FC. This was at one of the races JF DNQ and Mike Dunn was doing the interview on espn2. I didnt really think too much of it till Poynter was name crew cheif.

art

 

hey i think that was at the vegas race when he said something about it

 

youtube has everything!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530vRgvsQlM

 

ah i remember that. cant help but to laugh at the poor crew guy getting a facefull of brake cleaner. guess weve all been there. lol anyway this whole thing is hypothetical. like i said i think jr would be a perfect fit for that team but well just have to wait and see what happens. i doubt it will be addressed until very late in the season.

and why can hot rod fuller get a sponsor?! its mindblowing! it would be one thing if he sucked but the guy has been leading the points chase most of the season. go figure.
-Roger

 

Usually the team owner is the one responsible for getting the funding of the race team, not the driver. The driver is part of the package that the owner is trying to sell to the potential sponsor. In some cases, the driver has been around long enough to develop a good relationship with a sponsor, and that driver can bring a sponsor with him to another team. Just like Whit Bazemore.
Or, in other cases, the driver is already connected to a lot of money to get him in the drivers seat in the 1st place. Like Mike Ashley.
Hot Rod and JR haven't been around long enough for that to happen. Even though they are the hottest drivers out there.

I think Hot Rod's main problem getting a solid sponsor is David Powers Motorsports. I don't know if they have a talent agent or not, but maybe they need to find one that'll give them some monetary results.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NativeSon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Usually the team owner is the one responsible for getting the funding of the race team, not the driver. The driver is part of the package that the owner is trying to sell to the potential sponsor. In some cases, the driver has been around long enough to develop a good relationship with a sponsor, and that driver can bring a sponsor with him to another team. Just like Whit Bazemore.
Or, in other cases, the driver is already connected to a lot of money to get him in the drivers seat in the 1st place. Like Mike Ashley.
Hot Rod and JR haven't been around long enough for that to happen. Even though they are the hottest drivers out there.

I think Hot Rod's main problem getting a solid sponsor is David Powers Motorsports. I don't know if they have a talent agent or not, but maybe they need to find one that'll give them some monetary results.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good point

 

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/22373.htm

id say he is interested. lol
-Roger

 

Looks like JR Todd is out of the running. Here us a quote from drag racing online.

When DRO finally was able to contact the Force PR Juggernaught yesterday after they had initially denied the fact that Schumacher tuner Mike Neff was moving to JFR in 2008 and the Agent decided to go with his sources on the rumor (which was subsequently confirmed by Don Schumacher). DRO was told by Force PR “we can neither confirm nor deny the rumor” (wink, wink)! So, here is the rest of the story, again unconfirmed by any parties. As the Agent sees it. Here are some facts and rumors: Mike Neff leaves Don Schumacher, Schumacher’s driver Gary Scelzi is “taking a sabitical”, and the Agent's sources insist that Jim Jennard (late of Oakley) will continue to be involved in drag racing. Having a talent like Mike Neff driving a race car when so many talented marketable drivers (Gary Scelzi) are available makes no sense on any level. So the Agent can draw but one conclusion, in 2008, Gary Scelzi will drive a fourth car for his old friend John Force with Mike Neff tuning and Jim Jennard funding the effort. Bet the Farm!!!! [7/25/2007]

 

sounds like what i think will happen, but then again as a complete package, jr todd and his crew are marketable. it doesnt take a winning car to have sponsors it takes to be noticed.

 

Mike Neff will be the driver of Force's 4th car next year. Neff wanted to drive Scelzi's car next year but Schumacher didnt want to take a chance on someone who has never driven a fuel car.

 

Wasn't there rumors that Shaun Carlson was offered that seat. He's never drived a fuel car either. One wouldn't think that DSR would let Mike Neff go that easy. In 2005 Mike tuned the oakley car to a championship, thats got to be worth something to DRS. Maybe JFR might let Ashleys Boy friend drive the forth car and keep it in the family. I guess we'll see...

 

It will be intersting to see.

I know comming up Scelzi and the whole crew from JFR will be at Norwalk for thier night under fire event. Aswell as a few other drivers. I got tickets so ill be sure to add some pics after its all over.

But maybe if i get the chance ill try and ask some of these questions.. to either John or Gary.. LOL.. i go journalist style.. just blurt out my questions... see if i get a reply!! hahaha


BTW... Ashleys b/f is just a crew guy on another NFC... and we all know she should be marrying me, and her daddy should give me a NFC to drive... although, ill be honest, i think id crap myself in one of them. But to drive Ashely.... errr I mean a NFC would be a life changing experiance!!

 

It's already a done deal for Neff to drive next year.

 

Being he's one of the best young tuners out there. I would think thats not bad job security. Theres a lot of good driver looking for work, but not many tuners.

 

well i was about to say youre all crazy with this neff stuff but....

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/22720.htm

interesting insight on why he was chosen.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by John Force &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bottom line, since Tony (Pedregon) left, our deal has kinda been to develop our own drivers and I think we've been pretty successful.

But I do want to thank all the other drivers I talked to and I plan to talk to each one individually (about the Neff hiring). They had a lot to offer but, bottom line, John Medlen made the final call. He said that I had given Eric a chance and I should do the same for another kid with a dream</TD></TR></TABLE>

i still think JR would have been perfect for the position. im sure hes still going to do well regardless.
-Roger

 

4 cars thats a lot. im not sure why they went with Neff when they have Tasca over in T/AF car. I think NHRA should change the rules...Oh well.