9/15/08

Robert tried but he couldn’t make lightning strike twice.

When John missed the field at Indy two weeks ago, Robert stepped up and won the year’s biggest race. It was a great rebound for the team and it helped ease the pain that John was feeling from his DNQ. Who would have possibly anticipated that John would suffer another DNQ at the very next race? And at the event everyone had been buzzing about since it was announced at the end of last year? And in front of sellout crowds on Saturday and Sunday?

Somehow, it happened again, and when Ashley and Mike both lost in Round 2, things fell on Robert and Jimmy’s shoulders once again to try to leave Charlotte with a victory—a very important victory at the first race of the Countdown to 1.

When Jack Beckman beat Robert in the semi-finals, JFR was off the board and there wasn’t much to celebrate. Jack won the race when he beat Cruz Pedregon in the final and when the points had been all added up, there was Cruz at No. 1, Jack at No. 2, Tony Pedregon at No. 3 and Robert at No. 4.

Ashley was down in 6th place, Mike was at No. 9, and John in 10th. Not a triumphant weekend at zMax Dragway to say the least. At least we won’t have long to wait for the next race with Dallas coming up this weekend.

Now, just a few words about the new track and the event itself.

Phenomenal, sensational and outstanding.

I had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of team owner Ken Black all weekend that extended a gracious invitation to me to view the proceedings from his luxury suite situated over the John Force Grandstands along the left side of the track. As you’ve probably heard a million times, Bruton Smith doesn’t do anything halfway and his new facility is ample proof of that. Every detail has been addressed. Every amenity has been worked out. Every possible comfort or convenience item has been put into place. It really is a showplace. And the zMax Dragway staff couldn’t have been more polite, helpful, and accommodating.

The track was incredibly smooth and the all-concrete surface was grippier than any track that new had any right being. What could have been a non-stop tire smoke show turned out to be an extremely exciting and entertaining event with pair after pair of race cars traveling from start to finish line under power. 

I had a blast.

I was accompanied to the race with my 18-year-old son, Will, and several friends from back home. On Saturday, we spent some time down at John’s pit, talking to John and Ashley and taking some pictures. John has been so busy of late, he and I haven’t had many chances to sit down during a race weekend and just have a casual talk. I asked him when we might find some time to talk like we have in the past and he said, “I may have plenty of time tomorrow”, referring to the fact he had still not qualified. I would have gladly given up my chance to sit and chat with John for the opportunity to see him race on Sunday but to everyone’s disappointment, he didn’t make the show in the final session.

I asked John how the wild rumor got started about he and Jay Leno putting together an offer to buy the NHRA and he was just as puzzled as a lot of people. John said he’s had a lot on his plate this year and that buying the NHRA has definitely not been on his list of things to do. In fact, there were all kinds of rumors circulating before the race that some kind of major announcement was going to be made in Charlotte regarding Bruton Smith’s proposal to purchase the NHRA but there was none.

I had a chance to speak to NHRA president Tom Compton on Saturday and he was bemused by all the rumors which he had also heard. He brushed them aside and centered his attention on the huge crowds and super facility which made the inaugural Carolinas Nationals such a runaway success. And by all accounts, the race was a winner.

One complaint? The win lights on the top end scoreboards were hard to see.

There are five more races in the Countdown to 1 and John, Ashley, Robert, and Mike are going to have to pick it up—a LOT—in Dallas this weekend. It’s still a horserace but another shaky outing like the one in Charlotte and things could get out of hand. John has had some great weekends in Dallas (and a not-so-great one there last year) so here’s hoping he can recapture some of that Motorplex Magic he’s had in the past.

In the meantime, drive safely and we’ll catch up with you next week.