NHRA-Big John

[harvey lee]

Well, another great day for points for Big John.

I wonder if John can hold it all together for 2 more races and win number 16?

Be a long time before another like John will ever come along.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I never was a fan of John. (Old skool Prudhomme guy here) I'll give the dude credit tho. 15 and looking at 16 championships, still competitive at his age.....dudes got skylz.

I'm wondering how well he'll do after Castrol walks away.

[lawdog]

Is Castrol leaving?!?! He's a powerhouse team, he'll land another sponsor but I can't imagine why they'd leave him at this point.

Amazing to even be on the verge of another at his age and with all the new competitors that have come and gone over the years...

[Eric Wettschreck]

Don't know for sure but rumor on the street is Castrol is not totally leaving, but I doubt you'll see the name plastered all over the hood next summer.

Yes, he'll pick up another sponsor and yes, it's amazing he's still competitive at this stage in his life.

[leech~~]

I never was a fan of John. (Old skool Prudhomme guy here).

Eric, You can pick a fav Funny car and Rail guy you know!

[harvey lee]

One does not has to be a fan to understand what Big John has done in drag racing, I would agree. I thought once that Bob Glieden's record would NEVER be broken and John has shattered that by far.

The guy is the Funny car driver of the century as far as wins and championships. One can never say never but I would say John's records will stan for decades or longer.

[harvey lee]

Is Castrol leaving?!?! He's a powerhouse team, he'll land another sponsor but I can't imagine why they'd leave him at this point.

Amazing to even be on the verge of another at his age and with all the new competitors that have come and gone over the years...

My understanding is Castrol is gone after this season. John said in an interview that he has a new sponsor lined up about a month or so ago.

Who knows why they are splitting but it could be castrol does not feel they are getting the bang for the millions they spend with Force racing. Then again, maybe financially they cannot afford to spend that kind of money on a sponsorship.

Guess only Big John knows why.

[LMITOUT]

Ford is gone too.

[harvey lee]

My understanding is FORD is pulling out of drag racing period. They will sponsor John through the 2014 season and after that, see ya.

[gregg52]

Not much of a drag fan

but he is a character and good for racin

I do believe everybody should go to atleast one show

those cars are really something

i live like across the street so been there twice

but for any body interested in going just to see and hear and feel those try fri or sat you can usally sit any where and its way cheaper

[Walleyehooker]

John is a character and im sure he will be back one way or another. If you look at the stands at NHRA and Nascar you can probably see why sponsors are rethinking things. Empty seats don't sell products. Ive been to the Brainerd Nationals many times over the last 30 some years and saw a lot of wild things there and had some great times. But now that they cut it down to 1000 feet it just isn't the same but do to the speeds and safety and some of the to short tracks it was bound to change sometime. Used to be the beer wars when Miller and Bud were still sponsors.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Eric, You can pick a fav Funny car and Rail guy you know!

Yup

Now back to big John.

[leech~~]

My understanding is Castrol is gone after this season.

I wonder why, when was the last time anyone bought a Castrol product? I don't use any of their stuff.

[harvey lee]

I am sure these days sponsors, and good ones, are a bit hard to come by.

I would hate to even guess what it costs Force racing as far as thier annual costs to race all season.

Then they added the Top Fuel car this season full time and those costs have to be through the roof.