VEGAS FLOPPER TESTING

John Force in his Castrol Mustang flopper led testing at the Strip in Las Vegas on his third pass of Friday afternoon tying the track record with a wheels-up 4.747/325.85. After the pass the 13-time Champ said, "We haven't changed a thing, hell this thing ran a .60 last year - only thing is I got older."

Rookie driver Robert Hight, in the AAA seat formerly held by Gary Densham followed his boss with a 4.833/315.78. Next up was Eric Medlin running 4.814/314.61 grabbing second best pass of the day.

Other funnies making passes on the first day were; Gary Scelzi 5.011, Tommy Johnson Jr. 5.293, Whit Bazemore 6.450 as most of the teams were working on the launch to mid track tune-up.

Ron Capps in the un-announced Brut funny car, tuned by Ed McCulloch, made his first pass for Schumacher Racing with a 5.293. Capps said, "It's a little difficult to see out of the front window, but I'll get used to it." Then as the sun set Capps came back to the line and cranked off a beautiful 4.786/315.12 for the second quickest pass of the day. It was his second run in the Mopar Dodge Stratus-bodied car. (Darr Hawthorne photos) [1-24-2005]

HIGHT TO DRIVE AAA CAR

Finally acknowledging one of the worst kept secrets in drag racing, John Force confirmed that his son-in-law, former crewmember Robert Hight, will bid for rookie-of-the-year honors in this year’s NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at the wheel of the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang.

“It’s the changing of the guard,” Force said. “With Robert and before him Eric (Medlen, driver of the Castrol SYNTEC Ford) and my daughter Ashley (a three-time winner last year in the Mattel Toy Store dragster), we’re making a game plan to keep this race team on top long after I’ve taken my last ride.

“My main job the next six years is to win championships for Castrol, Ford and the Auto Club,” Force continued, “but my other job is to help train these kids. It’s an exciting time for me and I can’t wait to get started.” [1-20-2005]