The skies over Brainerd Int'l Raceway were a clear beautiful blue Monday morning, the day after the running of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Yet, storm clouds were brewing.

When the NHRA announced in January they would limit the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to four test sessions throughout the season the statement was clear.

The story, posted on January 21, 2009 opens with the following, “In an ongoing effort to assist in curtailing escalating costs associated with the operation of Professional nitromethane-category vehicles (Top Fuel and Funny Car), NHRA has implemented the following testing limitations for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. Unlimited testing for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will be permitted until the 2009 season opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 5. At that point, and during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season (Feb. 5 to Nov. 15), Professional nitromethane teams will be limited to a maximum of four one-day test sessions. This policy applies to both the team and driver.” (we bolded these words)

The skies over Brainerd Int'l Raceway were a clear beautiful blue Monday morning, the day after the running of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Yet, storm clouds were brewing.

When the NHRA announced in January they would limit the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to four test sessions throughout the season the statement was clear.

The story, posted on January 21, 2009 opens with the following, “In an ongoing effort to assist in curtailing escalating costs associated with the operation of Professional nitromethane-category vehicles (Top Fuel and Funny Car), NHRA has implemented the following testing limitations for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. Unlimited testing for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will be permitted until the 2009 season opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 5. At that point, and during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season (Feb. 5 to Nov. 15), Professional nitromethane teams will be limited to a maximum of four one-day test sessions. This policy applies to both the team and driver.” (we bolded these words)

Ron Capps believes the test being conducted at Brainerd Int'l Raceway by John Force Racing with Robert Hight behind the wheel of the Castrol Ford is a flagrant violation of the rules.

“That is a joke,” said Capps, in a phone interview with CompetitionPlus.com on Monday afternoon. “In not just our team, but most every team out here has planned their year, and how to use their four testing days, by what was put out on NHRA.com by Graham Light. It’s [the statement] explicit in saying that when a team tests, and it’s in the press release, it doesn’t matter if it’s driver or the team, it’s four test days and it was explained to us that we couldn’t put another driver in there.

“Force should know better,” Capps added. “Robert is out of test days. Per that press release, whatever points he earns in Reading, will be zero. It’s in that press release.”

The release as posted on NHRA.com states, "A team in violation of this testing policy will forfeit all NHRA Full Throttle points earned at the next NHRA national event at which the team participates. Any team demonstrating a flagrant disregard or continual violation of the testing policy may be subject to additional punitive action as deemed appropriate by NHRA in its sole and absolute discretion."

What is written on the NHRA website, which is the release, is not the current thinking of the NHRA. Graham Light approved the test session. The philosophy behind the decision being that car #7 still had two test sessions available and it didn't matter who was driving the car. The car was being tested, not the driver.

In a conversation with Anthony Vestal, NHRA Director of Media Relations, Vestal confirmed that the test being conducted is being charged against the #7 team and is not a violation of the testing rule. “This is a test being conducted by the #7 team, as you call it, the driver is irrelevant.”

When asked about the situation Monday morning, Force, suited up, replied. “I know what I am doing. The test goes with the car and not the driver.”

Then Force ushered this reporter into the inner sanctum for a face to face with crew chief Austin Coil.

Coil quickly confirmed Force's simple statement saying, “The test goes with the car and the crew chief. We confirmed that with Graham Light on Sunday.”

Very simply, at some point this year, someone high enough in the NHRA changed their interpretation of the rule. What is a test is based on the car involved and the crew chief involved. The driver doesn't count. Jimmy Prock was not in Brianerd today for the test.

Force, looking to avoid any finger pointing, even went so far as to ask Light if he needed something in writing from the sanctioning body. The response said Force was 'No'.

Force did what he thought was the right thing. He laid out a plan to try to help Hight get into the Countdown to One and then he got the blessing of the authorities at the NHRA.

The rest is open to interpretation.

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