One can’t blame Marcus Smith for trying to capitalize on the near fisticuffs incident between John Force and Tony Pedregon during the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon.

Smith is the President of Speedway Motorsports Inc., owner of zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C., and site of next week’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. Monday evening he sent out a press release offering $20,000 for a grudge race between Force and Pedregon in a winner-take-all setting.

Force and Pedregon engaged in a shouting match in the shutdown area of O’Reilly Raceway Park over a controversial semi-final match between Force and John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight. Hight clinched a berth in the NHRA’s Countdown-to-One playoffs with the victory eliminating Pedregon older brother and defending series champion Cruz Pedregon.

One can’t blame Marcus Smith for trying to capitalize on the near fisticuffs incident between John Force and Tony Pedregon during the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon.

Smith is the President of Speedway Motorsports Inc., owner of zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C., and site of next week’s NHRA Carolinas Nationals. Monday evening he sent out a press release offering $20,000 for a grudge race between Force and Pedregon in a winner-take-all setting.

Force and Pedregon engaged in a shouting match in the shutdown area of O’Reilly Raceway Park over a controversial semi-final match between Force and John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight. Hight clinched a berth in the NHRA’s Countdown-to-One playoffs with the victory eliminating Pedregon older brother and defending series champion Cruz Pedregon.

Pedregon told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s in and did so without hesitation and a hint of excitement in his voice.

“How do we resolve this? Do we do it on the track? I can do that. I’d love to. Bring the cameras. Bring the money. We can settle this on the track. He can bring all of his crew chiefs and I will bring in all of my interim staff.”

If Force beats him, Pedregon said he will be a good sport.

“If he beats me, I will shake his hand and give him a hug if he will let me,” Pedregon said. “In everything I do … I really try to keep things in perspective. The reality is that I can separate what we do at the track. This isn’t a labor of love, this is my profession. When I leave out of that race track there is a balance of the real world. My business means a lot to me and I will maintain that I am entitled to my opinion. I have rights just like John does.”

Cruz Pedregon caught wind of the proposal and wanted in on the action with a unique twist injected into the situation. He believes Smith could sell even more tickets if he and Robert Hight could join in the competition and make it a four-lane affair.

“If I wasn’t involved, I’d pay to go see that one,” Cruz Pedregon said. “That would be a helluva deal. What a way to showcase the four-lane deal.”

At present this idea might be wishful thinking on Smith’s behalf, even in running two cars, since the NHRA maintains rights to final approval of the promotion. Tony Pedregon and Force could conceivably meet in the first session of qualifying considering both were semi-finalists in Indy. The second session is determined by the performances of the first session in Concord.

Oh yeah, and there’s the willingness of Force to participate. As of Monday evening, he’s not the least bit interested.

“I have no interest in that,” said Force. “Bruton Smith is my personal friend and Marcus is becoming my friend, but I have to focus 100-percent on winning the championship with my four teams. For me and Tony to prove how we feel about each other would prove nothing. I appreciate the offer but I have no interest. If it was for $100,000, I still wouldn’t do it. I am going there to concentrate on the Countdown.”
 

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