Fourteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force had as much warning as everyone else on the latest nitro price increase. In the middle of a news teleconference related to the NHRA Summernationals victory in Topeka, Kansas, someone slipped him a note.

“I just got slipped a note,” Force said, as he paused in the middle of answering a question. “I’ve just been told by the price of nitromethane has just gone up to $1405.”

Force paused and then uttered, “That’s going to be a big hit.”

The increase caught Force off guard, much like last week’s announcement of a ban on testing at NHRA national event facilities to accommodate a nitromethane shortage by the official supplier VP Race Fuels. Fourteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force had as much warning as everyone else on the latest nitro price increase. In the middle of a news teleconference related to the NHRA Summernationals victory in Topeka, Kansas, someone slipped him a note.

“I just got slipped a note,” Force said, as he paused in the middle of answering a question. “I’ve just been told by the price of nitromethane has just gone up to $1405.”

Force paused and then uttered, “That’s going to be a big hit.”

The increase caught Force off guard, much like last week’s announcement of a ban on testing at NHRA national event facilities to accommodate a nitromethane shortage by the official supplier VP Race Fuels.

While most of Force’s fellow racers are scurrying to find legal ways to circumvent that NHRA’s mandate of no-testing, he’s rock solid on his stance that he’ll take the high road and refrain.

This decision comes despite last week’s introduction of the new D2550 fuel tire from Goodyear. Many teams will only be able to test the tires as well as a new and mandatory chassis design during national events.

“I’m just not going to break the rules,” Force said. “I’m not going to backdoor [the NHRA]. We need to test and it’s tough when you can’t. At the end of the day there is a ration of fuel. I have to abide by those rules.”

Still at issue remains the nitromethane stockpile held by Don Schumacher which some say exceeds 400 barrels with more to come. Schumacher has repeatedly stated on the record that he didn’t get into the nitromethane business with the intent to sell nitro to VP Race Fuels.

“When Graham Light came in at Topeka and told us, I think everyone understood,” Force said. “I know there are issues that everyone wants to get into about Don Schumacher. Schumacher’s on our P.R.O. board and he does have nitro. These are decisions that we are talking to Schumacher about … Kenny Bernstein is … and a number of others including the NHRA.

“Schumacher is a good man and he’s not going to hurt anyone. He has his reasons as to why he got into the fuel business. He wanted to help the racer. But the NHRA has their reasons. It’s a situation where you can’t let one individual control the nitromethane.

“You ask why do we let a company like Angus or Wego control the supply and it’s simple, they are not racers. That is the little gray area that no one seems to talk about. That’s what the real reason is.”

Force feels that maybe the time has come for a sit-down with the NHRA and Don Schumacher and resolve the issue. He would love to mediate the talks.

“I wish I could sit down with NHRA and Schumacher and get in the middle of it,” Force said. “I just want to bring this thing to a head. We may need his help. I know the man and I know in the end, he will be there.

“That is, unless the fuel is demanded elsewhere and he has to let it go. He told us at the meeting that he would be there for the racers unless it got out of his control. Maybe the government will come take it away from him, heck I don’t know.”