I saw that article on NHRA website the other day and agreed that Bob had a career year this season. Last year I knew was a scratch because the whole deal started Day One at Pomona with no pre-season testing so the team had no numbers or setups to work with. I talked for a moment with Jim Dupuy in the pits at Atlanta last year and he said that for the most part they were testing in a live racing scenario but they were starting to get a handle on a setup. At the time they were pretty consistent in the 4.60's range but to go rounds you gotta be in the 4.50's. About mid to late year (I can't remember the exact time) the data started telling them they needed more air so they raised the bugcatcher another 1 1/2 inches and the car picked up that 10th to where this year the car ran those 4.50's and it showed with Bob making 4 finals so far and he made the Countdown. The nature of the Countdown unlike NASCAR IMO makes the top teams come off the trailer with the goal of winning the race itself whereas in NASCAR you don't have to win but finish good.
This year was a good year for the team and they got lots of good data and Jim has good notes for a solid tune up week after week. If they don't notch that first win this year, I do believe they will do so next year.
On a different note, I read where Force will send all 4 cars to Vegas but he may only run Hight's car at the event. Seems some data came back that called into question the heat treating process of the chromemoly relating to John, Ashley and even Eric's chassis. Turn's out those 3 cars were built by Murf McKinney and Robert's is an old John Force chassis built by Steve Plueger that was brought out of mothballs at the beginning of the year and updated for racing. John used Steve for years and for whatever reason went over to Murf and Murf builds great chassis'. Whatever this problem is, they have now seen data that suggests a linking to the chassis failure of Eric's car and the are not taking any risks. Phil Burkart is in Vegas to drive John's car but John may not put those cars on the track. John is dead serious about the issue of safety as the data also shows that had the changes from Eric's car not been on John's, John would now be with Eric.
John Force Racing is very close to begin testing of a Ford hemispherical Fuel engine that they hope to put into the racing format and they will at some point also build their cars (chassis, body, etc) in house. I know Jack Rousch did build the cabonfiber bodys for Force but not sure about now. As for the engine, it will be interesting as so far only Brad Anderson and Alan Johnson have independent NHRA authorization to build engines based on the TFX design as they both are we known as building the best heads of anyone. I can only imagine the "Car Make" wars between the Ford and Mopar diehards if Force intros a "Ford Hemi" into the mix. Haven't seen this kind of action since Greer, Black and Prudhomme ran the Ford SOHC motor back in the 60's.
Enjoy Vegas this weekend Dude!