My thoughts and prayers are with the boss and his family. Thank God he still has legs, but most importantly, his life.

On the positive side, I though Ashley really had a shot today. The big man had a different plan.

God speed John.

Being a racer I don't like to see all the speculation going on here(I heard plenty after my wreck) and all I'll ad to this is that the chassis shouldn't come apart at the seat like his did. It should break apart just in front of the motor and just in front of the motor plate....John's came apart just in front of the seat which left him exposed. It seems (I don't know for fact) that the new belt sytem did everything they were designed to do and that probably saved John from a worse fate. This looked bad but it could have been so much worse. In the replays you can see the rear of the car roll over and John's legs flinging through the air. In those same replays you will see fragments of Kenny's body going into John's path from hitting the blocks...and that would cut a tire instantly. I hope John a speedy recovering and since I am only a few miles from his shop here we may go by to take get well cards......My oldest daughter met John at his Christmas party and is a big fan....

Thats the way it looked to me.

It's hard to tell in the video but it doesn't look so much like a tire or the body blowing apart as it does a chassis failure. I can't really see if the bellhousing is still on there as the front half of the car goes past but it looks like the chassis made a clean break at the front of the cage, too far back from the bellhousing for that to have been the cause.I'm sure they will figure it out and make changes if needed.[/quote]

Looked to me like the bellhousing was intact when the front of the chassis slid to a stop. It would take an incredible clutch failure to compromise a titanium housing (which, I believe, has a Ti liner). If the housing failed, it probably would have amputated John's legs. Also appears that frame tubes extended past the housing on the front of the chassis, which would support your observation. After JFR knows the Boss is OK, I'm sure they will be all over this before Ashley and Robert run at Richmond. It will take a medical miracle for a man of John's age to recover from this in time to make the next race. Prayers go out to everyone at JFR. - Jim

__________________
"The Counterfeiter"

Is John still running a slip tube chassis? Could that have caused the chassis to come apart when the chutes caught the retaining wall?

the slip tubes are in the Front, and would have no bearing as to where the tube split in front of the last main uprights... almost looked like a server twisting, shaking force ripped the tubes...

__________________
Not So Comfortably Numb- Fly Navy, Build SEABEES
A friend helps you move, A Real Friend helps you Move Bodies

The chassis should have broken apart at the midplate between the engine and the bell housing, Not right in front of the rollcage like it did.

__________________
"I'm pi$$ed at all most everthing."

At the tubing step up... that would have been understandable...

__________________
Not So Comfortably Numb- Fly Navy, Build SEABEES
A friend helps you move, A Real Friend helps you Move Bodies

You are correct Karl, there is no rhime or reason at all as to why it broke where it did

__________________
"I'm pi$$ed at all most everthing."

Rusty.. the car apart before the chute lines caught the wall...

Billy

__________________
www.myspace.com/bwrsp
www.imdra.com

Rusty:
On the slip tube chassis, all the slip tubes are all in front of the engine, and no where else.

__________________
"I'm pi$$ed at all most everthing."

As we go to bed tonight, please pray for John!

Amen Paul.

__________________
"I'm pi$$ed at all most everthing."

When was the last time Funny Cars crashed into each other (serious crash) at a NHRA National Event? I remember 1984 (Ace and Collins) at Cajuns and 1969 (Foster and Schwartz) at old Dallas.

__________________
"The Doctor"
www.wannaberacing.com