John Force Racing getting sued by ex-employees

[Crossbones Dennis]

www.dragracingonline.com/agent1320/2010/1320-xii_8-19.html

DRO learned yesterday, and confirmed just as we were putting 1320 Notes up today, confirmed by a John Force Racing spokesman, that John Force Racing is being sued by a group of former employees for back wages and overtime. We have the names of some of those crewmen suing JFR, and both the regular attorney and the Workman’s Comp attorney.

This is a serious case that could have serious consequences to the sport. The lawsuit is being filed in Santa Ana County, California, and it basically accuses JFR of owing former crewmembers for overtime wages and bonuses.

The real consequence to professional racing would be overtime hours and whether crews, who often work much longer than eight hours at a stretch, should be paid for overtime. We will have more on this as it develops. The very last thing the sport needs right now is more lawyers and litigation. [8/18/10]

[johnboy]

I agree, the sport does not need this headache. You would think there would be some sort of contract with the employees that would state if there would be overtime or if they would be on a flat pay rate no matter how many hours they work. I don't know what kind of money they make but i am sure they do pretty good, plus there has to be some type of a bonus added in.

[chaplain]

Most crew members other than the crew chiefs and some of the specialized highly skilled and highly trained crew members barely make minimum wage until they have been with the team for several years and have moved into a "specialty" of some sort. Mike Dunn did a special on pro crew members a couple of years ago. In it he covered wages and incentives and such, and there really isn't that much for the average crew member.