According to multiples sources, John Force Racing released crew chief Todd Smith from his duties on Brittany Force’s Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster shortly following the conclusion of the Auto Club Finals in Pomona (confirmed by his absence on the team staff on the John Force Racing website), after leading the 29-year old driver to a 25-24 round record, a pair of final round appearances, and a seventh place finish in the NHRA Mello Yello points standings in 2015.

Now, we’re hearing the team is in talks with a certain former champion crew chief that would deliver a real shot in the arm for the Monster Energy dragster in 2016. At this time, Ronnie Thompson, who also joined the team prior to 2014 season, remains as assistant crew chief.

Smith joined John Force Racing in December of 2013 after a two-year stint with Don Schumacher Racing, and assumed the role of guiding Brittany and the then-Castrol EDGE Top Fueler to its first national event victory. Although the team came close with six final round appearances over two seasons and were a definitive threat to win nearly every weekend, they never could quite get that final win light on Sunday.

Monster Energy, as many know, spends a significant portion of its advertising budget on motorsports and action sports, with a “go big” mentality behind their efforts, and it would seem they and the Force camp have every intention of doing just that in the second year of their sponsorship deal next season.

Photo courtesy NHRA/National Dragster