PEAK driver John Force puts struggles behind,
takes No. 6 qualifying spot for Heartland Nationals
Photo credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 20) – When the adrenaline is pumping and a qualifying spot is on the line, you can count on John Force to put emotions aside and put his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS in the field.
It took three tries, but the 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion drove straight down the drag strip at Heartland Park Topeka and into the No. 6 qualifying position for Sunday’s NHRA Menards Heartland Nationals.
His pass of 3.850 seconds at 332.59 mph in the final round of qualifying Saturday put him solidly in the field after being on the outside looking in at the start of the third round.
“It was a long time since I was on the outside looking in starting the last session,” Force said. “The crew chiefs did what they had to do.”
Force admitted that his car was the one struggling in his three-car stable. Daughter Courtney Force and son-in-law Robert Hight each lowered the track’s elapsed time record – Courtney even set the national ET record for a short period – before claiming the No. 2 and No. 3 qualifying positions, respectively.
Despite the struggles, and one less qualifying effort after Friday’s inclement weather forced the cancellation of one session, Force will aim for his record 10th Funny Car race victory at Topeka from the top half of the bracket.
“We have two fast Funny Cars, and the dragster, for all the work we have been doing with that, is starting to come around,” Force said. “We’re not where we want to be with my car, but we’re working on it. We were struggling, but we came right came out and made the field in the last run. We’re not as fast, but we’re in the hunt.
“It bothered me when we lost that one qualifying session, but when you’re not qualified, you get a lot of adrenaline. It had been a long time since I had been in that position. But that’s part of the game.”
Force will face No. 11 Bob Tasca III, whose best run came at 3.915 seconds at 320.81 mph, in the first round of eliminations. The pair are 11-11 against each other, with Force winning the most recent matchup in last year’s race at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
Sunday’s NHRA Menards Heartland Nationals begins at noon Eastern. Fox Sports 1 will provide three hours of live finals coverage starting at 3 p.m. Eastern.
4-Second Reads:
Qualifying Round 1: 6.542 sec./99.57 mph; struck tires around 330-foot mark and slowed
Qualifying Round 2: 8.435 sec./84.01 mph; car shook and turned off immediately
Qualifying Round 3: 3.850 sec./332.59 mph; straight down the track and into No. 4 spot
This marks the sixth consecutive race in which Force has qualified in the top half of the field.
Force has now qualified in the No. 6 spot 56 times and has nine victories, 12 finals, and 82 round wins in 127 elimination rounds. Of those 82 elimination round wins, 37 have come in the first round.
Force’s most recent victory from the No. 6 qualifying position came last year at Sonoma Raceway in California, when he defeated Ron Capps.
This is the 201st consecutive race in which Force has qualified.
Force’s most recent victory at Heartland Park Topeka came in 2008, when he defeated Tim Wilkerson in the final round. His last final came in 2015, when he contested Jack Beckman.
Force’s matchup against Bob Tasca III marks the 23rd time the two will compete in an elimination round. The pair are tied 11-11 in the previous 22 matchups, with Force winning the last two races.
Force said he wanted to acknowledge Linda Vaughn and former Top Fuel dragster and IndyCar driver John Andretti, both who are battling medical problems. “We’re praying for Linda, as she’s the first lady of our sport. We could compare her to (Don) Garlits; she’s the king. And John, all of the drivers are running his sticker. He’s given us all a wake-up call, and we’re praying for him too.”