‘Life’s good:’ PEAK driver John Force looks forward
to racing with daughters on Father’s Day
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14) – For many years of John Force’s long career, he wasn’t able to enjoy Father’s Day with his kids.
Now, thanks to the career paths chosen by two of his daughters, the 16-time Funny Car champion gets to spend plenty of time with them on that special day. This year is no different, as he’ll spend Sunday racing with them in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Brittany Force races the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster, while Courtney Force drives the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing. That makes Father’s Day an extra special time for John Force, driver of the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS.
“In my early days, I spent a lot of Father’s Days on the road,” John Force said. “Couldn’t get home to them, and I didn’t have the money – I was driving the 18-wheeler. To be with kids that I’ve missed so much and to race with them, life’s good for me.”
Racing with two of his daughters helps put Force’s recent struggles in perspective, but the fire still burns for NHRA’s greatest driver. While either Courtney Force and JFR teammate Robert Hight have qualified No. 1 in six of the last seven races, John Force has had trouble finding consistency.
“I’m getting beat up on that race track,” Force said. “But they beat me up 40 years ago and then I beat them up. They beat me up the first 10 years, and I dominated for 20, and now I’m getting my butt kicked. That’s what makes it exciting.”
Force knows a turnaround is coming, and it could start this weekend at Bristol, where he has four career victories.
“I know where I came from,” Force said, “and I’ll get back in the fight sooner or later.”
Two rounds of qualifying are slated for Friday (5:30 and 8 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (1:30 and 4 p.m.), with final eliminations scheduled for noon Sunday.
Fox Sports 1 plans to television one hour of qualifying highlights at Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Saturday at 11 p.m. FS1 will broadcast three hours of finals coverage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
4-Second Reads:
John Force has competed in 16 races at Bristol Dragway and every race since the series began racing at the track in 2001.
Force has four victories at Bristol Dragway – 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 – the most of any Funny Car driver at the track. He has made it to the finals five times.
Force is 23-12 in 35 elimination-round races at Bristol.
Force has qualified No. 1 only once at Bristol Dragway – in 2015. However, he has never qualified outside the top half of the bracket in 16 races.
Force is 8-8 in first-round matchups at Bristol.
Force is currently tied for sixth in Funny Car points standings, with Tommy Johnson Jr. He has been as high as third in the standings earlier this season.
Force has four victories on Father’s Day – two in Columbus, Ohio (1988 and 2001) and two at Bristol (2010 and 2013). The day after his Father’s Day victory in 1988, his youngest daughter Courtney Force was born.
In his career, Force has 148 victories and 1,274 elimination-round wins, both records. He has 155 No. 1 qualifying spots, of which 60 have resulted in victories, also both records.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Force’s best time/speed at Bristol – 3.956 seconds (2016 Q1); 323.43 mph (2015 Q4)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.832 seconds (2017 Gainesville); 335.15 mph (2017 Pomona 1)