PEAK Funny Car driver John Force heads to season’s halfway point seeking second Norwalk victory
NORWALK, Ohio (June 21) – John Force has one victory so far during on this season’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit, but would love to double that statistic as the series hits the halfway point at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
The driver of the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, Force won the NHRA Gatornationals in March at Gainesville Raceway, defeating Jonnie Lindberg in his only final of the season.
He made semifinals appearances in three of the first four races this season, and would like none other than to return to early-season form in the final of four straight race weekends, starting June 3 at Epping, N.H., followed by races at Englishtown, N.J. and Bristol, Tenn.
“I know it’s going to be hot there, so I’m coming out there with guns a blazing.” Force said. “We’re going through a lot of changes, but we’re going to get there. We need a win, but so does the Auto Club car and Advance car. We’ve got a fast hot rod. All of my cars are fast, and we’re going to get there.”
Force has one victory at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park – in 2014, when he won from the No. 2 position – and two final-round appearances. Force and his team compete annual in the Night of Fire, an event in which JFR teams compete in a special exhibition race and a highlight on the track’s schedule. That Force and JFR contest the event in the middle of their NHRA season show Force’s commitment and love of the track.
“I know that track well, and so do the rest of my drivers, since we do match races there,” Force said. “The Bader family is among the top one or two promoters in the business. They’re great people, and we’re excited to go back to Norwalk and put on a good show.”
Two rounds of qualifying are slated for Friday (5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (12:45 and 3:15 p.m.), with final eliminations at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Fox Sports 1 will televise one hour of qualifying on Friday (10:30 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (midnight). FS1 plans three hours of finals coverage at 6 p.m. Sunday.
4-Second Reads:
John Force has competed in 10 races at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park and every race since the series began racing at the track in 2007.
Force has one victory at the track – in 2014. He has made it to the finals twice.
Force is 13-9 in 22 elimination-round races at Norwalk.
Force has qualified No. 1 only once at the track – in 2013.
Force is 6-4 in first-round matchups at Summit Motorsports Park.
Force is currently seventh in Funny Car points standings. He has been as high as third in the standings earlier this season.
Force has five victories in Ohio – four in Columbus and one at Norwalk.
In his career, Force has 148 victories and 1,275 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 Norwalk – 3.979 seconds (2016 Q4); 324.12 mph (2016 Q4)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.832 seconds (2017 Gainesville); 335.15 mph (2017 Pomona 1)