Norwalk race ends too soon for
16-time Funny Car champ John Force

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25) – John Force took the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro to the quarterfinals of Sunday’s Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, the halfway point and 12th of 24 rounds on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Force secured victory in his opening-round matchup with a solid pass of 3.930 seconds at 326.32 mph, besting Dale Creasy Jr., whose car failed to compete following problems after the burnout. That put him into a second-round race against Bob Tasca III.

While Force posted a time of 4.047 seconds at 301.00 mph, Tasca’s run was slightly better, winning the race with a pass of 4.006 seconds at 323.58 mph. Tasca got the jump with a reaction time of .042 seconds to Force’s time of .070 seconds, though Force pulled even at the 60-foot mark. But Tasca inched away thereafter, leaving Force a quarterfinalist for the second consecutive race.

“When the (race car) gets a personality that doesn’t like you, you have to stay after it,” said Force. “It’s banging right before the lights and we can’t figure out why, and we’ve tried everything. So it’s back to testing. You have to have consistency. Sometimes you cannot be fast and be consistent and be there at the right time with a little luck and win.”

The next race on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule with the Fallen Patriots Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.

4-Second Reads:

Best Qualifying Effort: 3.911 seconds/319.98 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 3)
Elimination Round 1 (Right Lane): 3.930 seconds/326.32 mph, def. No. 14 Dale Creasy Jr., No Time; ran a solo – the second-quickest time of the round – after Creasy’s car suffered problems during the burnout; vs. Creasy – 14-4 all-time; 1-0 this season; 1-0 at Norwalk
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Right Lane): 4.047 seconds/301.00 mph, lost to No. 6 Bob Tasca III, 4.006 seconds/323.58; despite running dead even at 60 feet, Tasca pulled away thereafter; vs. Tasca – now 11-13 all-time; 0-2 this season; 0-1 at Norwalk
Force is now 13-11 this season in 24 elimination rounds.
Force is now 14-10 at Norwalk in 24 elimination rounds.
Force is 181-59 all-time in 240 elimination rounds from the No. 3 qualifying position.
Force is now 1,276-554 all-time in 1,830 elimination rounds.
Funny Car Points Standings: 1. Ron Capps, 1,095; 2. Matt Hagan, 946; 3. Jack Beckman, 855; 4. Robert Hight, 809; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 739; 6. Courtney Force, 714; 7. John Force, 683.