PEAK Funny Car driver John Force hopes
busy week is capped by Chicago victory
JOLIET, Ill. (July 3) – A full week of activity leading up to the Fallen Patriots Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend at Route 66 Raceway will keep PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS driver John Force busy.
But the 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s going to be a busy week,” Force said. “I’m excited about it. I’m excited about my race car, too.”
Force’s sponsor, Old World Industries, is based in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Ill., and Force will make a stop there Thursday morning.
But that’s only one of many appearances, highlighted by throwing out the first pitch before the World Champion Chicago Cubs play the Tampa Bay Rays at historic Wrigley Field on Wednesday. PEAK is a sponsor of the Cubs, as well.
Force and John Force Racing president Robert Hight will sign autographs at the PEAK display at Wrigley during the game. Afterward, Force and Hight will make an appearance at the Advance Auto Parts store at 2223 North Cicero Avenue in Chicago from 5-6:30 p.m., signing autographs and meeting fans and Advance Auto employees.
Force and Hight will also participate in the NHRA press conference on Thursday in downtown Chicago, followed by an appearance for Safety Kleen at Chicagoland Speedway, across from Route 66 Raceway.
“I’m going in to the Chicago race with all their brands: PEAK motor oil, antifreeze, coolant, Herculiner, Final Charge,” Force said. “The big boss will be there, Tom Hurvis, the owner of Old World Industries, so I really want to do well in front of him.
“That’s why testing was so critical for us last week. We knew we could go in there and run it and probably be fine, but we didn’t want to take a chance, so we went and tested.”
Force and his PEAK team tested at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last week, continuing the evolution of his race car. The test went well, giving Force confidence in chasing his fourth victory at Chicago.
“We’ve got over 250 customers coming,” Force said. “We’re going to throw out the first pitch at the Cubs game. My son-in-law Danny (Hood, crew chief on Courtney Force’s Advance Auto Parts Funny Car) is from Chicago, so my grandsons are excited to go to the game with Danny and their mom.
“We’re going to go to an Advance Auto and do an autograph session, and we’re going to do the NHRA press conference on Thursday, and we’re going to the oval track Thursday night for Safety Kleen.”
The 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals begins Friday with two qualifying sessions – at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Central time (7 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time). The third and fourth rounds of qualifying are scheduled for 4 and 6:45 p.m. Central on Saturday (televised live at 5 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1). Final round eliminations are scheduled for noon Central on Sunday (televised live at 3 p.m. Eastern on FS1).
4-Second Reads:
John Force has competed in 24 races at Route 66 Raceway and every race since the series began racing at the track in 1998.
Force has three victories at the track – 2000, 2004 and 2006. He has made it to the finals eight times, most recently in 2013.
Force is 37-21 in 58 elimination-round races at Route 66 Raceway.
Force has qualified No. 1 six times at the track – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 (first race), 2004 (second race) and 2012.
Force is 16-8 in first-round matchups at Route 66 Raceway.
Force is currently seventh in Funny Car points standings. He has been as high as third in the standings earlier this season.
Force has six victories in Illinois – three each in Joliet and Madison (Gateway Motorsports Park).
In his career, Force has 148 victories and 1,276 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 Chicago – 3.979 seconds (2016 Q1); 321.58 mph (2015 Q2)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.832 seconds (2017 Gainesville); 335.15 mph (2017 Pomona 1)
Force will throw out the first pitch of the Chicago Cubs game Wednesday at Wrigley Field, before the Cubs take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Game time is set for 1:20 p.m. Central.
Force and Robert Hight will participate in a meet and greet and autograph session from 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Advance Auto Parts at 2223 North Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639.
Force and Hight will take part in a tour of Old World Industries on Thursday morning. OWI owns PEAK, the primary sponsor on Force’s car.
Force and Hight will participate in a media luncheon Thursday at the River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Dr., in downtown Chicago. Media interested in attending should contact Lee Montgomery at lmontgomery@johnforceracing.com for times and reservation.
Co-crew chief Joe Veyette, a native of Blue Island, Ill., returns to the team after spending the first 12 races on Brittany Force’s Top Fuel car. He replaces Jason McCulloch, who moves to the Top Fuel car.
Travis Wirth, clutch specialist, hails from Erie, Ill.