Despite Denver exit, 16-time champ John Force
‘feeling good’ about his PEAK Chevrolet team

MORRISON, Colo. (July 23) – PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil driver John Force wouldn’t make any excuses after suffering a close first-round loss at the NHRA Mile-High Nationals on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway.
But Force is encouraged by the progress his John Force Racing team continues to make, and by the camaraderie his team continues to show.
“I’m feeling good about this team because they’re staying together,” Force said. “We’re going to turn the corner.”

Force qualified No. 2 in Denver, continuing a long tradition of JFR success. Force himself seven has victories at Denver, the most in the Funny Car class. And this weekend, John Force Racing qualified 1-2-3, with Courtney Force No. 1 with the Advance Auto Parts Chevy and Robert Hight No. 3 with the Auto Club of Southern California Chevy.
John Force, though, put a hole out during his first-round race and slowed to a pass of 4.339 seconds at 247.66 mph. That ended his day early.
“We’ve always run fast on the hill,” Force said. “I set the record here years ago: The first 300 (mph run) here on the mountain – that was even before the dragsters. Austin Coil and this team helped build a combination. You’ve got to spend a lot of money to come on the hill to change it. We did for all the Funny Cars.
“It showed: 1-2-3. And let me tell you, we backed them down, probably too far. Mine dropped a hole, and Courtney’s burned up at the other end and automatically shut off. There’s no excuses. Everyone’s got the same heat, the same race track.”
Force and his PEAK team returns for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals next weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Effort: 3.899 seconds/319.98 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 3)
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.339 seconds/247.66 mph, lost to No. 15 Matt Hagan, 4.102 seconds/310.55 mph; dropped cylinders early and couldn’t catch up at the finish; vs. Hagan – 20-17 all-time; 1-3 this season; 3-1 at Denver
Now 1,276-556 (1,832 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.697)
Now 211-92 (303 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 2 (.696)
Now 66-28 (94 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Bandimere Speedway (.702)
Now 13-13 (26 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.500)
Funny Car Points Standings: 1. Ron Capps 1,244; 2. Matt Hagan 1,058; 3. Robert Hight 973; 4. Jack Beckman 970; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr. 925; 6. Courtney Force 793; 7. John Force 757.