For first time in stellar career, John Force
tops 337 mph, qualifies No. 2 in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS driver John Force has accomplished plenty in his Hall of Fame career, from winning more championships (16) and races (148) than anyone in the long history of the NHRA.
But until Saturday, he’d never officially gone faster than 337 mph.
That’s exactly what happened in the fourth qualifying session for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, when Force jumped to the No. 2 qualifying spot in Funny Car with a scintillating pass of 3.848 seconds at 337.16 mph.
“I was so excited,” Force said. “It was trucking, and the front end stayed down.”
The speed, though, wasn’t what mattered to Force. It was the elapsed time, which topped Q4.
“I ain’t about speed,” Force said. “I’m about ET. I leave speed to the Highway Patrol. For PEAK, Chevrolet, Mac Tools, all those guys – we don’t look too shabby. We’re getting better. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”
The California Highway Patrol adorns one of John Force Racing’s other Funny Cars, the Auto Club of Southern California Chevy driven by Robert Hight. Force was asked about nearly beating the elapsed time of Hight, who qualified No. 1.
“They said, ‘You almost got Robert’s record,’” Force said with a smile. “I said, ‘You never want to outrun the Highway Patrol.’”
But he does want to outrun the other Funny Cars, and Force was strong throughout qualifying, earning more bonus points than any driver (seven).
And that Q4 pass was memorable.
“I’m really trying to focus on staying in the middle of the groove,” Force said. “That’s why I drove it too far. It popped, but it didn’t hurt anything. We were a little lucky, but it popped on me. I thought I ran out of gas.
“I knew it was running a good number, and it was staying perfectly straight. I was looking for the cones to make sure I was centered in case the thing dropped a hole – it wants to move you around.”
Elimination rounds begin at 11 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, with live television coverage beginning at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
4-Second Reads:
Qualifying Round 1 (Right Lane): 3.902 seconds/329.91 mph; down the groove for quickest time of the session at that point (No. 2 of session and No. 2 overall; two bonus points)
Qualifying Round 2 (Left Lane): 5.356 seconds/133.24 mph; shuts off just after the 330-foot mark (No. 10 of session and No. 4 overall; no bonus points in session and two bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 3.923 seconds/323.27 mph; strong run from start to finish (No. 2 of session and No. 4 overall; two bonus points in session and four bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 4 (Right Lane): 3.848 seconds/337.16 mph; fastest run of his career as the car went straight down the track (No. 1 of session and No. 2 overall; three bonus points in session and seven bonus points overall)
This is the third time this season and 115th time in his career Force has qualified No. 2. Force also qualified No. 2 in the most recent race at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.
Force has 22 victories from the No. 2 qualifying position. His most recent win from No. 2 came last year at Morrison, Colo., when he defeated daughter Courtney Force. He is 211-92 in elimination rounds from the No. 2 position.
This is the fifth time Force has qualified No. 2 at Sonoma. Force is 10-2 from the No. 2 position in elimination rounds, with victories at the track in 1990 and 2000.
Force’s matchup against Jeff Diehl marks the eighth time the two will compete against each other, the most recent meeting last July at Bandimere Speedway. Force holds a 7-0 advantage all-time, with all seven previous matchups coming in the first round.