Momentum building for John Force, PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Funny Car team after solid performance in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 30) – The momentum continues to build for John Force and his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team. And it’s the right time of the year.
With two races left before the biggest race of the year – the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis – and three races before the start of the Countdown to the Championship, Force may be peaking at the right time.
At the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Nationals, Force qualified No. 2 with the fastest speed in his glorious career (337.16 mph). On race day, he won his first-round matchup with Jeff Diehl before falling in the second round to eventual winner J.R. Todd.
“We learned how to get fast,” Force said. “When we were up high in Denver, we had out-run them for three years – won twice and runner-up once. But I thought, ‘Let’s get down to sea level.’ Now, it’s only a race, but it’s showing that we found something. What that is, I don’t know yet. They won’t tell me.”
John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight left Sonoma with the national speed record, 339.87 mph, driving the Auto Club of Southern California Chevy with a special California Highway Patrol-paint scheme.
“You never want to out-run the Highway Patrol,” Force joked. “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”
Force started race day with a terrific run of 3.884 seconds at 330.88 mph to beat Diehl’s 4.168-second pass at 287.60 mph.
In the second round, Todd inched away with a winning pass of 3.973 seconds at 324.90 mph, while Force trailed with a 4.030-second run at 323.50 mph.
Force then watched daughters Brittany and Courtney move to the semifinals, with Brittany reaching the Top Fuel semis and Courtney the Funny Car semis.
“We had two cars in the semis: The Monster Energy car was in the semis with Brittany and so was the Advance Auto Parts car with Courtney,” Force said. “We didn’t get the win, but we’re turning the corner. I’m really excited about Brittany and what she’s doing. Her reaction times and everything are starting to come around.”
The three-race Western Swing concludes with the NHRA Northwest Nationals next weekend at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.
4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Effort: 3.848 seconds/337.16 mph (Round 4, Qualified No. 2)
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.884 seconds/330.88 mph, def. No. 15 Jeff Diehl, 4.168 seconds/287.60 mph; strong pass from Point A to Point B; vs. Diehl – 8-0 all-time; 1-0 this season; 1-0 at Sonoma
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Left Lane): 4.030 seconds/323.50 mph, lost to No. 10 JR Todd, 3.973 seconds/324.90 mph; good run but not enough to catch Todd; vs. Todd – 0-1 all-time; 0-1 this season; 0-1 at Sonoma
Now 1,277-557 (1,834 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.696)
Now 212-93 (305 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 2 (.695)
Now 63-22 (85 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Sonoma Raceway (.741)
Now 14-14 (28 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.500)
Funny Car Points Standings: 1. Ron Capps 1,276; 2. Matt Hagan 1,093; Jack Beckman 1,049; 4. Robert Hight 1,035; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr. 982; 6. Courtney Force 874; 7. John Force 821.
About John Force Racing