Continuing to turn proverbial corner, John Force
takes PEAK Chevy to Brainerd semis
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20) – John Force keeps saying he and his PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS are turning the proverbial corner. This weekend, they made seven strong runs and were inches from taking the car to the Funny Car final round.
After making four qualifying attempts in the 3.9-second range or better and qualifying No. 3, Force won his first two rounds in Sunday’s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway before narrowly falling in the semifinals – by just two thousandths of a second to eventual race winner Alexis DeJoria.
Force won his opening-round matchup against Jim Campbell, running the fifth-fastest speed of his career with a pass of 3.901 seconds at 333.25 mph, while Campbell stumbled at the line.
Force’s next matchup came against Jack Beckman, their first meeting at Brainerd despite 41 previous elimination-round races at other tracks. Force was quick out of the gate and ran even faster, turning in a run of 3.896 seconds at 335.48 mph, his second-fastest speed ever.
DeJoria had the quicker time in her second-round appearance and lane choice, putting Force in the right lane. But he got the jump on reaction time, and narrowly led DeJoria for much of the race. But she inched ahead in the last 50 feet, and won the race by less than two feet. Officially, Force’s pass was 3.909 seconds at 331.94 mph.
As he made seven consecutive runs this weekend without any problems, and all seven under four seconds, Force showed he and his Camaro are ready to contest for his 149th career Funny Car win.
“We’re rounding the corner, just like I’ve promised,” Force said. “Just wish we could have won that one. That would have made the weekend a whole lot shinier. But I made seven runs in a row, and that’s something for me lately. Everyone is fast; Robert (Hight) took both ends of the national record. I told (sponsor) PEAK we’d be ready by Indy, and it’s time for Indy. I’m ready.”
Force and the rest of the John Force Racing team will compete in two days of testing this Wednesday and Thursday at Lucas Oil Raceway in preparation for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Result: 3.852 seconds/334.15 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 3)
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.901 seconds/333.25 mph, def. No. 14 Jim Campbell, No Time; good launch and straight down the track which ties him for his fourth fastest speed of career; vs. Campbell – now 1-0 all-time; 1-0 this season; 1-0 at Brainerd
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Left Lane): 3.896 seconds/335.48 mph, def. No. 6 Jack Beckman, 9.505 seconds/72.67 mph; got the jump and led the entire way as Beckman’s car faltered early; vs. Beckman – now 13-29 all-time; 2-1 this season; 1-0 at Brainerd
Elimination Round 3 (Semifinals, Right Lane): 3.909 seconds/331.94 mph, lost to No. 10 Alexis DeJoria, 3.892 seconds/329.02 mph; got the jump at the Christmas tree and led all the way until the last few feet, with DeJoria edging ahead by two thousandths of a second; vs. DeJoria – now 16-11 all-time; 0-1 this season; 2-1 at Brainerd
Now 1,280-559 (1,839 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.696)
Now 183-60 (243 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 3 (.753)
Now 76-21 (97 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Brainerd International Raceway (.783)
Now 17-16 (33 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.515)
Funny Car Point Standings: 1. Ron Capps 1,383; 2. Robert Hight 1,247; 3. Matt Hagan 1,214; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr. 1,180; 5. Jack Beckman 1,160; 6. Courtney Force 1,012; 7. John Force 954.