16-time champion’s message after Charlotte:
‘Don’t worry about ol’ John Force’
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 17) – John Force wanted more out of his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet in the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, but John Force Racing won the race in an all-JFR final between winner Robert Hight and Courtney Force.
John Force advanced to the quarterfinals with his Chevrolet Camaro SS before falling to his youngest daughter, Courtney, in a terrific race.
“I’ve been saying it over and over, and it almost got to where I don’t know what to say any more, but we’ve turned the corner,” Force said. “My combination is being transferred over, so PEAK, don’t worry about ol’ John Force. I know the drill, and we’ll be OK.”
Force and his team plan to test Monday in Charlotte, hoping to continue to improve as the six-race Countdown to the Championship continues with the second race next weekend in Reading, Pa.
Force is eight in the Funny Car standings, but he’s less than a round out of fifth and less than three rounds out of third.
And he knows the JFR Funny Cars have the speed to contend for victories, especially since Hight leads the points standings, with Courtney third after Charlotte.
“Robert Hight does have both ends of the record with Auto Club, and Courtney’s been on that run with Robert, so her Advance car has been good,” Force said. “Doesn’t mean we’re going to win the championship, but we’re in the hunt with two cars right up there at the top – and my dragster with Monster moved up to fourth with Brittany (Force).”
Force started his race day in Charlotte against old rival Cruz Pedregon. The two were out of the gate together, separated by .008 seconds, but Pedregon went up in smoke almost immediately, while Force sped to the win with a run of 4.076 seconds at 301.67 mph.
Against his daughter, John was right with her on the Christmas Tree (.069 for Courtney to .071 for John), but her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet gradually inched away with a winning pass of 3.934 seconds at 330.07 mph, with John close behind in a 3.983-second run at 325.61 mph.
“I’m thankful for all our sponsors: PEAK, Advance, Auto Club, Monster and Chevrolet,” Force said. “But we can’t forget about all of them, like ParkerStore and PPG and all of them. We’ve got so many people really supporting us. This is a great time at John Force Racing. Life’s good.
“We’ll be testing more with Brittany in the Funny Car so we’ll be learning more and more about this combination. I won this race last year and now Robert (Hight) got it done and Courtney (Force) was runner-up. We’ll go into Reading motivated.”
Force and his PEAK team race again this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Result: 3.967 seconds/325.06 mph (Round 4, Qualified No. 9)
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.076 seconds/301.67 mph; Nice, smooth run to finish line to beat Pedregon, who went up in smoke almost immediately; Now 69-34 all-time against Pedregon
Elimination Round 2 (Left Lane): 3.983 seconds/325.61 mph; Left within .002 seconds of daughter Courtney, who got the win with the low ET of Round 2 (3.934 seconds); John’s pass was solid but trailed just behind Courtney’s; Now 14-9 against his youngest daughter, including 0-2 this season
Now 1,281-561 (1,842 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.695)
Now 31-28 (59 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 9 (.526)
Now 23-15 (38 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Charlotte (.605)
Now 18-18 (46 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.500)