CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY IN POMONA, CALIFORNIA
POST-RACE CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, NOV. 12, 2017
An interview with Funny Car champion ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (second career title):
Q: CRAZY THINGS CAN HAPPEN, AND THAT WAS ONE.
ROBERT HIGHT: Del Worsham came over to me before first round and said, ‘I don’t think I can outrun him, but I’m not going to give it to him. I’m going to make sure my car goes down the track.’ Del Worsham did the right thing by making it go down the track. It’s pretty cool; it’s been 10 years since Chevrolet has won a championship in Funny Car and we’re back.
Q: YOU KNEW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO TODAY.
ROBERT HIGHT: We thought we knew what we needed to do in qualifying, too. To qualify No. 15 and race a tough competitor like Tim Wilkerson with a lot of pressure on us in the first round, it’s awesome how it shook out. (Crew chief) Jimmy Prock kept telling me, ‘We’re only an adjustment away from getting this thing down there, and, boy, it was fast.
Q: WHAT A WAY TO END THE SEASON.
ROBERT HIGHT: This is just huge for John Force Racing. The last couple years we’ve struggled. It’s just a great group and they deserved better than what we were giving. Jimmy Prock and (co-crew chief) Chris Cunningham made that happen and they got us back in the game. This is amazing. Ron Capps has been a great champion and has had a great season, and that is a great team. They battled all year.
An interview with Pro Stock champion and race winner BO BUTNER, KB RACING, JIM BUTNER AUTO CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first title):
Q: WHAT WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT?
BO BUTNER: It’s Christmas Day. It was just never give up. I have a great crew that never gave up on me. And what does that say about the KB team? I rent a car and motor from them and I win a championship. It’s just amazing. The good Lord blessed me all day.
Q: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU BEAT TANNER (GRAY) THIS SEASON. AND IT CAME IN THE FINAL TO WIN THE TITLE
BO BUTNER: If you have to do it, this was the one to do it. He’s tough to beat and we’re going to have to fight him for a while.
Q: AND WHAT ABOUT THAT KB RACING TEAM?
BO BUTNER: Nobody can say anything about that team but good things. They give me the best, and they have from day one. I just hit the lottery. I thank each and every one of them. It’s been great. I am a Sportsman racer and I’ll always be a Sportsman racer.
An interview with Top Fuel champion and race winner BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (first title):
Q: AT WHAT POINT DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE IN CONTENTION?
BRITTANY FORCE: I can’t believe we’re here; it seems like a dream. The reason we are here is because of that Monster team and all the support that I have with my team, my sponsors, everyone at John Force Racing and my family. We struggled. We had our ups and downs, but we pulled it together when it mattered most. I have to give all this up to my crew chiefs Alan Johnson and Brian Husen that made this possible. They never gave up on me and they always had my back. They kept pushing for more. That’s what my Monster team did all year long; they never gave up on me and kept pushing and kept fighting.
Q: YOUR DAD (JOHN FORCE) WAS CRYING AT THE OTHER END (OF THE TRACK).
BRITTANY FORCE: My dad is the one who gave me this opportunity. He’s taught me everything I know. My dad and my family always had my back. This is a very proud moment. I never knew we could be here, but the support I’ve had around me is why we’re here.
Q: HOW DID YOU FEEL THIS MORNING?
BRITTANY FORCE: This day has been unreal. That was the problem going into first round. I was carrying that red light from Las Vegas, but I told myself when the visor comes down it’s time to focus. And I did all day long.