CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
MAGIC DRY ORGANIC ABSORBENT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS
PACIFIC RACEWAYS IN KENT, WASHINGTON
POST-RACE RECAP AND DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, AUG. 4, 2019
Chevrolet sweeps on historic day in Seattle
John Force earns NHRA record-extending 150th Funny Car victory
Austin Prock claims first career Top Fuel win in 16th event
Matt Hartford denies Greg Anderson of Pro Stock ‘Swing’ sweep
Andy Morris drives COPO Camaro to Stock Eliminator win
KENT, Wash. (August 4, 2019) – John Force scaled the grandstand at Pacific Raceways to celebrate with fans in a spontaneous act of elation and dexterity for a 70-year-old.
“You made it possible,” Force exclaimed to the throng after earning his National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) record-extending 150th career Funny Car victory. “You stuck by me.”
Nearby, 23-year-old teammate Austin Prock scaled the rear wing of his Chevrolet dragster after registering his initial Top Fuel victory in his 16th professional event.
“I’m still in shock; I can’t believe it,” said Prock as he received a congratulatory hug from race runner-up and defending NHRA Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence.
Matt Hartford was also celebrating his second career Pro Stock win, which denied Greg Anderson from becoming the only NHRA driver to sweep the three-race Western Swing for a second time.
Spectators and a national TV audience witnessed an historic day and a Chevrolet sweep of the pro categories at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals.
“What an incredible accomplishment by John Force to win his 150th Funny Car race,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “It’s simply unmatched. We’re proud to partner with John and his race team during this exciting time.”
Nineteen of Force’s wins have been in a Chevrolet – the first in 1994 — and 72 overall with General Motors backing. By model: Oldsmobile Cutlass (31), Pontiac Firebird (21), Chevrolet Lumina (10), Chevrolet Camaro (9), Oldsmobile Firenza (1).
In his 255th career final round in his 700th race, Force defeated longtime friend and racing rival Ron Capps for his ninth victory at the racetrack in suburban Seattle. Capps owns the second-most all-time Funny Car wins with 63, and the retired Warren Johnson is second in all pro categories with 97 career victories.
“I’m glad that monkey (off his back) is gone,” said Force, the No. 4 qualifier driving the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil/Lighting Chevrolet Camaro SS. “I surround myself with the greatest people and the greatest sponsors with Chevrolet, PEAK, Auto Club and Advance Auto Parts and, of course, Montana Brands. To all the guys who were part of 150, you’re all part of my life and I love you. We finally made it to 150.
“It’s been 25 races, since Denver last year (149th win). You go to bed every night (but) the monkey taught me so much, that you need to focus on your car if you want to do good. So sometimes you need a slap in the face. And that was the monkey that made me focus. Give me a good race car, I can race.”
With two regular-season races left, including the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on August 31-September 2, Force clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship. The 16-time Funny Car champion will finish in the top 10 in points for the 35th consecutive year.
Force knocked out teammate and Funny Car championship points leader Robert Hight in the second round. Hight, the No. 5 qualifier driving the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, picked up his 491st career round victory in the opening matchup.
Prock, who became the 108th different Top Fuel winner, previously reached the semifinals at Topeka, Kansas, as his best result in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, but he knew it was only a matter of time until he broke through. Prock is the son of championship-winning tuner Jimmy Prock, who is Hight’s crew chief.
“We got it done. When it’s your day it’s your day. Unbelievable,” he said.
Brittany Force, the No. 2 qualifier in the Carquest Brakes Chevrolet dragster, fell in the second round of eliminations.
Hartford, driving the Rottler/Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro SS, used a .023-of-a-second reaction time to defeat Anderson on a holeshot. Anderson, driving the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS, had won at Denver and Sonoma, California, on the Western Swing.
“I told Greg down here earlier that I was going to leave on him; I don’t think I outran him. But I’m taking the Wally home,” said Hartford, the No. 9 qualifier.
Anderson, who defeated Alex Laughlin (Havoline Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the final at Sonoma, California, seven days earlier, beat the No. 2 qualifier in one semifinal. Hartford eliminated Deric Kramer (American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the other semifinal.
Andy Morris of Olympia, Washington, drove his Chevrolet COPO Camaro to victory in Stock Eliminator competition. Jeff Lane of North Bend, Washington, reached the quarterfinals in his COPO Camaro.
After a week off, Chevrolet drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock continue their drive in the regular season August 16-18 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. Deric Kramer won the Pro Stock division at the track in 2018, while Hight owns both ends of the Funny Car track records and Brittany Force is the Top Fuel track speed record-holder. FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 2 p.m. ET Aug. 18.
An interview with JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL/LIGHTING CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 4 qualifier; earned 150th career Funny Car win in 255th final round):
YOU WERE PRESSING FOR THIS MOMENT. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?
“Well, it’s been 25 races, Denver last year. (Crew chief Brian) Corradi and Daniel Hood and for (Tim) Fabrisi have had to put up with me all year, not happy with the way the car steered, how I sat in it, not happy with so many things. And then I got the monkey on my back and it drives you nuts. You go to bed every night and (but) the monkey taught me so much, that you need to focus on your car if you want to do good. I’m just doing stuff all the time and I don’t even know my car. And you know Corradi and (Austin) Coil said. ‘You’ve got to get to know your car. You’ve got to live it. You’ve got to love it. You’ve got to study the drivers.’ I said I do all that, but I wasn’t. So sometimes you need a slap in the face. And that was the monkey that made me focus. To live my car and it’s been fast the last four or five races. Give me a good race car, I can race. I may not be as young as these kids and a hot shot on that Tree. But I’m excited. The future of our sport. There’s so much potential out here.”
WHO ARE YOU MORE EXCITED FOR, YOU OR AUSTIN (PROCK)?
“I’m excited for me to get rid of the pain. I’m glad it’s over. I can calm down now and not live with that thinking that you’d never get it. I’m going to come race my car. I’ve only got a few years left. I want to enjoy it.”
YOU GOT WAY BACK WITH SEATTLE. HOW SPECIAL IS TO GET THAT WIN HERE?
“I’ve crashed here so many times. I’ve won here so many times. There are certain tracks I’m really happy at. I love Indy, Pomona, I love Vegas, Seattle is special. I have no complaints. I’m 70 years old and I do it because I love the fans and God will tell me when it’s time. You’ll know when your old body says you’re done. But I need to build new stars. I need to build Brittany (Force). Robert (Hight) is already there. Brittany is a champion, but she has so much to learn. I’ve got to build Prock. He’d young and he’s strong. I don’t have that strength anymore. No matter how hard you try, you don’t have that fire. I get it in my head, but it’s hard to make your legs do what you want them to do like these young kids. I’m giving it all I got and I’m glad I got 150.”
CAN YOU GIVE THIS A RIDE IN 2019?
“Robert is killer on the lights; they all are. Everybody can beat me; that ain’t no secret. I have to fudge and go deep and all that stuff. But that’s what I have to do. I’m in the hunt and that’s all I ever really wanted to do is be in the hunt. I’m not trying to kid anybody. I love watching these cars, and I told myself if you get beat go over and give Ron (Capps) a hug. He was the first one over to me to congratulate me. That’s the kind of guy he is. JR Todd, that’s another one. Just the best guy personality-wise.”
DID YOU EVER THINK YOU’D GET 50 LET ALONE 150?
“No. Never thought I’d be lucky enough to get five. I remember going to nine finals and somebody says ‘hey, is this like winning your first championship or your first final round?’ I said don’t put that in my head. It’s too crowded in there. I had to stay away from it, not think about it. TV was setting up special shows about me and then I fail. But I didn’t fail; I was doing the best I could. Failure is part of it and that’s what I told Brittany. When you get that gut ache and turn it into a positive. That’s the key.”
An interview with Top Fuel winner AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 12 qualifier; first career Top Fuel victory; 16th career event):
HOW DOES THIS MOMENT FEEL?
“It’s unbelievable. Just have to thank the Lord up above and John Force for giving me this opportunity. I told those Capco boys in Pomona (season opener in February) I was coming for them.”
EVERYBODY HAS SHOWN A LOT OF FAITH IN YOU TO GET YOU OUT HERE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
“This is a dream come true. I’ve wanted this since I was knee high, ever since I could think I wanted to drive a Top Fuel car. To get the win, my dad is one of the best crew chiefs out there and to share a Wally with him is pretty incredible.”
TO DO IT ON THE SAME DAY AS JOHN FORCE REACHING A MAJOR MILESTONE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
“Me and Danny Hood, we called that from the get-go. We said when John gets 150, I’m going to get my first one. It all came together just perfectly. I’m just pissed that Force is going to steal the cover of National Dragster.”
YOUR SEMIFINAL RACE YOU WON AGAINST MIKE SALINAS WITH YOUR REACTION TIME LIKE YOU HAVE ALL YEAR. TALK ABOUT THAT.
“I’ve been looking for a holeshot win since I started this deal. That was really bad ass to do it. It’s just cool that it came on the day that we made it to the finals. Any time you can help your team out and get round wins, that’s how you win championships, that’s how you win races is when the car is down you have to step up and when the car is good you have to be there too. It’s a team effort out here. It’s not one or the other. Everyone’s got to do their job.”
GO THROUGH THE FINAL ROUND.
“Steve Torrence schooled me up there. Dude went and pre-staged, so I went in and then he comes in and double bulbs me and obviously he knew I was nervous from the get-go. He was maybe trying to play some games because I was .030 and .040 in the rounds before. I went in there and never let my foot off the clutch pedal on my final stage procedure and I ended up swapping feet and that’s why I was so dang late. But when it’s you day, it’s your day.”
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION WITH DON PRUDHOMME?
“Prudhomme has bene looking for a win since he got me this deal. He found Montana Brand for us and we put all the pieces of the puzzle together today. I’m just glad we could make him proud today.”
TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR FIRST VICTORY OVER THE GUY WHO HAS BEEN DOMINATING THE SPORT. WHAT’S THAT LIKE?
“That’s unbelievable. I wanted to race him in the finals. I said when we get to our first final round, I want it to be against Steve Torrence because I want to be the guy that stops him. It’s pretty bad ass that the rookie stopped the champ.”
An interview with Pro Stock winner MATT HARTFORD, HASRTFORD RACING, TOTAL SEAL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 9 qualifier; second career victory; fourth final this season):
HOW SPECIAL IS THIS?
“I told Greg (Anderson) down here earlier that I was going to leave on him; I don’t think I outran him. But I’m taking the Wally home. This is for everybody at Rottler but more importantly my crew. I couldn’t do it without them. Four final rounds this year and to finally close it. It’s awesome.”
WALK US THROUGH YOUR RACE DAY.
“I’ve said for years you have to qualify well if you’re going to have success on Sunday. Up until the last couple years we hadn’t really qualified well, and we had a lot of first-round losses. This year we qualified really well with the exception of one race earlier in the year and this race. Here, qualifying ninth, you’re going to be first pair out, you’re not going to have lane choice. If you’re lucky enough to win that round, you’re going to run the No. 1 qualifier if he gets through the first round. So, you’re not looking for a long day by the odds if you qualify ninth. But the win against Bo (Butner) really set the momentum for the day.”
YOU’RE IN THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
“The most races I’ve ever run was 16 last year, but usually it’s 12 or 13, which is probably what I would have run this year in NHRA hadn’t changed the schedule. I think we could have made the Countdown last year because the car was running really well but we missed (Pomona and Gainesville) early in the year. So, we’re excited to be in the Countdown this year and, to be honest, our goal is to win the championship. I think we’ve got a pretty decent chance.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, CARQUEST BRAKES CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 2 qualifier; fell in second round): “Seattle has been a good weekend for all of John Force Racing. The Carquest Brakes team is still fourth in points, but we qualified No. 2 and made some good, consistent runs all weekend. We had a second-round exit but overall it was a good day,” said Force. “We have a week off to rest and collect everything and get our heads back in the game before we go into Brainerd.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 5 qualifier; fell in second round): “We were hoping for a better race. A second-round loss is not what we’re used to, but if you have to lose to somebody losing to the boss is not a bad thing. We have to do a better job of qualifying so we’re racing in the final or the semis and not second round.”
PRO STOCK:
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 6 qualifier; fell in final): “I felt the gods were with me, that the stars were aligned. I had great confidence that I could cut a light and great confidence in my Chevrolet. I really felt I was going to win that race, but I didn’t. That’s NHRA Pro Stock at its best right there. You just never know what’s going to happen. Every round win has to be earned. Matt Hartford earned it today, and I didn’t. He did a fantastic job, and my hat is off to him. They flat spanked us. I wish I could have it over, but I can’t. I had a blast, though. I really had a lot of fun this whole Western Swing, and especially today. I think my Summit Racing Chevy Camaro is the best that’s it been all year long. That gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier; fell in second round): “We were pretty conservative in Round 1 and when we got after it a bit more against Matt (Hartford) the track didn’t like it. We lost traction very early in the run and then it shook the tires hard at that point and we were pretty much done. I did run it out because after that pedaling contest I had with my teammate Alex Laughlin in Norwalk I realized that even after 20-plus year of Pro Stock racing I still have some things to learn, but barring anything crazy happening I wasn’t going to catch Matt. We still leave here with our heads held high and we’ll get to work on racing in Brainerd (Minn.) in a few weeks.”
ERIC ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 3 qualifier; fell in second round): “We’ve certainly struggled. We rolled it off the trailer here and went .54 (6.54 seconds), No. 2 qualifier. Got bumped down to third by my buddy Alex Laughlin. For Elite Motorsports, for Melling, Gallagher and who helps us out we were really excited to be on the right track.”
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 8 qualifier; fell in first round): “I’m ready to get back home and back to normal life. I know our Chevy Camaro is good, I just need to do a better job of qualifying and driving. I missed it, and that makes a big difference. If you’re starting 8th or 9th, that’s a coin toss. Everybody in the class has caught up. There is no dominant car. That leaves it up to the driver, so that’s what we’re going to be working on to make something happen.”
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACNG EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 4 qualifier, fell in second round): “We ran well this weekend, we just didn’t do a great job today racing. Timing is everything though, and the first part of the year really doesn’t mean a whole lot. It’s nice to be good at the start of the year but being good at the end of the year is what matters with the playoff-style format. All-in-all, this weekend was good. A little bit of a disappointing day, but we have good stuff. Right now, it’s tough. Everybody is good, and to put together four great runs to win a race is no small feat.”