CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
MAGIC DRY ORGANIC ABSORBENT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS
PACIFIC RACEWAYS IN KENT, WASHINGTON
JOHN FORCE REFLECTS ON 150TH FUNNY CAR VICTORY

Since 1978, Chevrolet has been a major part of Force’s career
Looking at the Funny Car champion’s milestone victories and other statistics

DETROIT (August 5, 2019) – For 54 weeks, John Force was subject to the persistent question “When are you going to get 150?”

Since posting his 149th NHRA Funny Car victory on July 22, 2018, at Denver, Force had been resilient, continually saying, ‘It’ll come,” though the continual inquiries about the 150 milestone were like a knife in the side of the NHRA competitor and, over time, crept into his psyche.

On August 4, at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington, the 16-time Funny Car champion finally found relief by registering the NHRA record-extending victory.

“I got the monkey on my back and it drives you nuts. 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. 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,” said Force, who drove the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil/Lighting Chevrolet Camaro SS to the winner’s circle in his 255th final round and 777th race.

Nineteen of Force’s wins have been in a Chevrolet – the first in 1994 — and 72 overall with General Motors. By model — Oldsmobile Cutlass (31), Pontiac Firebird (21), Chevrolet Lumina (10), Chevrolet Camaro (9), Oldsmobile Firenza (1).

Force initially drove a Chevrolet Funny Car in 1978 and advanced in a Chevrolet to the final round for the first time in 1979.

The retired Warren Johnson (97 Pro Stock wins) is the closest in career victories to Force, and four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson is the active runner-up with 93 career wins, in professional categories.

Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo (105) and Sportsman racers Dan Fletcher (104) and David Rampy (100) are the only Sportsman competitors with 100-plus NHRA national event wins.

Reaching 150 is quite an accomplishment for someone who didn’t earn his first NHRA victory until he was 38 years old and whose first 50 races produced 0 wins and 17 DNQs.

“Never thought I’d be lucky enough to get five wins,” Force said.

Now, with the monkey not disturbing his sleep, Force is looking forward to the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on August 31-September 2, the Countdown to the Championship and beyond.

“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,” he said. “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 (Austin) Prock.

“I’m giving it all I got and I’m glad I got 150.”

John Force’s road to 150
A closer look at his milestone wins and other statistics:
No. 150: August 4, 2019, in 777th race (753rd start) by defeating Ron Capps at Kent, Washington
No. 125: August 12, 2007, in 492nd race (479th start) by defeating Kenny Bernstein at Brainerd
No. 100: April 14, 2002, in 367th race (355th start) by defeating Tommy Johnson Jr. at Houston
No. 75: May 16, 1999, in 300th race (288th start) by defeating Whit Basemore at Atlanta
No. 50: March 17, 1996, in 233rd race (221th start) by defeating Chuck Etchells at Gainesville
No. 25: April 25, 1993, in 180th race (168th start) by defeating Chuck Etchells at Atlanta
No. 1: June 28, 1987, in 78th race (66th start) by defeating Ed McCulloch at Montreal
149: Previous most recent victory on July 22, 2018, by defeating Ron Capps at Denver
15: NHRA Funny Car seasons with Chevrolet (first in 1978); first final with Chevrolet in 1979
19: NHRA Funny Car No. 1 qualifier with Chevrolet, including three this season (first in 1986)
103: Runner-up finishes
13: Most Funny Car wins in a season (1996); most No. 1 Funny Car qualifiers (1996)
1,339: Career Funny Car round wins
158: NHRA all-time leader in No. 1 qualifiers
62: Wins as the No. 1 qualifier
16: NHRA Funny Car championships
43: NHRA seasons of competition
0: First-round exits this season (1 win, 1 runner-up, 8 semifinals, 5 quarterfinals)