JOHN FORCE CAPS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON WITH RUNNER-UP AT AUTO CLUB FINALS

 

POMONA, CA—- John Force ended his 2013 Mello Yello NHRA championship season on a high night but not the highest note. Force lost a close final round to Matt Hagan at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang had been nearly invincible the past five races. In the final he covered the 1000 ft. race track in 4.0057 seconds but Hagan was slightly quicker with a 4.018 second pass. His win streak may have been stopped at three races but the competitive fire was fanned heading into the off-season.

“(Matt) Hagan is a good competitor. I really wanted that final. I wanted to close this season out tonight. There is only one positive thing that comes out of this. At the other end when he congratulated me on the championship and I congratulated him on the win I knew right then I am ready to race next year,” said Force, who won 19 rounds in the Countdown this season. “This is what I do and I want to win them all if I can. I know you can’t do that but that will be my attitude next season. That is what it takes. Robert Hight has that attitude. My girls are learning that attitude. That is the key.  I have sponsors to find and I have a lot of work to do next year. I am going for seventeen.”

In the eleven races that Force teamed up with crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro the trio raced to six final rounds, won three races, and had a 24-8 round win record. The nineteen round wins in the Countdown ties Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel, 2008) for the most round wins in Countdown history.

Force outran Bob Bode in the first round and won a pedal-fest against Jeff Arend in the second round. In the semi-finals against Gary Densham Force was once again the quickest of the session with a 4.043 second run to head to a final round match-up with Hagan.

The Auto Club Ford Mustang and Robert Hight did not meet his personal expectations on race day. The team dropped a surprising first round against Ron Capps as his Mustang smoked the tires at the top end. Hight will finish in the Top Ten for the ninth consecutive year and he once again won multiple events for the ninth consecutive year but the 2009 Funny Car champion knows that he has some unfinished business.

“That first round loss was tough. We wanted to go out and win this race for our sponsor, the Automobile Club of Southern California. We will put this race behind us and start getting ready for 2014. We won the U.S. Nationals and the first race of the Countdown,” said Hight.

“Getting off to a strong start next season will be critical but I have a great team behind me. Mike Neff and I have worked really well together and we have a great team here at John Force Racing. We won the championship and got all our Funny Cars in the Top Ten.”

Although Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang team tripped in the first round to Bob Tasca III, the sophomore driver will finish in the No. 7 spot in the NHRA Mello Yello point standings. This is the second year in a row that the young driver has experienced a top ten finish.

“We had a tough competitor in the opening round. We went up there against Bob Tasca III in the first round; a fellow Ford driver. He’s a tough opponent, but we went up there with lane choice. Originally we had our eyes set on the left lane, but switched over to the right lane. We thought it would be better for us.”

The Traxxas Ford Mustang driver qualified in the No. 3 spot. She was first off the line and out ahead, but hazed the tires and Tasca drove around her for the win. Coming into this race, Force was 7-1 against Tasca in prior events and 4-0 in round one.

“We had a malfunction on the starting line with a parachute coming out, which was just one of those freak things that happens from time to time. We got the car ready and pulled up to run. That right lane was giving us trouble in qualifying. We thought we had fixed the problem, but we had an issue in one spot on the track and it caused it to spin the tires and (Tasca) drove on past me,” said Force.

In 2013, the 25-year-old had two runner-up finishes, appearing in the final round at both Las Vegas events. She also won two national events, including the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona where she was No. 1 qualifier, and the Inaugural event in Epping, N.H. After today, she has qualified in the top five 12 times this season, including the last six races in a row.

“I’m just very proud of my team to close out this season well and to make it into the top ten. We shuffled down a couple spots today, but I’m just proud of every guy on my team and everything they have done for me this year. I definitely see that we had a shot to go all the way up to the No. 2 spot and maybe next year we’ll have a shot at the No. 1 spot. I think we had a great season and I’m looking forward to getting back out there and testing in January,” said Force.

The Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster team saved their best effort for the final race of the season. During qualifying the team lowered their personal best elapsed time record two times and finished in the top half of the field. That qualifying position proved to be a critical advantage as Brittany Force had lane choice and won a back and forth pedal-fest over Spencer Massey.

In the second round she faced Brandon Bernstein, another second generation driver, and for the first time this season Force advanced to the semi-final round.  A strong 3.855 second run quickly outpaced Bernstein’s tire smoking effort. The rookie driver was pleased with her season finale effort even though she dropped the semi-final race to Doug Kalitta.

“To be able to go to the semi-finals at the last race of the season really has us ending on a great note. I love racing Doug Kalitta. He is a great professional and he comes over before the run and says let’s have a good race. He got me that run. Right off the hit we just went right up in smoke.  He was way out ahead of me and there was really no chance to catch up. I am so happy the Castrol EDGE team went to the semis,” said Force, a top contender for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award.

“We wanted to come out here the last race of the season be able to put our best out there. We qualified top half and ran our career best elapsed time in qualifying. Then on race day we go to the semi-finals. I think I can look back on this year and be proud of the improvements we made all season.”

* * * *

Final Qualifying at Pomona Sets Up Team Mopar for a Dramatic Finish in Battle for NHRA Pro Stock Championship
 
·         Final qualifying for 49th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals sets up interesting scenarios in final showdown for the Pro Stock championship
·         Coughlin has 70 point lead in hunt for his fifth Pro Stock championship but faces Mopar teammate Vincent Nobile in first round
·         Johnson is defending title winner at NHRA Finals at Pomona and not ready to give up on championship hopes
·         Hagan qualifies second and sets track speed record in final session
·         Six Dodge Chargers qualified for Funny Car eliminations in final event of the season

 

Pomona, Calif. (Nov 9, 2013) – The field is set following final qualifying at the 49th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, and while each Mopar driver is looking at one last shot at winning a Wally on race day, there is one big prize that has yet to be determined —  the NHRA Pro Stock World Championship.

 

Pro Stock points leader and JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. ended the very first race of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season with a final-round showdown at Pomona against J&J Racing teammate Vincent Nobile. In eliminations on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, on the last day of the season in the 24th race, Coughlin will once again meet Nobile, this time in the opening round — with a win possibly clinching the 2013 championship for Coughlin.

 

Coughlin, No. 2 on the starting ladder heading into the final two qualifying sessions on Saturday, improved his numbers with a 6.545-second elapsed time at 211.43 mph, earning one bonus point, but was still bumped down one spot to No. 3. In his final qualifying pass of the 2013 season, the four-time Pro Stock champion recorded a 6.548/211.10 mark, good for the No. 4 spot and another qualifying bonus point.

 

Qualifying behind No.1 qualifier Mike Edwards and Jason Line was Rickie Jones, whose presence amid the top-five mixed the ladder significantly enough to set up scenarios in which the three J&J Racing Mopars would now face each other within the first two rounds.

 

Heading into Sunday, Coughlin and Nobile (the No. 13 qualifier with a best run of 6.583/210.37) have squared off six times during the 2013 season. Coughlin holds a 2-4 record, including a final-round loss in that February matchup in Pomona at the NHRA Winternationals. With a 70 point lead over both Edwards and Line, who are tied in second place following qualifying, a win over Nobile in the all-Mopar matchup would essentially lockup a fifth Pro Stock championship for Coughlin, and back-to-back titles for the Mopar brand.

 

“We’re looking to get out and put down a really good run and turn the win light on,” said Coughlin, who has four 2013 title wins in eight final round appearances. “We were third-best in both sessions today and look to have a great car going into gameday tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of racing to do, but I love racing here at Pomona so I say bring it on. We’d love to perform well tomorrow, and let the rest take care of itself.”

 

Allen Johnson, the 2012 Pro Stock champ, isn’t ready just yet to cede the championship to Coughlin, his J&J Racing teammate. The Mopar Express Lane Dodge Avenger driver was No. 4 after his first three qualifying attempts, posting a 6.550/211.73 in his first run on Saturday. AJ wrapped up qualifying with a 6.553/211.46 to start from the No. 5 spot and will go head-to-head with Rodger Brogdon to begin what he hopes is a miracle Sunday finish. Johnson won the Pomona finale last season to wrap up his championship season but would need a number of scenarios to fall into place to claim back-to-back championships.

 

“Rickie Jones slid in there and moved it around there to where we didn’t like it much,” said Johnson who, while 98 points behind, still has the mathematical possibility of retaining his crown given the right scenario. “That just stirred up the drama a little. We had it perfect with me and Jeg on opposite sides of the ladder before he [Jones] did that, but now we’ve got to deal with it and we’ll all do our best. You go out on race day and do your best as a driver and as a team and not pay attention to who you are racing. Hopefully it’ll work out the way it’s supposed to.”

 

HEMI-powered Dodge Avenger driver and Pro Stock veteran V. Gaines (6.552/212.16), fresh off a final round appearance at the recent NHRA Vegas race, will start sixth and draw Greg Anderson as his opening foe, while Dodge Avenger driver Matt Hartford (No. 14, 6.589/210.64) lines up versus Jones.

 

A field full of Mopar HEMI-powered Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car drivers — a total of six — will be in the hunt for the NHRA Finals event win on Sunday. Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) pilot Matt Hagan led the Dodge pack heading into Saturday at No. 4, with a best run of 4.043/319.52 in his Magneti Marelli Quality Auto Parts Offered by Mopar Dodge Charger R/T. Hagan recorded a solid 4.061/315.05 in the first session on Saturday, then put a bow on qualifying by unleashing his best run of the weekend, a 4.014/320.20 pass that lifted the 2011 Funny Car champ to the No. 2 spot and a first-round fight with Alexis DeJoria.

 

“It was a phenomenal day and weekend for this whole camp, with the boys working on this Magneti Marelli machine killing it this weekend,” said Hagan, who has taken the “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar” Dodge Charger R/T to four title wins, eight final round appearances and five No.1 qualifier positions in 2013 after missing the playoffs last season. “We have a lot to be proud of this year. It definitely makes me excited about next year. The potential that this team has, what we have already proven, what we have already shown that we can do, it’s just going to grow and get better from here.

 

“Unfortunately, we didn’t do as well in the Countdown as we needed to win the championship, but we can still finish really strong and turn on some win lights tomorrow and secure this second place,” said Hagan who set track speed record on his final qualifying pass. “There’s no reason this team can’t do that the way this Mopar is running this weekend and how everybody is working together.  There’s no doubt in my mind that we can do it.”

 

Native Californian Jeff Arend posted his Dodge Charger R/T eighth thanks to a 4.067/311.85 mark, with Tim Wilkerson on tap in the first round. DSR driver Johnny Gray (No. 10, 4.077/311.20) gets a first-round fight with Chad Head, his Mopar-powered teammate and the 2012 Funny Car champ, Jack Beckman (No. 11, 4.077/309.20), will match up with Cruz Pedregon in round one, and the fourth member of the DSR quartet, Ron Capps (No. 12, 4.103/312.71), will need to get past Robert Hight to advance to the quarterfinals. Rounding out the Mopar Dodge contingent is Gary Densham (No. 13, 4.118/301.81), with Del Worsham his opening-round foe.

 

FORCE No. 1 AT AUTO CLUB FINALS; FIRST THREE SECOND FC PASS IN POMONA HISTORY

POMONA, CA (November 9, 2013) –John Force will go into race day at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals as the No. 1 qualifier. Force was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday on the strength of his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car’s 4.015 second pass. Today during the final qualifying session Force was bumped back by Matt Hagan’s 4.014 second pass before the newly crowned 16-time Mello Yello NHRA Funny Car champion raced into the record books with the first three second pass in Funny Car history at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, 3.995 seconds at 319.37 mph.

Force and his Jimmy Prock tuned Castrol GTX Ford Mustang have put together a historic string of qualifying efforts over the last four races. From coast to coast Force has an average best qualifying elapsed time of 4.004 seconds. Starting in St. Louis (No. 3, 4.023 sec), Reading, Pa. (No.1, 3.987 sec), Las Vegas2 (No.1, 4.011 sec) and today at Pomona2 (No. 1, 3.995 sec). Three of the four runs have been track records (St. Louis, Las Vegas2 and Pomona2).

At the top end Force exited his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car and showered his crew chief brain-trust and his sponsors with praise.

 “What about that Jimmy Prock! That was pretty impressive when we saw Courtney (Force) run that 4.01 Mike Neff went into the box with Robert (Hight’s Auto Club Mustang) and everybody was going for it. Hagan comes up with a 4.01 and took low from me,” said Force. “I saw that look on Jimmy Prock’s face because he has seen what everyone else has done. Jimmy told me on the radio to ‘Hold on kid!’ I just want to thank all the sponsors Castrol, Traxxas, Auto Club, Ford, Mac Tools, BrandSource and Freightliner. We did that on Goodyear tires which was awesome. I want to thank Auto Club for extending our sponsorship.” 

This was Force’s record 146th No. 1 qualifier and it was his third in a row and sixth of the season. Force has won the last two races from the No. 1 spot and he will face journeyman Funny Car driver Bob Bode in the first round.

“First I am not writing any history. Jimmy Prock runs that Funny Car like I said yesterday. Right now we are on a roll and it is just working. This is a team effort with Mike Neff, Ron Douglas, Dean Antonelli, John Medlen working with Jimmy and Danny DeGennaro. We are all one team. Neff pushed it and went for it with Robert. Courtney ran 4.01. I saw the look on Jimmy Prock’s face and I knew he was going for it. The Schumacher’s they beat us to the threes but we got the record here at my home track in Pomona in front of a pretty good crowd. I am pretty excited,”

Force described the second three second run of his career to the media in the Shav Glick Media Center with his trademark enthusiasm.

“I knew it was a good run. I could hear my guys yelling. I knew it ran in the threes. It is just a feeling that you get. It is a rocket ship that goes down through there and it didn’t vibrate,” said Force. “It was on a mission. I heard my guys on the radio but they didn’t tell me exactly what it ran. I knew she ran in the threes I just didn’t know how quickly.”

In the pair right before Force’s historic run Robert Hight and the Auto Club Funny Car team were making their own bid for history. With the conditions improving rapidly crew chief Mike Neff was trying to get the maximum effort out of the track and was successful for approximately 700 feet. At the top end at the Auto Club Mustang was charging on all eight cylinders but Hight hazed the Goodyears and slowed as he crossed the finish line.

“We are ready for race day. We were going for a low elapsed time run and we just overpowered the track a little bit. That was all it took to smoke the tires,” said Hight, the No. 5 qualifier. “We can back it down and be ready for round one tomorrow. Our goal is to move up as high as we can in the points. We got bonus points in three straight qualifying sessions before the final qualifying session. This Auto Club Ford Mustang has been consistent all weekend and we will be ready to close out the season on a high note.”

Hight will face perennial championship contender Ron Capps in the first round. Both drivers are looking to move up in the points. Hight holds a 22-14 record against Capps. This will be the third time they have faced each other at the Auto Club NHRA Finals and currently their head to head record is 1-1 in the season finale.

Courtney Force opened up qualifying today in a great side-by-side match-up next to Capps. The sophomore driver posted a 4.109 elapsed time at over 312 mph and moved up a few spots in the Funny Car field. The Traxxas team had to bring out their back-up body after a small explosion on Friday during the second qualifying session.

“We had to switch bodies after yesterday. We put the pink car back on since we ruined our rookie car which is a bummer, but we’re excited that we’ve had some pretty good luck with the pink Funny Car. We went out there in the first session and ran a 4.10, which stepped us up a little, but the conditions weren’t quite perfect yet. We kept it safe on the first run and on the second we wanted to improve. We were looking for something better and we found it in Q4,” said Force.

The 25-year-old raced her pink Traxxas Ford Mustang to a 4.016 second run at over 319 mph in the fourth and final qualifying session today. Temperatures dropped quickly as the sun went down and helped to move the Traxxas team up into the top half of the field.

“In the final session we ran a 4.01 and went towards the top which is what we wanted. I’m very proud of my team. They thrashed to get that car ready for qualifying today and to go out and put a 4.01 on the board makes us very excited for what can happened tomorrow,” said Force.

Force will go into Sunday in the No. 3 spot and take on Funny Car competitor and Ford racer Bob Tasca III. Force is 7-1 to Tasca in previous match-ups.

The Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster continued to impress on the final day of qualifying. Rookie driver Brittany Force lowered her career best elapsed time for the second day in a row posting a 3.784 second run at 323.74 mph. The run was good enough to keep the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future contender in the top half of the field in the No. 8 position.

“I’m very excited about our weekend out here. It’s definitely a tough field out here in Pomona for the last race of the season. Everyone is really trying to qualify well to get those extra bonus points. Our car has been running great. We ran our best ET ever, a 3.78, and we just did it again in the last session. We have a really good car- the best it’s ever run. It’s really consistent. We were No. 4 at the beginning of the day but got bumped down to No. 8. I’m really excited for tomorrow,” said Force.

Force will face Spencer Massey for the sixth time this season. Force recently defeated Massey in Las Vegas for the first time in five attempts.

“I’ve raced Spencer quite a few times and he’s kicked my butt in the past, but he’s fun to race. I got him last race in Vegas, but our plan is to go out there and get past first round. It’s going to be a tough match-up, but it’s nothing that our Castrol EDGE team can’t handle,” added Force.

JOHN FORCE GOES TO NO. 1 AT 49TH ANNUAL AUTO CLUB FINALS AT POMONA

 POMONA, CA (November 8, 2013) – John Force and the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang continued to flex their muscles Friday, climbing to the top of the Funny Car performance ladder while just missing an Auto Club Raceway track record on the way to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position for Sunday’s 49th annual Auto Club Finals.

  While the newly-crowned series champion was putting himself in position to start from the front for the third straight race, rookie Brittany Force was applying an exclamation point of her own by driving the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster through the 1,000 foot timers in a personal best 3.787 seconds and 323.19 miles per hour.

 It was the third personal best in the last seven races for the 27-year-old contender for the Auto Club’s 2013 Road to the Future Award that identifies the NHRA Rookie of the Year and it sends her into the final two Saturday qualifying sessions as the No. 4 qualifier..

 “Coming out yesterday and running 3.84 with a cylinder out at about 200 feet, that was a pretty good number when you consider that,” said the aspiring schoolteacher.  “I felt pretty good about coming out here today. We were hoping to be able to improve – which we did.

 “That was the quickest run of my career,” she said.  “I am so excited for my team and my guys to run that 3.78.  I am so pumped and I can’t wait to get back to the track tomorrow.”

 “Being able to run that number just means so much,” explained the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton.  “This is the last race of the year and the last race of our rookie season. We want to do the best we can. We want to finish up the season doing our best and runs like that really help.”

 For his part, Force was low key about a 4.015 that put him in position to claim the 146th No. 1 qualifying award of his 36-year NHRA career.

 “We’re just trying to gobble up points to keep the competition from getting them,” said the 138-time tour winner.  We’d like to finish 1-2-3 (in points) and if everything goes right, I think we can do that.”

 Although he admitted that every conversation and every interview has been about his most recent championship, one he secured two weeks ago at Las Vegas, he said he’s focused on extending his current three-race winning streak.

 “I’ve learned to turn off the switch and focus on what I’ve got to do,” Force said.

 “It starts with the sponsors,” the 15-time Auto Racing All-American said of his most recent milestone.  “When you have sponsors like Auto Club, Force, Castrol, Traxxas, BrandSource and Mac Tools, that lets you hire the right people.

 “Then you rally those people together and you do your job as a driver and that’s what makes the ‘magic.’  It’s a team effort.  The crew chief has to have the right attitude, the team has to make the right calls and the driver has to do his job, too.”

 Hight, who can still finish as high as second in points in the Auto Club Ford, was pleased with his Friday performance.

 “We picked up two qualifying bonus points yesterday and one today,” Hight said, “so that’s big; that’s moving us in the right direction.  Going up there, (crew chief) Mike Neff said he thought we could run a 4.03, so we were two thousandths better than that. That shows you have a good handle on your race car.

 “We need to be at the top here. We’re really trying to win this race for Auto Club and end this season on a high note. So far, so good. I give my team an A+.”

 Although it was a good day overall for JFR, it wasn’t without incident as Courtney Force’s special edition Traxxas Ford Mustang suffered a mechanical failure at the hit of the throttle Friday, backfired the supercharger and inflicted serious damage to the carbon fiber body.

 “Our Traxxas team had a rough day at the office,” said Force. “The conditions were great; the track was cooling down because it was being shaded a little more. We definitely had our eyes set on a good run. We watched a couple of the cars ahead of us run in the low 4.0s.

 “There was a 4.04 and a 4.06 ahead of us, so we were definitely aiming low.  We wanted to get our car maybe even in the 3s if we could do it, but we definitely wanted to get a low 4.0 run to get us to the top of the board.”

 Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

 “We went up there and banged the blower. It’s unfortunate and I’m bummed for my Traxxas crew. This is the last time we’ll be running the rookie car. It definitely hurt it on that run, but the good thing is everyone is OK.  We’ll see if we can find and fix the problem and just get back after it tomorrow,” said 2012’s top rookie.  “We’ll be running the pink car for the rest of the weekend and I’m excited for that.”

 

JFR 2-3-4 IN FUNNY CAR AT AUTO CLUB FINALS THURSDAY QUALIFYING

POMONA, CA (November 7, 2013) – His Mello Yello Championship may be secure, but John Force still has work to do at this week’s season-ending 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Force started his bid for a record ninth victory in the season finale by driving the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang through the 1,000 foot timers in 4.105 seconds at 304.12 miles per hour, good enough for one bonus point and the No. 3 position after the first of four qualifying rounds.

“It is good to come out of the box first session and get down the race track. That gives you a strong tune up. I think we are all in the top four in Funny Car and Brittany is No. 7 in Top Fuel. Everybody is in the top half but tomorrow is a new day,” said Force, a 138-time NHRA National event winner. “We have wrapped up the championship but we are trying to win this race for all our sponsors from Castrol to Ford to Auto Club to Traxxas. Robert and Courtney are trying to get up to the No. 2 and No. 3 spot in the points. I have the championship but I still want to win the race because this is Auto Club Raceway and this is an Auto Club race.”

In fact, Force finished Day 1 just behind son-in-law Robert Hight and the Auto Club Mustang and just ahead of youngest daughter Courtney and the special edition Traxxas Mustang that commemorates the 25-year-old’s Rookie-of-the-Year season in 2012.

“That was a good start. We wanted to get a good run under our belt on the first day and go from there. That first run will really set up the event for us. We got some bonus points and we are trying to get up to the No. 2 spot. I am glad we put up a good number in the Auto Club Ford Mustang and I know Neff will start working on a great tune up,” said Hight.

The only quicker car was the Dodge of Jack Beckman, which took the provisional No. 1 at 4.077 seconds.  Hight was second at 4.096 and Courtney fourth at 4.115 coupled to top speed for Funny Cars at 314.97 mph.

Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car team came out today in the opening qualifying session and posted a respectable 4.115 second run at 314.97 mph to put their hot rod in the No. 4 spot for now.

“It feels good to be back at a racetrack where we took home a win to kick-off the 2013 season at the Winternationals. It seems to be a lucky track for our Traxxas Ford Mustang team,” said Force.

The 25-year old made her first qualifying pass in the right lane beside competitor Ron Capps. The duo was the first in the Funny Car category to make two full, clean passes right down the track. Force’s ET tied Johnny Gray’s 4.115, but the female driver took the higher qualifying spot on speed, her 314.97 to Gray’s 306.46 mph run.

“It looked like a couple of cars were struggling to get in when we were watching the qualifying session start. We went down and ran a 4.11 and ran top speed of the session at 314. Just got bumped to the No. 4 spot so we didn’t get to pick up any qualifying bonus points today, but my teammates, my dad and Robert Hight did so we’re excited for them. I think we’ve got some fast Ford Mustangs out here for John Force Racing. We’re looking forward to tomorrow for another qualifying session and hopefully we can move up to the top spot,” said Force.

Thursday’s qualifying effort assures a favorable spot for all three Ford drivers in Friday’s qualifying order.

While the JFR Funny Cars were off to a good start Thursday, so was the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster in which Rookie-of-the-Year contender Brittany Force sped to the provisional No. 7 spot at 3.843 seconds at 312.86 mph.

“I’m glad to be out here at Pomona at my home track. I love racing here. We get to race at Auto Club Raceway twice a year and it’s nice for us because it’s close to home and our friends and family can come out to watch us race,” said Force.

“On our first qualifying pass we went out and ran a 3.84 and ended up No. 7. We’re super excited about that, but we still get three more shots at trying to improve on that so we’ll just try to keep moving in the right direction. We had a hole out on that run so hopefully we can run a little bit faster tomorrow.”

John Force has won the Auto Club Finals a record eight times but has never won in an odd-numbered year.  His wins came in 1988, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.  The 64-year-old icon comes in on a three-race winning streak that ran his record total of tour victories to 138.

CHAMPIONSHIP SECURE, FORCE STILL MOTIVATED

16-Time Champ Aims for Ninth Victory in Season-Ending Auto Club Finals

 

POMONA, Calif. – He may already have clinched a record 16th NHRA Funny Car championship, but rivals know that John Force isn’t just going to “mail it in” this week when the 2013 Mello Yello tour concludes with the 49th annual Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

In fact, one of the many ways in which Force has kept himself viable for 36 pro seasons is by creating new challenges for himself and his team, not just season-to-season, but race-to-race.  .

As a result, when he sends his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang back to work this week, he will focus on what little unfinished business remains in a season in which he has won four races, qualified No. 1 five times, recorded the second quickest run in the 1,000 foot era (3.985 seconds) and set a national speed record (323.50 miles per hour).

With a year like that, one might ask “what else is there?”

Well, while the 64-year-old icon has won the Auto Club Finals a record eight times, he’s never won the finale in an odd-numbered year.

Nevertheless, the most intriguing opportunity for the 2008 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is one that would propel him into the company of seven-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock World Champions Bob Glidden and Greg Anderson.

Schumacher, Glidden and Anderson are the only pro drivers ever to win four consecutive races to close out a season.  No one has done so in Funny Car, not even Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, one of Force’s idols in the 1970s and early ‘80s when he was just so much cannon fodder for the frontrunners.

To be in a position to accomplish that feat a year away from his eligibility for Social Security borders on the unimaginable.  However, it is much more than just a possibility.

After all, Force has been the No. 1 qualifier at each of the last two events in the Countdown, has been to four straight final rounds and has won three-in-a-row for the 15th time in his career but for the first time since 2005.

He credits crew chief Jimmy Prock and a veteran team that four years ago sent Robert Hight to the podium as a first time champion.

“Most of the guys working on this Funny Car have been here since 2005,” Prock said of his supporting cast.  “We have been through the ups and downs, but everybody hung in there and worked together.  This is a tough gig working on one of these race cars.  Your heart and soul goes into them and when you win, it’s a great feeling.”

“We are learning how to race again,” Force said.  “Don Schumacher Racing and Cruz Pedregon have been pounding us, so we needed to get back in the game.  Winning is a team effort.”

Despite his success this year, Force admitted that he was a little unnerved by all the “Sweet 16″ signs that emerged as he neared his latest title.

“I didn’t like seeing those ‘Sweet 16′ signs,’” Force said.  “That sounds like I’m quitting.  I’m not quitting. I’m going for No. 17 next year.  I’m going to be around awhile.”

FORCE CHANNELS EARNHARDT BEFORE FINAL ROUND IN LAS VEGAS

YORBA LINDA, CA (October 31, 2013) – During the NHRA teleconference yesterday John Force recounted a story he told in The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway media center after he clinched his unprecedented 16th Mello Yello Funny Car championship. Prior to the final round Force took a ride on his Kymco scooter to the NASCAR facility to clear his head before the final round race with his daughter, Courtney Force. While the then 15-time champion was focusing David Hakim the Castrol social media representative shot a photo of Force underneath the Dale Earnhardt terrace.

Following his win in Las Vegas where his Castrol GTX Mustang outran the Traxxas Ford Mustang piloted by Courtney, 4.06 to 4.08 seconds Force elaborated on how he wound up under the photo of the seven-time Sprint Cup champion.

“I need to clear my head and I went across the street to look at that Earnhardt photo. I remember Dale Earnhardt used to say ‘I’ll do the winning and you marketing guys sell me.’ I never had the nerve to say that but that guy was a winner so he could do it. I have had luck on my side the last three races,” said the 16-time Funny Car champion. “I read an article this morning about being humble but after a day like today I would like to say it was me. Jimmy Prock is unbelievable. The team he has around him is awesome. I used to race against his dad, Tom, who ran the Tom and Jerry Funny Car and the Detroit Tiger. He and Danny DeGennaro got the job done. Look at how those cars run side by side. If there is anything I have done right is putting together this team effort. We pulled together when it looked like we were falling apart. I have great companies with me and they allow me do this. We won them a championship. We got a Mello Yello championship but next year I am going to try and win again.”

Prior to the beginning of the 2013 NHRA Countdown Force announced the hiring of Indianapolis and London based Just Marketing, Inc., to lead the sponsorship recruitment efforts for the 18-time Funny Car team. Force is looking to replace the loss of long-time sponsors Ford Racing and Castrol at the end of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

BRITTANY FORCE CONTINUES PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS HEADED TO POMONA
YORBA LINDA, CA (October 29, 2013) — With one more day of testing behind her, Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future contender, Brittany Force is eager to get to the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona. The rookie driver of the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster, the first Top Fueler ever campaign by the 18-time Funny Car championship team, picked up another round win at the Toyota NHRA Nationals giving her eight round wins which leads all rookies this season.

After outrunning Countdown contender Spencer Massey in the first round Force was all smiles when she reached the top end.

“I have raced Spencer four times this season and even though our car was improving it was still not enough to get passed that talented team. I had an awesome run in the first round in Las Vegas and when I saw that win light I was beyond excited! I couldn’t wait to get to the top end to see my guys and pump them up for the next round. Spencer has been a great competitor and friend out here and he was a real professional after the race,” said Force, who now has a 1-4 record against the Top Fuel driver from Ft. Worth, Texas.

Since the Countdown began five races ago Force has an average qualifying position of 7th, has qualified for every race and has raced to the quarterfinals three times. For a rookie driver this kind of success in a play-off atmosphere has definitely helped her improve as her rookie season winds down.

“We have been improving all season but seeing the jump we have made since Indy has been really encouraging. My Castrol EDGE team is really hitting their stride and I am so proud of them. The Countdown atmosphere has been incredible. I think that you feel the pressure even more over these last five races to do your best and make your team proud to really finish out the season strong. Winning rounds consistently has given me the confidence that nothing is out of this teams reach and that our first win is right around the corner” said Force.

“I would love to win the Automobile Club Road to the Future Award because I think I have given so much to the sport this season. It has been so exciting learning the ropes in Top Fuel and picking up tips from so many of my competitors. They have been incredibly helpful and I want to continue to grow as a driver in this class. I have learned there is so much more to being a successful driver than turning on a win light. Getting to know the media and the fans as well as working with my sponsors Castrol, Ford, Mac Tools, BrandSource, Traxxas and Freightliner has been an eye-opening experience,” added Force.

The Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be presented during NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony Monday, Nov. 11, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. More than 120 of the nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions, number of events participated, and relationships with fans, sponsors, and media.

FORCE No. 1 QUALIFIER, RACE WINNER AND WORLD CHAMPION IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (October 27, 2013) – John Force won it all today at the 13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals. He was No. 1 qualifier, won the race and clinched his record 16th Mello Yello Funny Car championship at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While Force was collecting a Wally and a massive Mello Yello championship trophy two fans that signed up for the “Win with Force” promotion we collecting front loading washers and dryers and a 55” flat screen TV.

On Saturday Jane Lown, of Las Vegas, Nevada, won the washer and dryer combo as Force captured the 145th No. 1 qualifier of his career.  Today Rhonda Hansen, of Madison, Wisconsin, won the 55” flat screen TV when John Force outran his daughter Courtney for the first time in a final round.

“I wanted to prove I could still race. (Wife) Laurie (Force) has been the best thing for me. She said. ‘If you would quit sitting on the end of the bed whining about what is going on. If you get out there and just win then winning fixes everything.’ That just got my head right. Go win that is what you are paid to do. I am good. I am tough enough. I am young enough to race and nobody loves it more than me. I am the sixteen time champ!,” said Force. 

At each NHRA national event when a JFR team qualifies No. 1 a lucky fan that has signed up at the JFR “Win with Force” display located in Nitro Alley will be eligible to win the BrandSource No. 1 Qualifier Award, a front loading washer and dryer set.  If a JFR driver wins the event a different fan will win the 55” flat screen TV Winner’s Circle Award from BrandSource.  At the end of the season a grand prize winner of the “Win with Force” Sweepstakes will be awarded a 2013 Castrol Edge Ford Mustang GT premium edition.

Fans can sign up to win at the John Force Racing interactive midway display. This 53-foot trailer will be in the Nitro Alley area of every NHRA Full Throttle Series national event in 2012. The “Win with Force” promotion now includes JFR team partners Castrol, BrandSource, Ford, and Mac Tools, all joining together to create an incredible promotion for the fans. Last year, John Force Racing won ten races and was No. 1 qualifier seven times. So far in 2013, JFR has had two No. 1 qualifiers.

TEAM JFR RACE REPORT
5th of 6 races in the Countdown to the Championship

23rd of 24 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Series

 

13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas, NV

October 27, 2013

* * * *

 

Final round results from Sunday’s 13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship and twenty-third race in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

 

FUNNY CAR – John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 4.062, 310.63 mph, def. Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Traxxas Ford Mustang, 4.085, 319.22 mph.

TOP FUEL – Antron Brown, Brownsburg, Ind., Matco Tools dragster, 3.782, 324.51 mph, def. Clay Millican, Drummonds, La., Parts Plus dragster, 3.822, 322.50 mph.

PRO STOCK – Shane Gray, Denver, N.C., Gray Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, 6.699, 206.89 mph, def. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Oil Dodge Avenger, 6.698, 207.46 mph.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Matt Smith, King, N.C., Viper Motorcycles Buell, 6.991, 192.08 mph, def. Jerry Savoie, Cut Off, La., White Alligator Racing Suzuki, 7.050, 190.19 mph.

 

* * * *

 

JOHN FORCE WINS 16TH MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP

 

LAS VEGAS —- John Force won an unprecedented 16th NHRA Funny Car championship today. The winningest driver in NHRA history has won championships with every major sponsor from Winston to POWERade to Full Throttle and now Mello Yello capping his championship day with another NHRA national event win, No. 138, at the 13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals. Force defeated his daughter Courtney for the first time in a final round to clinch the Mello Yello Funny Car championship.

 

It was Force’s third win in a row and fourth final in a row. The last time Force won three in row was 2005 and it was the 15th time Force has achieved this feat. As the No. 1 qualifier Force had to outrun Gary Densham, Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria and then Courtney Force in the final.

 

The semi-final race had the most drama for Force as DeJoria’s Patron Tequila Toyota Funny Car smoked the tires and then Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang lost traction. Force pedaled his 10,000 hp Funny Car numerous times sashaying down the right lane but getting the win light with a time of 5.865 seconds.

 

“I didn’t see her run. She must have gone up in smoke early. As much trouble as I was in only running five seconds. I almost hit the wall twice. It was like me and Cruz (Pedregon) in 1992 except then I hit the wall three times. There I was going sideways. I was hitting it (the throttle) again and then I was off it and then I would hit is again. I am thinking she is out there. You don’t want to think about it. If you look over you might drive over and she will run over you. She must have gone up on smoke bad and it took too much time to recover it. The biggest thing is she is just a great kid. What is cool is she is the future with my daughter and these young drivers,” said Force, who lost lane choice to Courtney Force in the final round.

 

In the final Force and his Jimmy Prock tuned Mustang blasted straight down their lane with a winning elapsed time of 4.062 seconds to Courtney’s equally impressive 4.085 seconds in a losing effort.

 

“I read an article this morning about being humble but after a day like today I would like to say it was me,” joked Force in the Las Vegas media center.  “Jimmy Prock is unbelievable. The team he has around him is awesome. I used to race against his dad, Tom, who ran the Tom and Jerry Funny Car and the Detroit Tiger. He and Danny DeGennaro got the job done. Look at how those cars run side by side.”

 

“If there is anything I have done right is putting together this team effort. We pulled together when it looked like we were falling apart. I have great companies with me and they allow me do this. We won them a championship. We got a Mello Yello championship but next year I am going to try and win again. We are strong with Auto Club with Robert (Hight) and Traxxas with Courtney. My luck just turned around in a year when I needed it to sell corporate America. I remember Dale Earnhardt used to say ‘I’ll do the winning and you marketing guys sell me.’ I never had the nerve to say that but that guy was a winner so he could do it. I have had luck on my side the last three races.”

 

Force was led to victory by an outstanding team effort with crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro. Prock became the third Funny Car crew chief to win NHRA Funny Car championships with two different drivers (Robert Hight and Force). He joins Austin Coil (Frank Hawley and Force) along with Mike Neff (Gary Scelzi and Force) as a multiple winner. The unassuming Prock was thrilled with the outcome but deferred credit to his entire team.

 

 “It felt great to see that win light come on and know we had clinched the championship. It was an awesome feeling to be able to get John another championship. He is the greatest drag racer ever. It is just a great feeling. We were down for a while but we worked hard and we stuck together. We got rewarded for it,” said Prock.

 

“Most of these guys that are working on this Funny Car have been here since 2005. We have been through the ups and downs. Everybody hung in there and we worked together. They work really hard at what they do. This is a tough gig working on one of these race cars. Your heart and soul goes into them to be good at it. When you can win it is a great feeling.”

 

Courtney Force made her seventh final round appearance today at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but lost to her father in a heated side-by-side race.

 

“It’s pretty cool to say that the last time we were here in the spring we were No. 2 qualifier and got a runner-up finish as well. Our Traxxas team is good here at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of showing that. We had a great race car all weekend. Ron Douglas and Dan Hood gave me a great Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car to drive and, you know what, I’m happy with what we accomplished today,” said Force.

 

The 25-year-old sophomore sensation dismissed Tony Pedregon, Robert Hight and 2012 Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman before going up against her father in the final round. The female driver also posted top speed of the meet and set the new track record with a 319.98 mph run.

 

“We couldn’t get the job done in the final. It was definitely a tough race up against my dad. I was a little bummed at the top end. I really thought we had the win, but he just outran me. We had lane choice and I thought that would help us, but he had the better car and that’s all there is to it.”

 

Courtney and her father are now tied 4-4 in eliminations since the start of her Funny Car career in 2012.

 

“I’m happy for my dad and his Castrol GTX team. It’s huge for John Force Racing for him to get that win and clinch his 16th championship.”

 

“I’m looking forward to Pomona. I think we’re going to leave here and a really good note and that should help propel us into next weekend and get us into a good rhythm so we can go rounds and pick up more points. We moved up two spots this weekend, which is huge. We came close to moving up three spots which was our goal, but I’m happy and definitely proud of my Traxxas team because these guys have worked really hard,” said Force.

 

Courtney Force and teammate Robert Hight will be battling for the No. 2 and No. 3 spot in the Mello Yello standings with one race left. Hight and his Auto Club team qualified 10th and took out Cruz Pedregon before losing a
close race to Courtney Force in the second round. Hight held onto the No. 4 spot in the points and is only 54 points out of second place in the Mello Yello standings.

 

“We accomplished one goal today and that was to win the 18th Funny Car championship for John Force Racing. I said all along if I couldn’t win then I wanted John to win this season. Now Courtney and I will be battling to finish second and third. I can’t wait to get to Pomona and I know Mike Neff will give me a great Auto Club Funny Car. JFR won the first race at Auto Club Raceway this season and I would love to win the last race this season,” said Hight, the 2009 Funny Car champion.

It was also an impressive day for Rookie of the Year candidate Brittany Force as she won for the 8th time this season in the first round and now has the most round wins of all the Auto Club Road to the Future Award contenders. The driver of the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster took out Countdown and championship contender Spencer Massey in the first round. Previously she had lost to the Texas driver in their previous four meetings this season. She dropped a second round match-up with Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon.

 

“I am excited to be heading to Pomona. I think this Castrol EDGE team has some momentum. It was great to get a win over Spencer. I am so proud of my dad and this was just a great day even though we didn’t go as many rounds as we would have liked,” said Force.

 

COURTNEY FORCE LEADS JFR ON FRIDAY IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (October 25, 2013) –  After the first day of qualifying at the 13th annual Toyota Nationals, Courtney Force sits at the top of the ladder in the provisional No. 1 spot. Force slipped in the first session, but her Traxxas Ford Mustang rallied in the second qualifying attempt to put a 4.052 on the board with not only top speed of the event, but a track record of 318. 24 mph.

“It definitely felt good. You always like to have one good pass so you can build off of that. We dropped a hole earlier and I just got out of it early because it wasn’t getting down there and I didn’t want to hurt anything,” said the 25-year-old youngest daughter of 15-time World Champion, John Force.

Earlier this season at the spring Las Vegas event, Force qualified in the No. 2 spot and on race day took down Tim Wilkerson, Del Worsham, and Matt Hagan before falling to Cruz Pedregon in the final round. If the sophomore driver’s 4.05 holds through two qualifying rounds tomorrow, the will be her fourth career No. 1 qualifier.

“It felt great going up there the second pass. (Crew chiefs) Ron Douglas, Dan Hood and all of my Traxxas team, they’ve done a great job working on my car and gave me a great car. It flew down there in that left lane and pulled me pretty hard to the right. I had to pull it back down there and not let it cross the centerline.”

Force’s 4.05 secured the Traxxas Ford Mustang team three additional qualifying bonus points for being quickest of the session.

“It felt great to make a solid pass. When you get out of your car and your guys are giving you a thumbs up you know it was a great pass. Running a 4.05 and stealing that No. 1 spot from my dad, well, I don’t think he was that happy about it. He was obviously trying to make a better run than me, but didn’t get down there quite as good as he wanted. He came back and said, ‘well, you took the No. 1 spot from me, but I guess it’s better you picking up those three points than anyone else.’”

“Our Traxxas team has been working hard. We have some pretty good luck at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We love being here. The fans are great,” said Force.

Force is running a specialty car for the last two races of the season, a black and turquoise “Rookie of the Year” design that reflects her accomplishments throughout her racing career so far.

“Being out here running the Rookie of the Year car especially is a lot of fun. I got to help Brandon Baker design the car- he’s the graphic designer at John Force Racing. It was really fun to work with him and put all of my ideas and all of the pictures that I wanted on there and see it come to life. I told him I’m a huge fan of matte black 1964 Mustangs and I wanted the real life version of that on my Funny car, so it was really cool to do a matte body. It’s never really been done before and I was a little nervous with pictures on there, but I think it turned out great. It showcases the timeline of my childhood out here at the races all the way to my rookie season in funny car. I really wanted to highlight all the people that I wanted to give thanks to that helped me get to where I am,” said Force.

The 2012 Auto Club Rookie of the Year award winner currently sits in the No. 7 spot in the Funny Car points, but is mathematically still in the running for the 2013 Mello Yello Championship.

“Obviously we don’t have (the championship) out of our sight. Anything is possible and I think my dad proved that in 2010. He knows better than anyone to give me that motivational speech and coming out here, we just want to be consistent. We don’t want to make mistakes. We want to finish the season well. Our goal right now is to win the championship, but we really want to finish better than fifth, which is where we finished last year. That’s our team’s main focus. We want to go rounds, have a consistent race car, pick up the points and try to close that gap and climb back up in the point system,” said Force.

After the first session it was John Force at the top of the Funny Car qualifying order. His Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car was the only Funny Car to run in the 4.0s with a 4.085 second run. It was good enough for three qualifying bonus points and helped the 15-time Funny Car champion extend his points lead over second place driver Matt Hagan.

In the second session with cooler temperatures and the chance to post an even quicker time Force’s Funny Car launched hard but surprisingly smoked the tires for just the second time in three races.

“(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) was surprised because the tune up was a little different up here because of the altitude. We missed one run in Reading and we missed one today. We will just keep doing what we do. This is just fun. I am having a good time. The teams are all working good together. We are all in there. Courtney running low that is awesome,” said Force, the Mello Yello Funny Car points leader.

The Auto Club Ford Mustang driven by Robert Hight posted their best time, 4.137 seconds, in the first qualifying session. The time held up as the 11th quickest Funny Car time of the day and has Hight positioned to improve on Saturday. In the last session of the day Hight was lined up beside John Force and covered the track in 4.214 seconds which did not improve the 2009 Funny Car champion’s qualifying position.

Hight will go into the second day of qualifying looking to gather up some qualifying bonus points to decrease the deficit he has in the Mello Yello points standings.

The Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster piloted by rookie of the year candidate Brittany Force made two productive runs at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  After a two week hiatus the Automobile Club Road to the Future Award contender was mildly nervous by eager to get back behind the wheel.

“Taking two weeks off especially after racing for four weeks in a row was tough. I was a little nervous before my first run but that is normal and as soon as I got that run behind me I was good to go. Taking two weeks off it felt like forever between races,” said Force.

At the conclusion of the first day of qualifying Force was positioned in the No. 9 spot just in front of Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools dragster. Her best time of the day 3.834 seconds came in the second session and had Force ready for Saturday’s final day of qualifying.

 “I love being here in Las Vegas. This feels like a home track for me. I ran here in Super Comp and A Fuel plus we tested here a lot. I know this track and I love being out here. I am confident in this weekend. I feel good about this weekend and I am pumped up. We ran 3.83 and I want to go some rounds with my Castrol EDGE dragster.”

A GOOD MEMORY KEEPS FORCE FOCUSED

15-Time Champ Trying to Fend Off Hagan, Beckman, Hight for 16th Series Title

 

          LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Since he has fought his way back to the top of the NHRA Funny Car standings with consecutive victories in the Mello Yello Series, one might logically expect a little swagger from John Force when the Countdown to the Championship moves this week to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 

          However, if rivals Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman as well as teammate Robert Hight expect to face an overconfident points leader in this week’s 13th annual Toyota Nationals, they’re going to be terribly disappointed.

 

          That’s because drag racing’s biggest winner enters the season’s next-to-last race with a sense of apprehension that might suggest he is 65 points behind Hagan instead of 65 ahead.

 

          That’s because the current scenario is eerily similar to 2010 when, coming into Vegas, the roles were reversed with Hagan in the lead and Force 64 points back.

 

          Anyone even remotely affiliated with the sport knows how that one turned out.  Force drove his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang past Hagan’s Dodge in the final round at LVMS, then went on to win the Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif., and earn the most unlikely of his record 15 career championships.

 

          For that reason alone, the 137-time NHRA tour winner isn’t going to be talking smack. He knows that nothing is yet written in stone because a lot can happen in eight competitive rounds.

 

          “We got past him three years ago,” Force said of Hagan, “but, at the end of the day, he could do the same thing to us this time.  He’s got a fast hot rod over there with Dickie (crew chief Dickie Venables) and (car owner Don) Schumacher, he’s a great young driver and he’s motivated.  That’s a dangerous combination.”

 

          As a result, instead of talking title, Force has retreated to the comfort of the fallback position he always has maintained in pressure situations: “be humble and keep on working.”

 

          It’s a fail-safe mechanism for the man who already has been inducted into the two major U.S.-based motor racing Halls of Fame – the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Detroit (2008) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladeaga, Ala. (2012).

 

          “I just want to keep my nose clean, keep working the gym and stay focused,” said the 64-year-old racing icon who now has won three-or-more NHRA tour events in a record 21 different seasons.

 

          “(Crew chief) Jimmy Prock’s given me a good car, the ‘Prock Rocket,’” he said, “but there are a lot of good cars out there including two in my own camp (the Fords of youngest daughter Courtney and son-in-law Robert Hight).  With all these young kids, I just have to stay up for the fight.”

 

          If the developments of 2010 aren’t enough to keep the former big rig truck driver humble, there always is the memory of what happened to him in 1992 after winning his first two Funny Car titles.

 

          “We had a lead and we thought we couldn’t be caught,” Force recalled, “so we went into test mode.  Cruz Pedregon had to win almost every race to catch us.  Well, he won five-in-a-row and he beat us.  I thought my career was over right there and I told myself I’d never make that mistake again.”

 

          Thus far, it’s a philosophy that’s worked pretty well.

 

 

 

HIGHT BETTING ON VEGAS SUCCESS TO KEEP CHAMPIONSHIP IN SIGHT

LAS VEGAS (October 22, 2013) — It is fitting that the penultimate race of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is contested in Las Vegas. Robert Hight and the Auto Club team will need a little bit of luck to go along with their hard work to reel in a surging John Force as they try and win a second Funny Car championship. Hight sits in fourth place but the 2009 Funny Car champion still has his eye on winning another Funny Car championship.

“We are definitely still in it. Mike Neff and I have been talking since Reading and there is no reason we can’t get on a roll and do some damage. There are qualifying bonus points out there and we need to go rounds. There are eight rounds of racing left and if you win the last two races you can get 200 points,” said Hight.

Hight trails points leader and teammate John Force by 134 points. He is only eight points behind 2012 Funny Car champion Jack Beckman. Matt Hagan, the 2011 Funny Car champion sits in second place. The last four Mello Yello Funny Car champions will be battling down to the wire over the last two races.

“The competition has never been tougher in Funny Car. I won the championship in 2009, then John won, the Hagan and last year Beckman got the championship. We are all coming down to the wire for the championship this year. That is why the Countdown is exciting. It will be battle but we are ready for it,” said Hight.

In 2009 when Hight won his first Funny Car championship he took the win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to essentially lock up his title. Hight has had success at the Las Vegas track winning in the fall and the spring, including a win in 2012 in the desert. Hight knows that familiarity helps when it comes down to crunch time.

“Las Vegas and Pomona are tracks where I have had a lot of success. I feel comfortable racing at Las Vegas because we test here and run her twice. Neff and I have talked about our strategy for this weekend and we feel confident coming into this weekend,” said Hight, a two-time winner this season.

“We won the first race of the Countdown in Charlotte and then reached the semi-finals the next two races. Our only misstep was Reading but we put that behind us and we are focusing on winning the last two races. I think we should have a really good shot at the championship if we can pull two more win off,” added Hight.

Hight knows that he is trying to ultimately catch the winningest driver in NHRA history John Force. The fifteen time champion has reached the last three finals in the Countdown with back to back wins in St. Louis and Reading. As a former crewman for the championship driver Hight understands he is chasing a legend.

“John is the best and if we can’t win this championship we definitely want John to get it. We are one team at John Force Racing but we all want to win. John has had a great season and has been awesome in the Countdown with Jimmy Prock. You can’t expect them to make any mistakes. We are going to have to make our own luck and hopefully we can take out as many Countdown cars as possible and then battle John for the championship. We haven’t won the last two championships and we don’t want to go three years without raising that Mello Yello Funny Car championship trophy,” said Hight.

 

COURTNEY FORCE AIMING FOR STRONG FINISH TO SECOND SEASON

LAS VEGAS (October 22, 2013) – Courtney Force, one of the top female athletes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, will travel to Las Vegas this weekend with hopes of adding another victory to her list of ac
complishments at the 13th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals, Oct. 24-27 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“Our Traxxas team has had some pretty good luck in Vegas in the past so I’m hoping  we can get out there, have a consistent car all weekend and get qualified in the top half of the field,” said Force. “It’s always exciting coming out to The Strip at Las Vegas because the energy of the town and the fans is unbelievable. Our teams have had pretty good luck here in the past so were hoping to continue that in such a crucial point in the Countdown. This is such a great facility so our teams always look forward to coming here,” said Force.

The 25-year-old Funny Car driver will also be running a black and turquoise “Rookie of the Year” car for this event as well as the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, Calif.

“I’m so excited to be running my second specialty car of the season and look forward to closing out the year with one that has so much importance to me. Winning the Auto Club Road to the Future Award or “Rookie of the Year” last season was such an honor and it meant so much to me that I couldn’t wait to help design the specialty body, with the help of Brandon Baker, our graphic designer.”

“This car represents my past and hopefully my future in racing. It represents the growth of me as a driver and our team and the foundation of it all. It shows where my passion for racing really began,” said Force.

The 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner raced her Traxxas Ford Mustang to a final round appearance at the last national event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals held this past spring. She has an impressive qualifying record of a No. 4 position average at the race track.

 “Now that the season is almost over the pressure is really on. The points are very tight and it’s easy to shuffle up or down,” said the driver who currently sits in the No. 7 spot in the NHRA Funny Car points. “Our Traxxas team is definitely hoping to make use of these last two races and shuffle back up in the points so we can finish strong at the end of the 2013 season. We just need to keep our focus and stay away from any mistakes, so as a driver you really need to go up there and stay consistent on every run because every point adds up,” said Force.

Force and her sister, Brittany Force, will sign autographs and meet fans at the NHRA Fremont Street Experience Fan Fest, held Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Fremont Street. The event will feature a spectacular huge autograph session with the stars of the sport, an NHRA-themed light show, ticket giveaways and music.

“Every year I have gotten the opportunity to participate in the Fremont Street Experience so I’m looking forward to doing it again with my sister Brittany. It’s exciting being in the heart of Las Vegas right on Fremont Street with all the fans, getting to sign autographs and take pictures with them. They get to see and meet all the drivers before the big weekend so it’s a cool addition to the race weekend,” said Force.

For Immediate Release
BRITTANY AIMS FOR STRONG ROOKIE FINISH
Castrol EDGE Top Fuel Dragster Hopes to Play Spoiler at Toyota Nationals

 

 LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Whether or not she wins the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as this year’s Rookie-of-the-Year in the Mello Yello Series, Brittany Force’s sense of accomplishment will be no less pronounced than that of sisters Ashley and Courtney after their first seasons.

 

 In fact, entering this week’s 13th annual Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, one could make a case for the 27-year-old would-be schoolteacher having done more in her debut year than either of her siblings, both of whom went on to claim NHRA rookie honors.

 

 Granted, she hasn’t won a race like Courtney did last year in the Traxxas Ford Mustang and she hasn’t been to a final round like Ashley when she became the first woman in Funny Car history to reach that plateau at this very race in 2007.

 

 However, while her sisters climbed into proven equipment maintained by some of the most accomplished Funny Car mechanics in the sport, Brittany’s challenge was made more daunting because she opted to go racing in the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster in a category in which John Force Racing, Inc., had no previous resume.

 

 In essence, for her and her crew chiefs, Dean Antonelli and Eric Lane, it was on-the-job training in a 10,000 horsepower classroom.

 

 “I am so proud of my team,” gushed the second youngest of John Force’s four daughters.  “Each weekend we learn a little bit more about our car to keep it moving in the right direction.”

 

 Make no mistake about it, Top Fuel was Brittany’s choice, not her dad’s.  Always the most rebellious of the Force girls, she opted not to immediately follow her sisters into a Funny Car division in which her dad had raced successfully for more than 30 seasons, winning 15 championships.

 

 Since she had driven competitively in nothing but dragsters and since she suffered from just a hint of claustrophobia, the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton said she had no desire to be strapped into an enclosed Funny Car with the motor blocking her line of vision.  However, she found the prospect of being the first JFR driver to compete in Top Fuel intriguing.
 Not that it hasn’t been a bumpy ride.  Early mechanical problems that led to a pair of DNQs effectively ended her hope of earning a Countdown berth.  Still, she hasn’t given up on her other major rookie goal.

 

 “To be able to come out here and run with the Top 10 teams who are running for the championship is really motivating,” she said.  “It keeps us really focused and in the game.  We’re going to look at these last two races as our chance to get that first win.”

 

 That’s not as far-fetched as one might think.  After all, Brittany has posted personal best 1,000 foot times in three of her last six starts (with a best of 3.795 seconds at 324.12 mph) and she has quality wins this season over Countdown contenders Doug Kalitta and Clay Millican along with tour winners J.R. Todd, David Grubnic and Brandon Bernstein.

 

 “I am ready for Las Vegas,” she said.  “I feel a lot more comfortable going back to tracks where I have experience.  I love the The Strip at Las Vegas.  I have run that track countless times in my Super Comp dragster and my A/Fuel dragster and I’m really comfortable there.”

JOHN FORCE WINS No. 137; TAKES POINTS LEAD

 

READING, PA —- For the 28th time in his legendary career John Force has won back to back races taking the title at the 29th annual Auto Plus NHRA Nationals today at Maple Grove Raceway. Force outran rookie driver and former John Force Racing crewman Chad Head in the final 4.106 seconds to 10.002 seconds. Winning from the No. 1 qualifier position for the first time since at the 2004 Auto Club NHRA Finals, Force gave credit to not just his Castrol GTX crew chiefs but the entire John Force Racing team of crew chiefs and crewmen.

 

“This is a good race car. (Crew chiefs) Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro have things really going. Robert (Hight) told me that this was a great team when I came over here. What is most exciting is the team work,” said Force. “The other crew chiefs are all trying to win but they are also helping us when we are headed to the semi-finals or the finals. They were up on the starting line rooting for me and you could see the sincerity. Back at the trailer the crew chiefs are going over the computers and Robert is showing me the videos so I can see anything that can help me on staging.”

 

“To get this win meant a lot to me. They all mean a lot. I have a good hot rod. What we have right now is consistency. Jimmy Prock likes to swing for the fence and that scares me sometimes. When he is hot, he is hot,” said Force.

 

Chad Head becomes the 46th different driver to race Force in a final but ironically Head’s father, veteran driver and tuner Jim Head, never raced Force in a final during his career. Chad Head became the 39th different driver to lose to Force. Force had nothing but praise for the second generation driver.

 

“Chad Head is just a good kid with a lot of heart. When he worked for us he wanted to get experience. He is just a heck of a guy. He worked for Al-Anabi for years. He is doing a heck of a job. I was reading all day and seeing that he was hole-shotting everybody out there. I kept hearing that and hearing that. I had to fudge on that tree just so I could look like I was in the game with him,” said Force, a seven-time winner at Maple Grove Raceway. 

 

“In the final up against Chad Head his dad (Jim Head) will throw a hard ball and he is a heck of a racer. He ain’t afraid of John Force. He ain’t afraid of nobody. None of these guys are afraid of me anymore. We played strategy all day and we stayed with what we knew would run down the race track,” said Force. “That is Jimmy Prock. He is the final call. I am really proud of him. He struggled since him and Robert won the championship in 2009, then they get hot at the beginning of the year last year and win four in a row. Now he is hot at the end of the season.”

 

Throughout the day Force and his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car had to race consistently tough drivers and he kept his focus by reviewing timing sheets and huddling up with his team.

 

“There was good competition today. (Ron) Capps is hungry. I was fudging on the lights against Cruz (Pedregon). I was going in deep on some and not so deep on others. You had to be ready for anything today. You had to think it out in case you had to pedal it. You have to watch the car you might have to run the next session.  If they run a big number then you have to go after lane choice,” said Force. “I have struggled with the lights. I have to jump in deep just to match Robert who is dead shallow. I rolled in a little bit against Capps and he rolled in a little too. You don’t want to give too much away but you don’t care about the next round against a guy like Capps because you just want that win.”

 

Force entered the Auto Plus NHRA Nationals in second place after his win last weekend in St. Louis but leaves Reading, Pennsylvania with a 65 point lead over Hagan. This is the 19th different season Force has led the Mello Yello Funny Car points.

 

Force defeated Jeff Arend, Pedregon and Capps en route to his seventh final this season. HIs winning time, 4.106 seconds, was the slowest elapsed time he recorded all weekend. Force had the quickest elapsed time every time his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang ran down the track with the exception of the third qualifying session. Force’s average elapsed time was 4.083 on race day when the track temp climbed every round.

 

After the race Force dedicated the win to his wife Laurie and tried to make amends for a missed opportunity last weekend in St. Louis. It was the couple’s 32nd wedding anniversary and with Laurie’s blessing Force gave the win trophy to the new AAA Missouri president and crew chief Jimmy Prock.

 

“After 32 years of being married this is a pretty good anniversary gift. Especially since the first nine years we were married I never saw one of these. This is awesome,” said Laurie Force from the winner’s circle stage.

 

No. 2 qualified Courtney Force made an appearance in the quarterfinals today at the and stayed in the Mello Yello points chase for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

 

The 2012 Rookie of the Year took the win over Blake Alexander in the opening round when she ran the third-quickest ET out of 16 qualified hot rods. Force got the best start off the line with a .44 light to Alexander’s .72. The Traxxas Ford Mustang was able to post a 4.083 ET at over 316 mph to Alexander’s 4.148 ET at 302 mph.

 

“I had a tough first round matchup. We had Blake Alexander and he had a pretty stellar pass out there, but luckily we got down with a solid pass ourselves with a 4.08. It was one of the quickest runs of the session.”

 

“We actually swapped tires before the run. A lot of people were smoking the tires ahead of us so we were a little nervous going up for that round. The conditions had changed since what we had gotten used to in qualifying. We switched tires last minute and lucky for us it was a good decision that Ron Douglas (crew chief) made and it sent our Traxxas Ford Mustang sailing down there with a 4.08 to get that win light. It was a good race for us,” said Force.

 

In the quarterfinals, Force’s Traxxas Ford Mustang fell to No. 10 qualifier, Del Worsham. Force’s hotrod dropped a cylinder and put a 4.125 ET at 303 mph on the board next to Worsham’s almost identical time of 4.121 ET at 311 mph. Despite the female driver’s quick launch off the starting line (.089 to his .111), she did not get the round win.

 

“Second round we just weren’t as lucky. We were matched up against Del Worsham and we had a good car. It just went down the track and dropped a cylinder and slowed us to only 303 mph when it did that and we handed the win over.”

 

“It was a tough loss for our team. We know we have a good race car. It’s unfortunate when things like that happen, especially when they’re unexpected. It started to pull me over to the left, and I tried to get it back in the center of the groove to get that win light, but he just went around me by a little bit right at the end,” said Force.

 

The three-time tour winner will stay No. 7 in points going into Las Vegas for the second-to-last event of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello season.

 

“It’s a bummer for us. We’re trying to climb back up in the points right now, but the good thing is all the right people went out in eliminations today that we needed to and no one passed us in points this weekend so we’re just going to look forward to Vegas where we had a runner-up finish last year at the end of the season,” said Force.

 

Robert Hight started his 200th NHRA national event today but for the 29-time Funny Car winner his race ended in a first round upset to eventual finalist and rookie Chad Head. The No. 6 qualifier was in the first pair of Funny Cars to roll through the water
box on Sunday. At the hit of the throttle the Auto Club Mustang went into immediate tire smoke as Hight’s Goodyear tires lost traction. Hight tried to get back on the throttle and chase down Head but even though Head hazed the tires just before the finish line the damage was done.

 

“That was a surprise for sure. We were definitely looking to go rounds today. We haven’t had an issue like that in so long. There were all kinds of surprises in Top Fuel right in front of us. It was just one of those races. We aren’t out of this championship chase by a long shot. We’ll take a few weeks off and get ready for Las Vegas and Pomona,” said a disappointed Hight.

 

“It has definitely made it a must win situation for the last two races. It is going to be exciting. We are going to be watching the rest of the Funny Cars and see where we wind up,” added Hight.

 

Rookie Top Fuel driver Brittany Force  lost her first round match-up with veteran driver Doug Kalitta but kept her focus on improving as a driver and tea, The Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster qualified No. 11 but more importantly consistently made passes down the Maple Grove Raceway track.

 

“This weekend was pretty good for the Castrol EDGE team. We had a consistent car all weekend and were running in the low 3.80s every run. Today the conditions were completely different and we stepped up and ran a 3.80 in the first round,” said Force.

 

Countdown contender Steve Torrence did not qualify and joined a list of Countdown qualified drivers who have missed a start that includes 2012 Top Fuel champion Antron Brown (Charlotte) and Khalid alBalooshi (Dallas). The Automobile Road to the Future Award contender is pleased her dragster has performed in the Countdown eventhough she is relegated to the role of spoiler.

 

“Getting qualified for all the Countdown races really pumps me up and pumps up my team. To be able to come out here and run with the top ten teams who are running for the championship is pretty cool. That keeps us really focused and in the game. We are going to look at these last two races and our chance to get that first win,” added Force.

 

Force did record her career best speed in today’s first round 324.12 mph beside Doug Kalitta.

 

JFR MUSTANGS HOLD ONTO TOP SPOTS FOR AUTO PLUS NHRA NATIONALS

READING, PA (October 5, 2013) –  The trio of John Force Racing Ford Mustangs held onto their top qualifying spots at the 29th annual Auto Plus NHRA Nationals as qualifying concluded today. Led by 6-time winner at Maple Grove Raceway John Force who moved into the Mello Yello points lead with his No. 1 qualifying effort. The No. 1 spot was an NHRA record 144th top spot and his eighth No. 1 at Maple Grove Raceway. Force has three of his six wins from the No. 1 position at the Auto Plus NHRA Nationals.

Force picked up three more qualifying points today running 4.036 seconds in the final qualifying session in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.

“It got a little warmer today so that 4.03 was kind of a surprise. Jimmy Prock will swing for the fences on you. My guys are really working together. They are watching everything including the points. I don’t want to watch that stuff. I’ll look at it at the end of the season when it is all over. I have a good race car right now. It is great to see the fans in the stands,” said the 136-time winner. “Getting to hear them cheer like that is pretty exciting it has been a while. I think I lost my focus in racing. I have always loved this sport. It is what I do. Sure running good makes you feel good when you can compete. I struggled as a driver earlier this year. My guys stayed by me and I got that new car and I couldn’t get comfortable in it.”

Force entered the race trailed 2011 Funny Car champion Matt Hagan by six points but going into the first round Force will hold a five point lead. In the first round the Castrol GTX Mustang will race veteran Jeff Arend while Hagan, the No. 4 qualifier, will face two-time Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon.

“This points lead doesn’t matter if you don’t win first round. I am going to leave here and go to the gym them I am going to have half a glass of wine so I can sleep because I am wound up. The credit goes to all my teams and to Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro. I said I was going to come up here and say, ‘Enough said,’ and then just leave but here I go talking again. I can’t shut up,” said Force

In the first qualifying session of the day Force was paired with has daughter Courtney Force. It was the only session Force did not get bonus points this weekend. The run almost didn’t happen as Force described a chaotic burnout and staging experience.

“We fired the motor in Q3 and my air hose blew off. My guys are trying to put the air hose back on and I am yelling to turn off the air and then re-hook it up. No one was concentrating. My daughter was backing up and I knew we had a problem. I don’t have the right to mess her up so I did a real quick burn out. The shortest burn out I have ever done,” said Force, who made a career out of fan-pleasing long smoky burnouts. “The cockpit was smoked out and I couldn’t see when I was trying to back up. I am totally lost. I can’t see my man out front. We were screwed and I should have shut it off right there. When I pulled up to the line I am dead crooked. Jimmy is looking at me and I just stuck it in and when I left I tried to jerk the wheel. It just unloaded the tires.  The whole run started wrong or it probably would have gone down the track again knock on wood.”

Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang team dominated the track this weekend in qualifying with low elapsed time passes and massive speeds to qualify in the No. 2 spot against Blake Alexander. This will be the first time the two have gone head-to-head on race day.

The sophomore driver took control of her pink Traxxas specialty car, which she debuted this weekend for breast cancer awareness month, and drove it to a 4.069 ET at over 315 mph. By the end of the session, the team had picked up three bonus points for being the quickest of the session.

“We got low of the session. We went out there in the heat and ran a 4.069 which was pretty exciting for our team. The closest run to us was a 4.08. We picked up three bonus points. Dad has been taking those points away from me lately,” she said laughing. “Obviously, I want him to do well, but it’s good for my team that we got the full three points and we’re trying to move our way up. We’re trying to get back up there in the points and we need to get around Ron Capps right now so we need all the points we can get. They all add up in the end. Just to go out there and make a pass like that in the heat of the day, a 4.069 at over 315 mph, is spectacular.”

In the fourth and final qualifying shot today, Force’s Traxxas Ford Mustang hazed the tires and the team was not able to improve their time.

Throughout two days of qualifying, Force picked up seven total bonus points inching her up the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship points ladder.

On Friday, Force made two passes at 4.071 ET at over 318 mph, followed by an evening pass of 4.025 seconds at 329.42 mph. Force’s record-breaking speed was later disallowed.

“It’s definitely a bummer when they take away a run like that,” Courtney said.  “We didn’t get any points for it, it was just kind of a feel good thing for our team and it’s unfortunate that they’re not counting it due to a malfunction with the timing system.

 “It seems like a fluke thing that’s out of their control,” said the three-time tour winner, “so it’s unfortunate. We’re estimating on that pass that our Traxxas Ford Mustang did run somewhere between 323 and 325, so we’re still excited.  We know it was on a good pass.  It was still possibly a record-setting speed, even if it wasn’t 329.”

The Auto Club Ford Mustang driven by Robert Hight will enter race day as the No. 6 qualified Funny Car on the strength of their 4.072 second run on Friday night. Today Hight picked up one qualifying bonus point in the first session on Saturday running, 4.089 seconds.

In the final session the Auto Club Mustang was blazing down the track before it lost power at ¾ track. The Auto Club team was looking through their data and the motor to make sure everything was squared away for their first round match-up with rookie Chad Head.

The last two races Hight has been taken out by team leader John Force in the semi-finals. He is currently No. 4 in the Mello Yello point standings only nine points behind Jack Beckman.

“We aren’t looking at the ladder or counting points. There are three races left and I think if you win those three races you will be the Mello Yello Funny Car champion. It is as simple as that. I know (crew chiefs) Mike Neff and Jon Schaffer have a good handle on this Auto Club Mustang and we’ll be ready for the first round,” said Hight. “The conditions should be similar or maybe a little cooler so I’ll do my job on the starting line and see how any rounds we can go tomorrow. These last three races will be tough but I am excited.”

Lead candidate for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award for NHRA’s “Rookie of the Year” made four consistent passes straight down the race track this weekend to qualify in the No. 11 in the 17-car Top Fuel field going into final eliminations on Sunday against Doug Kalitta.

On Friday, the Castrol EDGE driver picked up a bonus point when she went third-quickest of the session and posted a 3.829 ET at 318.84 mph to kick-off the weekend, followed by a 3.837 second run at 306.81 mph.

Today, team led by Dean “Guido” Antonelli and Eric Lane made two additional passes in the 3.80’s, but did not improve on their qualifying placement.

 “We came out here this morning and ran a 3.85; still pretty consistent. That run was a little bit slower than both of our runs on Friday, but overall a good run. Our second run we stepped it up and ran a little better with a 3.83. That was a good run for us in this heat. I’m happy that our car has been that consistent an
d we’ve made four good runs. That makes us pretty confident going into first round tomorrow,” said Force.

The Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster driven by the 27-year-old Force has been playing the spoiler role in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, as the team was just outside the top ten at the end of the regular season. Three Countdown drivers have missed the cut at the first four races including Antron Brown (Charlotte), Khalid alBalooshi (Dallas) and Steve Torrence (Reading).

“This year, since it is my rookie year, I’m trying to just get down the basics and concentrate on my routine when I go up to the line. It’s important to me to have that routine and try to do everything the same every time. I really haven’t noticed any differences on how anyone else races, because each time I’m just doing the same thing,” said Force.

Force will have Doug Kalitta in the opening round tomorrow. This is the fifth time she has faced Kalitta this year, the most she has faced any one driver. The pair is 2-2 in previous events.

 “This is my fifth time facing Doug Kalitta in eliminations and I’m okay with that. He’s a great competitor and he always comes over to say hello and talk to me before we run. He’s a good sport and very professional and that shows. He’s gotten the win over me twice this year, but the first two times we faced each other, this Castrol EDGE team got the win so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out tomorrow,” said Force

AT COUNTDOWN MIDPOINT HIGHT POISED FOR RUN TO CHAMPIONSHIP

READING, PA (October 2, 2013) — Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team entered the Countdown to the Championship in 9th place but with the momentum of a win at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. They made huge strides in Charlotte winning again and jumping to 3rd in the Mello Yello point standings. The past two races only one thing has stood between the 2009 Funny Car champion and four consecutive finals. John Force.

Hight and the 15-time Funny Car champion have met the past two races in the semi-final round with Force getting wins and advancing to the final. The winningest driver in NHRA history has a runner-up (Dallas) and a win (St. Louis) to show for his efforts and with three races to go Hight who now sits on 4th place knows he has a great car and some stiff competition.

“We won Charlotte and the past two races we have run up against John Force in the semi-finals. We are qualifying great and running really well on race day. No one in the Auto Club pits is hanging their head. We are doing what we need to do. Every race we have made up points on Matt Hagan so we are focused on that,” said Hight.

Heading into Reading, Pennsylvania for the 29th annual Auto Plus NHRA Nationals the Auto Club Mustang has been one of the strongest Funny Cars in the class. Each week Hight’s team has been ranked in Mike Dunn’s Power Rankings as a Top Five Funny Car. The praise is well deserved.

“If you count qualifying, Hight has the best car based on performance,” said Mike Dunn, ESPN analyst, in his latest Power Rankings report.

In the past two years the combination of Robert Hight and his crew chief Mike Neff have each claimed victory at Maple Grove Raceway. With tremendous conditions the track has seen record times during qualifying but for the Auto Club team the focus has always been on race day success.

“When I won in 2011 and Neff won last year neither one of our cars were putting up record numbers but on race day we were consistent. That is what Neff does as a crew chief which is great. He gets the most out of the race track on race day. I give him my best as a driver and we are working really well together,” said Hight.

Prior to the Western Swing John Force executed a driver switch between the Auto Club and his Castrol GTX team. Force went over to the Jimmy Prock led team and Hight was matched up with Mike Neff. It took a few races to get acclimated but now with two cars in the top four and both cars consistently in the finals the past four races the switch has proved to be good for both teams.

“I am really confident with Neff over here and I know John and Jimmy are rolling. We have two great driver/crew chief combinations right now. It was great to see John get the win last week and we want to close out this four in a row to start the Countdown with another win,” said Hight.

For Immediate Release

BRITTANY HOPES TO PLAY SPOILER AT READING

Rookie Sends Hot Pink Version of Castrol EDGE Dragster into Auto-Plus Nationals

 

          READING, Pa. – After recording personal bests in three of her last four starts, Brittany Force finds herself in the pink, both figuratively and literally, this week as she resumes her 11th hour bid for the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award at Maple Grove Raceway, site of the 29th annual Auto-Plus Nationals.

 

          Figuratively, the 25-year-old rookie’s stock has never been higher after a No. 4 start in drag racing’s biggest event, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind., and a No. 5 qualifying effort in last week’s AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals at Madison, Ill.

 

          In fact, in the last four races, the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton has stopped the 1,000 foot timers in 3.820, 3.812, 3.832 and 3.795 seconds, performance numbers that place her strongly into position to play a major spoiler role in the Countdown to the Championship.

 

          Literally, she and sister Courtney, drag racing icon John Force’s two youngest daughters, will race in special pink paint to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  As a result, the usual black-and-gold of Brittany’s Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster will give way to a paint scheme that is pink and pinker.

 

          “I’m really looking forward to this promotion,” Brittany said.  “Courtney did it last year and she’s doing it again this year.  It’s for an awesome cause and it’s something I think the fans will really enjoy.  Being able to be a part of a team that’s going to help bring awareness to breast cancer and breast cancer research is such a great thing.”

 

          A credentialed California schoolteacher who put that career on hold to follow her sisters into the family business, Brittany is hoping her performance this week transforms basic pink into hot pink.      

 

          “I’m excited going into Reading,” she said.  “Top Fuel dragsters tend to do really well there because of the weather conditions.  I remember (that) Antron Brown ran awesome there last year (lowering the national record at 1,000 feet to 3.701 seconds while Shawn Langdon was raising the speed record to 334.15 miles per hour).”

 

          Now that she’s winning rounds and running numbers comparable to anyone else in the category, Brittany actually wishes the season wasn’t so close to conclusion.

          “Each weekend we learn a little bit more about our car (to) get it moving in the right direction,” she said.  “The temperatures in Reading usually are cool and those are good conditions for these dragsters.  I’m anxious to get there.”

 

          The driver isn’t the only team member excited about recent performance.

 

          Although the Top Fuel learning curve may have been a little steeper than anticipated, crew chiefs Dean “Guido” Antonelli and Eric Lane, whose previous experience was entirely in the Funny Car class, have begun to get a handle on the “long car” tune-up thanks to help from Jimmy Prock and John Medlen, both of whom have had previous dragster experience.

 

          “It’s starting to come more naturally,” Antonelli admitted.  “Finally, it’s not like every run is going to be a new adventure.  We’ve got good data and we’ve got great support from what John calls ‘the brain trust,’ especially from John Medlen who worked with Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme on their dragsters.

 

          “We’re all learning the Top Fuel business together.  Hopefully, we can do some good this weekend.”

 

For Immediate Release

FORCE CLOSES IN ON POINTS LEADER HAGAN

15-Time Champion On a Roll After AAA Midwest Nationals Victory

 

          READING, Pa. – For a man who admittedly has had his problems on the track while adapting to a new chassis and a new crew chief and who, off the track, has absorbed two of the biggest body blows imaginable with the announced departure of long-time sponsors Ford and Castrol at the conclusion of the 2014 season, John Force is having a pretty good year.

 

 &nbsp
;        By the time it’s over, it might even be a great year.

 

          That’s because from somewhere deep inside his competitive soul, the 64-year-old racing icon has summoned the wherewithal to mount yet another championship run, one that brings him to Maple Grove Raceway for this week’s 29th annual Auto-Plus Nationals as the hottest driver in the Funny Car category.

 

          After consecutive final round appearances and a Countdown victory last week at St. Louis, drag racing’s all-time winner this week tops ESPN analyst Mike Dunn’s Power Rankings having moved to within six points of Matt Hagan in the battle for the $500,000 Mello Yello Championship.

 

          “I promise you, I can win this championship,” Force proclaimed.  “There are a lot of fast hot rods out there and Hagan, he’s one of the best of the young guns, but this ol’ Ford, it’s pretty fast, too.”

 

          It’s an unlikely scenario – even for a man who for the last 30 years has put his name on virtually every notable record in the sport.  To be in contention, serious contention, for a major championship this close to qualifying for his first Social Security check is, well, a little mind-boggling.

 

          For his part, Force understands the historic implications.  He knows this could be his last shot at a title –  with heavy emphasis on the “could be.”  After all, he won the NHRA championship just three years ago, becoming at age 61 the oldest champion ever to win, not just in a major auto racing series, but in any kind of series that mixes 20-somethings with everyone else.

 

          Force is the champion of “everyone else” and when he drove his Castrol GTX Ford past reigning series champ Jack Beckman’s Dodge in the final round of last week’s AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals, it re-energized an entire generation for whom he continues to defy the odds.

 

          After struggling the last two seasons, winning just one time each year, the 136-time tour winner (no one else has won even 100 times) started the current campaign in similar fashion.  Halfway through the 16-event regular season, he was only 10th in points and battling with Bob Tasca III for the final transfer position into the Countdown.

 

          Then, he and crew chief Mike Neff got hot, just like they did in 2010.  Force won at Bristol, Tenn., and took his Ford to the final round in the next two events.  One race later, he announced that he and his son-in-law, Robert Hight, would be swapping rides for the remainder of the season – Robert coming over to drive for Neff and Force going over to drive for Jimmy Prock.

 

          It was one of those moves that had even those within his inner circle wondering if he was beginning to suffer the maladies of old age.  Apparently, he wasn’t.  Coming into Maple Grove, where Force has won six times in his career (but not since 2001), both drivers are in position to win an 18th championship for John Force Racing, Inc.

 

          Force, though, is more than just the sentimental favorite. 

 

          “Jimmy Prock always swings for the fences,” Force said.  “The car owner in me used to complain about that, but now that we’re together, I love it.  I was struggling a little bit with my leave times (reaction times).  I had to go back to basics but it’s like Jimmy said, ‘Force, you’re learning how to drive all over again and I’m learning how to tune.  We’re gonna make a good team.’‘

 

          Maybe even a great one.

JOHN FORCE WINS AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS

 

ST. LOUIS —- John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, continues to add to his expanding legacy. Today at the 2nd annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals Force defeated long-time rival Jack Beckman in a final for the ages taking the win light by .013 seconds or six feet to capture his 136th career Funny Car title. This was Force’s sixth final round in the last twelve races and his first win with crew chief Jimmy Prock.

“You have to start with Jimmy Prock but it is the brain trust. Jimmy gave me a good hot rod,” said Force, a three-time winner at Gateway Motorsports Park. “I was losing some races but Robert worked in that cockpit with me to get me comfortable. I have been guilty of getting overloaded and not focusing on my race car. Now I have people like Just Marketing, Octagon, and Rogers & Cowan working for me so I can focus on winning. You have to live this race car every day.”

Force moved into second place in the Mello Yello Funny Car point standings just six points behind points leader Matt Hagan. This is the highest Force and the Castrol GTX team has been in the point standings since Force won his 15th Funny Car championship in 2010.

Earlier this year Force won at Bristol’s Thunder Valley Raceway with Mike Neff as his crew chief but since that win on Father’s Day the 15-time Funny car champion has been shut out of the winner’s circle.

“It has been a little bit of a drought since we won in Bristol earlier this year. Robert said when we made the switch that these guys are great guys and they are unbelievable. He said when Jimmy Prock get hot he will get fast,” said Force. “The whole brain trust has been working together from Mike Neff to Ron Douglas, Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Dan Hood to get these Funny Car running. We are working as a team and it is really cool.”

“I gave away two trophies for this win. I gave one to Jim McGrath, the president of AAA Missouri and one to Jimmy Prock. I want to thank AAA for their commitment to JFR. We have a long range deal with Traxxas for Courtney. We are not dead yet and I am not dead yet. We are going after wins and corporate America.”

In the final Force was racing Jack Beckman who has had the upper hand on Force for most of his career. Beckman has a commanding 21-8 record against Force. They are now 2-2  in final rounds. Force has never lost to Beckman at Gateway Motorsports Park, with a 2-0 record now.

“Beckman is a great racer. He taught my kids at Frank Hawley driving school. He has taught me some lessons too. At the end of the day our old hot rod went down the race track and we gave the fans a show. That is what it is all about,” said Force

This is the twenty-first season for Force to win at least two races in a season. He needed a pre-race pep talk from his wife Laurie today. The couple celebrated 32 years of marriage this weekend.

“I talked to my wife this morning and she said you need to get back to winning because winning fixes everything. She got my head right this morning,” said Force, a 222-time finalist. “I need to start winning races and I know how to do that. I don’t know if I will win another championship or another race but I will be in the fight with these young kids.”

Force started the day taking out rookie Chad Head in the first round before dispatching Ron Capps in the second round. In the semi-finals for the second race in a row he had to race teammate and son-in-law Robert Hight. For the second race in a row he also took out Hight. The 2009 Funny Car champion had nothing but word of support for his leader at the end of the day.

“I told John after the semi-finals that he needed to win this race. We are running well we just need to quit running into John in the semi-finals. We are making up ground every race on Hagan and now we are only 48 points out of first place,” said Hight. “We can get that under two rounds with a good qualifying effort in Reading. This AAA Insurance Mustang was great today we took out two tough competitors in (Jeff) Arend and (Tim) Wilkerson and lost to the guy that won the race. We are not hanging our heads. We’ll be in Reading ready to get after it.”      

Courtney Force qualified in the No. 4 spot with lane choice going into race day, this was her ninth top five start of the 2013 season. Her Traxxas team accumulated a total of four bonus points throughout Friday and Saturday for the qualifying efforts.

Today, Force moved up one spot and around competitor Johnny Gray to seize the No. 7 position in the NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car point standings. She finished in the quarterfinals when she beat Tony Pedregon, later falling to Del Worsham in the second round.

“First round we faced Tony Pedregon and had a pretty stellar pass of a 4.056. We were the second-quickest of the session next to my dad, who one-upped us again. But we’re just excited we were able to get past Tony in round one. The fact that we won in the opening round and Johnny Gray lost in the opening round was big because we moved back up a spot in the points to No. 7,” said Force.

This was the first ever match-up between the youngest daughter of John Force and fellow Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon.  The pair left the starting line at about the same time, but Force pulled away and turned on the win light. She posted a 4.056 second run at over 318 mph to his 4.143 at 296 mph and had lane choice going into the semi-finals.

Force went on to compete against No. 5 qualifier Del Worsham. Once again, both drivers were off the starting line together, but Force took an early lead shortly before striking the tires at about 200 feet out and had to back off the throttle. Worsham took the win with a 4.119 ET at 311.77 mph and Force sat out the rest of the day to watch her father walk away with a Wally.

“We got lane choice in the second round against Worsham. We were really trying to run it hard and put a good number on the board after we saw Robert go up there and run a 4.07, but it was a tough match-up. Del got down there with no problem and ran a 4.11, but we struggled a little. We spun the tires and I had to pedal it. We went over a spot on the track that didn’t have any rubber on it and I think that kind of killed the run for us in that left lane. Those things happen,” said Force.

With only three national events left, Force will go to Reading 135 points out of first place in the No. 7 position in points.

“We have a great race car and I think we proved that this weekend; that we can run low 4.0s in the heat and in the cool air. I’m excited that we’re moving in the right direction,” said Force.

Brittany Force and her Castrol EDGE team continued to make strides as they wrapped up the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals Sunday at Gateway Motorsports Park.

The Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award contender qualified fifth for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event. This was the fourth she has qualified in the top half of the field this season and second time since the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals. Force also ran the quickest elapsed time of her career at 3.79 seconds during the second qualifying session under the lights Friday night.

Going into round one of Sunday’s eliminations, Force would face fellow competitor Brandon Bernstein for a second time this season. Running a 3.825 ET at 317.34 mph, the 27-year-old from Yorba Linda, California would advance to the quarterfinals as Bernstein hazed the tires and lifted off the throttle. Second round for Force would prove to be tough as she prepared to compete against Al-Anabi Racing’s Khalid alBalooshi. With a reaction time of 0.090 seconds, the Castrol EDGE dragster was making a run for the win light, but unfortunately fell short of the victory has her tires went up in smoke
, forcing her to shut off the engine early.

Force walks away 13th in the championship points standings and with another round win under her belt. She believes her team is moving in the right direction and is proud of what they have accomplished thus far.      

“Overall, we had a great weekend here in St. Louis,” Force said. “We had a good race car and I ran my best ET Friday night with a 3.79. We ended up qualifying No. 5 and even went into the second round, so I think overall it was a great weekend. We’re packing up and going home early, but this Castrol EDGE team is anxious to get to Reading and hopefully go some more rounds.”

NHRA Midwest Nationals the three John Force Racing Ford Mustang Funny Cars set the pace of the field provisionally qualifying No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 after two sessions. Led by 2010 AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals champion Robert Hight with a 4.022 second run the JFR Funny Cars made a strong impression on the near capacity crowd.

Hight smoked the tires in his first run and was relegated to run early in the second session. The AAA Insurance Funny Car made the most of their opportunity on a well prepped track blasting to the top of the field with a 4.022 second run that established the track record for elapsed time. Only Matt Hagan was quicker running 4.001 seconds in the last pair with JFR teammate Courtney Force.

 “That was a good run. There is no one hanging their head over here. We didn’t get down the track the first run and we wanted to put up a good number that session. We are excited and ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the time to get a race day combination. That 4.02 run puts us in a great position and we are happy with it. It was great to see all our Funny Car run up close to the top,” said Hight.

Right after Hight ran to the top of the field team leader John Force made his strongest run of the day with a 4.023 second pass. The winningest driver in NHRA history powered his Castrol GTX Funny Car to the provisional No. 3 spot and is ready to make a run at his unprecedented 16th Mello Yello Funny Car championship.

All three JFR Funny Car drivers earned qualifying bonus points today to keep Hagan the point leader within reach.

After day one of the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang team are holding onto the No. 5 qualifying spot and have tucked away one bonus point for their Friday efforts.

The youngest daughter of John Force was third quickest of the first session with a 4.127 and had the second-best speed at 310.20 mph.

“For our first hit today here in St. Louis, we ran a 4.127 and went to the top spot with top speed at over 310 mph. After a couple more passes, we got knocked down two positions by Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman, but we were able to pick up a point for being third-quickest of that session so we were happy to have that. We were actually going for a 4.10 elapsed time on that run, but had to back it down a little once we saw everyone going up in smoke. We were happy where we were at with that 4.12 right off the bat,” said Force.

The second qualifying attempt brought a 4.062 to the Traxxas Ford Mustang camp and put the 25-year-old driver in the No. 5 spot going into day two of qualifying tomorrow.

“Our Traxxas team was able to improve on that last pass. The conditions were good and we got the car down there running a 4.06. It put us in the No. 5 spot. We’re excited about it. It was on a good run. I’m in the top half of the field with my dad and my brother-in-law and we’re hoping we stay up there through tomorrow.”

“We’re hoping that during qualifying tomorrow we can see some consistent runs out of our car through the heat so we can be ready for race day,” said Force.

Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award candidate Brittany Force put on a show for fans Friday night as she ran her career best 3.79 elapsed time at a national event after two rounds of qualifying.  

Force ran a 4.19 ET in round one of qualifying after smoking the tires, forcing her to shut off the engine of her Castrol EDGE dragster early. Despite not making a full pass, the Top Fuel pilot knew the team had one more chance to make a good run.    

“First qualifying run we went out there and went up in tire smoke,” Force said. “We only ran a 4.19, so we didn’t get the car all the way down the track. It wasn’t what we had hoped for, but after the run we didn’t hurt any parts so we’re okay with that. We also knew we were going to have one more run at the end of the night. Being later in the night, the temperature drops and the track conditions get better, so we were getting ready for that next run.”

Going into the second qualifying session, the track temperature became cooler, which makes for faster runs. That was exactly what she did. Force raced her way to a career best 3.79 ET at a national event, ultimately landing her fifth in the field at the end of the night.

“The Castrol EDGE team put together a fast race car,” said Force. “We ran a 3.79 and that’s my best ET I’ve run this entire year. I did run it once last year in testing, but never at a national event. It’s completely different. I’m so proud of my team. I’m anxious for tomorrow. We get two more runs and we’ll definitely be in the top half of the field going into Saturday. We’re excited and ready to see what this weekend has going for us.”

JOHN FORCE RUNNER-UP AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

 

ENNIS, TX —- John Force almost got his revenge on the Texas Motorplex, site of his horrific crash in 2007, but he came up a few hundredths of a second short against his nemesis Cruz Pedregon in the final round at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. Force was racing in his second final round since his crash at the historic track but fell 4.220 seconds to Pedregon’s winning 4.106 second run. Force did move up to 4th in the Mello Yello Funny Car point standings with his fifth final round appearance of the season.

 

“My race car is running good and all of our race cars are really running well. Courtney’s ET in the first round would have whooped anybody else. The run with Cruz was good but it got loose down there. Cruz was yelling in his interview about putting out the top bulb. I am just learning if I get in there and get set up my focus is a lot better,” said Force, a seven time winner at the Texas Motorplex. “I had a great leave time a .055 light. He put out the top bulb. He is a good racer but I have a good race car too. Like (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) said, ‘Force you are learning how to drive all over again and I am learning how to tune. We’ll make a good team.’ We are all up in the top of the points. (Matt) Hagan didn’t get a run on the points today. We will go to St. Louis for another AAA race. This was big for AAA Texas and next weekend we’ll be racing for AAA Missouri.”

 

Force’s run to the final was a tough battle for the leader of John Force Racing. He had to defeat both of his team cars, each of whom is a championship contender in a tough Countdown battle. In the first round Force posted his best run of the weekend against his daughter Courtney, then Force outran former teammate Tony Pedregon before taking on Robert Hight in the AAA Texas Ford Mustang.

 

“I am really excited. I have been struggling a little as a driver. I had to go back to basics. I was so busy teaching my kids that I forgot how to drive. I was hot early in the year and then I got this new car. I was sitting in it differently and I got a little lost. Robert has really been helpful in working with me to get me comfortable with the pedal and the padding,” said Force.

 

The semi-final win over Hight took the biggest toll on the 15-time Funny Car champion.

 

“I said in my interview after I beat Robert. I can win the championship. I have proved that and I will win again but if I was a betting man I would not bet against Robert Hight,” said the proud team owner.

 

“I could have left here second in the points if I would have won. Hagan didn’t move on any of us. Now it is all jammed up. Cruz is two, Robert is three and I am four. It is all a matter of who gets on a roll. Right now Robert is on a roll. He won the last two races and today they lost a motor. The ignition was on fire in the second round and they had to change motors before the semis. That is like starting all over without qualifying. They smoked the tires but Neff, I drove for him, he runs it right on the edge. Robert is Cool Hand Luke.”

 

While Force was racing to the finals he had to go through the hottest driver on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series to reach his 221st career final. Hight, the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals No. 1 qualifier, had won the previous ten rounds of racing going into the semi-finals versus Force. Hight’s win streak started when he won the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals Labor Day weekend and the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals last weekend. Hight moved up from 9th to as high as 2nd place in the Mello Yello point standings this weekend was pleased with his overall performance even if he personally wasn’t standing in the winner’s circle.

 

“We made up some ground on points leader Matt Hagan this weekend. We were the No. 1 qualifier and we made it to the semi-finals. You have to be ready for anything when you race John. We were over in the right lane which was a tough lane and we had a shot. I am proud of my AAA Texas team and we will be ready to go after them in St. Louis in a couple of days,” said Hight.

 

Hight defeated veteran Del Worsham in the first round with the quickest run of the session a great 4.067 second pass.

 

“We had to step up. That Del Worsham team over there is tough. They can put a great number up on the board just like anyone else can out here,” said Hight from the top end after the win. “That was a great, great job by (crew chief) Mike Neff and this whole AAA Texas team. We have to do a great job for our sponsors. I do not want to look back and say Texas is where we messed up.”

 

In the second round Hight squared off against Johnny Gray, another Countdown competitor. Hight had lane choice and the Funny Cars launched together but Gray went into tire smoke just before Hight’s Goodyears also lost traction. Hight was able to maintain control of his AAA Texas Ford Mustang Funny Car and get the win with a less than dominant 4.593 to Gray’s 5.374 second run. Hight attributed his quickness in gathering control of his Funny Car to a consistent tune-up by Neff.

 

“The way this Mustang has been going up and down the track Neff has it tuned perfectly. When it does smoke the tires, that is out of the norm so you can catch it quickly,” said Hight. “As driver it is easier to catch a car when it has been running well. We have a tough round next round against another Ford Mustang with John Force. For sure one of us will be in the final and try and get the win for AAA Texas.”

 

No. 5 qualifier Courtney Force lined up beside her father John Force today in the first round of eliminations. The 2012 NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner – “Rookie of the Year” – and her father have faced each other six times prior to today with more than half of those matchups coming in the opening round.

The pair ran a great side-by-side race. The 25-year-old went right down the groove with her quickest pass of the weekend. Unfortunately, the 15-time World Champion also made his quickest pass of the weekend and pulled away for the win.

“We had another first round matchup against my dad. You know, we went out there, we had lane choice, we had a good car, we ran a 4.08, but he outran us with a 4.06. It’s definitely a tough way to lose, especially when you’re out here because you’re focused on winning the Mello Yello Funny Car championship.”

“Every round counts. I really didn’t expect him to go out there and put a number like that on the board, but he had a good car and he got the win light so that’s all that matters,” said Force.

With that loss, Force dropped two spots to No. 8 in points.

“For our team, I’m proud of my guys, they gave me a great race car it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t go rounds today. We just had the wrong matchup, but we’re going to get after it again in St. Louis,” said Force.

Top Fuel rookie Brittany Force and her Castrol EDGE team continued to make improvements as they advanced to the second round.

 

After qualifying No. 10 in the field, Force had a first round match-up against Kalitta Motorsports’ David Grubnic. With a strong car, she knew she had a good chance at advancing. Force ran a 3.832 elapsed time at 317.79 mph to Grubnic’s 4.284 at 208.17.

 

“We had a good first round today against David (Grubnic),” Force said. “The entire Castrol EDGE team worked so hard to put together a really good, consistent car. We ran a good number and actually got the win this time. We were so excited about that. It was a good confidence booster for all of us.”

 

The entire Top Fuel team worked hard to prep the 27-year-old Southern California native’s dragster for round two of eliminations. As the track temperature hea
ted up, crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, Eric Lane and John Medlen made the right adjustments to the car that would ultimately take them all the way down the track with a solid time. Force ran a 3.867 ET, but it wasn’t enough to get the win over eventual Top Fuel winner Mac Tools backed Doug Kalitta, who had an ET of 3.805. 

 

“Going into second round we had Kalitta,” said Force. “We’ve raced him quite a few times already this season. Unfortunately, we went out second round to him. Again, we still had a pretty decent car and I was very happy with my job both runs. I had good lights, good leave times right off the Christmas Tree, which is something I’ve been practicing more than ever because my team now has an awesome car put together for me and I want to make sure that I’m doing my job next to them.

 

“Overall, I think the weekend went awesome for the Castrol EDGE team. We’re excited about it. Just getting that first round win gets me pumped up and motivated and it’s the same with my team and crew chiefs. We’re still moving in the right direction. We leave Dallas with some good runs and another round win under our belt. We didn’t hurt the motor today either, so we’re very happy about that, too,” Force continued.

 

 

AAA TEXAS BACKED ROBERT HIGHT No. 1 AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

ENNIS, TX (Sept. 21, 2013) – With half of the qualifying sessions lost to a rainout on Friday the NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel teams had to hunker down and bring their best to the track with only two shots at qualifying for the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. For Robert Hight and the AAA Texas Ford Mustang Funny Car team their best was good enough for the No. 1 spot in qualifying and a Texas Motorplex track record elapsed time of 4.052 seconds.

“How is that for showing off for the sponsor? Maybe Governor Perry brought us good luck. If that is the case I don’t want him to leave tomorrow. This Auto Club Ford is flying ad my guys have a really good handle on it. We have Worsham first round and that is a tough first round match-up. We have to get past qualifying and do our job tomorrow,” said Hight from the top end after his AAA Texas Ford Mustang took the No. 1 spot from veteran Cruz Pedregon.

Texas Governor Rick Perry was a guest of AAA Texas today at the Texas Motorplex. He spent the morning touring the John Force Racing pit area and spent quality time with all the JFR drivers. For Hight it was obvious the governor was really excited to be at an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

“It was great having Governor Perry here today. He was really into it. He was not just out here going through the motions. He filmed my warm up. He was right there in the middle of the fumes. He kept coming to the staging lanes and he was taking pictures. He was totally into this. It was really cool. Someone texted him that we went to No. 1 and I got a call from him congratulating me. I wish I could bring him back tomorrow,” said Hight in the Texas Motorplex media center.

Hight was the provisional No. 4 qualifier after the first session today. His elapsed time of 4.135 seconds was the quickest run in the right lane. It was quick enough to put Hight and his Mike Neff tuned AAA Texas Ford Mustang Funny Car at the very back of the second and final qualifying session tonight.

“Going up there (for the second run) I was thinking it might run around 4.09. Mike Neff is not one of these guys that goes up there and just throws up a Hail Mary. He does not do that. We went up there in the first round and we made the quickest run in the right lane. We thought the left lane was a little better,” said Hight. “It was only a few degrees cooler for the second run and you didn’t see Top Fuel stepping up. It did help us being at the back of the pack. I figured it would run 4.07 to 4.09 if it made it. It really ran through the middle. That 4.05 was pretty awesome.”

“Mike Neff does not go up there to try and get away with something. He sets the car up to run the best it can and it is showing. It is a lot of fun right now and it couldn’t have come at a better time than my sponsor’s race. Qualifying is over. It was shortened to begin with so you always feel fortunate to be able to go down the track twice when you only have two runs. Tomorrow is a new day and it is the Countdown.”

Hight will race veteran Del Worsham in the first round. Hight holds a 13-10 record against Worsham.

“It would be devastating to lose the first round tomorrow. (Points leader Matt) Hagan is still way out there on us. We have to make the most of this. Del is a tough opponent. He is one of the last guys that I would pick from the sixteen out there to race in the first round. We have to stay focused and make another real good run the first round to have a chance to go on.”

The other two JFR Funny Cars will square off in a father daughter first round match-up. Courtney Force made the third quickest run of the first session, a strong 4.115 second pass, but in the second session she slipped back to the No. 5 spot. She will face John Force and the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang for the fourth time this season. The last time the pair met in the first round John Force defeated his daughter and went on to win the Ford Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee on Father’s Day.

John Force will enter Sunday’s first round as the No. 12 qualifier with a 4.174 second elapsed time as his best effort.

Courtney Force the No. 5 qualifier picked up one bonus point to help move the team forward, but will match-up against her father, John Force, in the opening round on Sunday.

“It was unfortunate that we only got two qualifying passes this weekend because of the rain yesterday. It took away two sessions for Top Fuel and Funny Car and that’s never a good thing, but it was nice to come out today and see the sun at the Texas Motorplex. It ended up being a great day for racing,” said Force.

In the first qualifying session for the Funny Car class, Force made a clean pass beside her father and ran 4.115 at 309.13 mph in her Traxxas Ford Mustang. She was third-quickest of the round and gained one bonus point.

“Our first qualifying pass was beside my dad and it was really surreal. It was strange being in that left lane and having my dad next to me. You can’t help but have those flashbacks of when he crashed here in 2007,” said Force. “We went out there and made two safe passes. We both got down the race track. I ran a 4.11 and went to No. 3 and picked up a point so we were excited to have had that first solid pass down the track.”

The Traxxas Ford Mustang team was hoping for improvement going up to the starting line for their second run of the day, but Force’s hotrod had a cylinder out and posted a 4.156 ET at 300.00 mph.

“In the second session, we were obviously going after a better run that the 4.11 that we had. We were going for a 4.0, but our Traxxas Ford Mustang dropped a cylinder down there and couldn’t get it down as quick as we wanted to, but we still ended up in the No. 5 spot, which is the top half of the field. We only had two shots out there so I’m excited about where we ended up going into race day. I feel good,” said Force.

This will be the sixth time the father/daughter combo have raced each other in the 25-year-old’s short two season career. She has had a total of four wins over the veteran driver and has suffered only two losses beside him.

“It is unfortunate that I have to run my dad tomorrow, but I think it was bound to happen and we’re going to do the best we can. We have lane choice over him and I think we have a good shot at winning. Hopefully tomorrow we can go some rounds and move up in points,” said Force.

Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award nominee Brittany Force continued her strong qualifying efforts as she raced to the No. 10 qualifying position Saturday.

Force’s first time out was strong as she ran a 3.925 elapsed time at 298.80 mph, which put her No. 11 out of 20 cars. As the air temperature began to cool down, so did the track temperature. The second time out, she and the team improved with a 3.871 ET at 312.06 mph, ultimately landing her No. 10 on the ladder. 

“We had two qualifying passes today after losing two runs,” Force said. “First run out today we got down the track and ended up running a 3.92 ET. Second run out we always try to improve and we did. The Castrol EDGE team worked their butts off in between the two runs. We got back up there and ended up improving on the run with a 3.87 pass, which bumped us up to No. 10. I’m happy about that. It’s difficult coming out to an event and only having two runs. I’m excited about it and we’re ready for Sunday.”

It’s never easy for a new team to come to a race track that they had never competed on before and dominate. Every qualifying pass is important and the 27-year-old Cal State-Fullerton graduate understands the difficulty of missing out on a chance to learn something new about a track.

“Obviously losing the two passes makes it tougher on the team because we’re only working off of two runs instead of four,” Force said. “We don’t have any info
rmation to build off of from last year because this is our first time out here in Dallas in a Top Fuel car, so we only have two runs to work with. Hoping that weather doesn’t change dramatically tomorrow, we’re hoping everything will stay pretty close to the same so we can try and keep the car as consistent as we can. That’s how the game works. Our team wasn’t the only one that got two runs, it was everybody.”

Heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds, Force will square off against veteran David Grubnic. They met in the first round earlier in the season at Phoenix, but unfortunately Force fell short of the win.

“He’s an awesome competitor. I’m excited to be going up against him. I haven’t run him in a while, so as long as we have some safe racing tomorrow and put on a good show for the fans, I’m hoping this Castrol EDGE team will go some rounds.”

 

With only five races remaining in her rookie season at the wheel of the first Top Fuel dragster ever fielded by John Force Racing, Inc., Brittany Force talks about the highs and the lows of her first 19 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and about her expectations moving forward.

Give yourself a grade for your rookie season so far…

“I’d give myself a B looking back on my rookie season. As a rookie driver I’ve set myself challenging goals and am still working at those till the season comes to an end.  Starting at the beginning of the year in Pomona up until now I feel like I’ve definitely made major improvements and have come a long way. I feel much more comfortable as a driver in the seat and that to me is accomplishment in itself. I’ve learned so much this year and feel like I’ve gained so much more experience competing week after week.  I am proud of the little improvements and changes I’ve made throughout the season. I’ve worked on better reaction times, always keeping the car straight down the track, pedaling the car when it goes up in smoke, shutting it off right at the finish line along with so many others. Although I don’t have a trophy to make up for how I’d view my year I think time, effort and hard work all mean just as much.”

“More than anything I want to make my dad and my team proud in my rookie season. I hope they know I have put my heart into my car and I do everything I can to improve week after week. It helps me talking to my crew chiefs after runs, watching video of each pass I make down the track, continuously working on my practice tree and even sitting in my car and going over my routine when it’s parked in the pits.  I’ve had many ups and downs and have made mistakes, which I use to learn from. I’ve never let mistakes or losing keep me down and have always tried to have a positive attitude. I’ve done the best job that I can and can’t wait for the last few races of the season to go after a win!”

“Looking at my team I would give them an A in terms of grading. They have worked harder than anyone I know and I can’t ask for anything better. They have stayed positive and always keep me encouraged by letting me know they believe in me as a driver. The fact we haven’t won a race, is not from lack of effort. This is one of the toughest classes to break into and my guys have put all their dedication and hard work on the line. My team has put their hearts into this Castrol EDGE dragster and I’m proud to call them my team.”

What have been some of your personal season highlights or round win memories?

“The best memory of my season so far would be my first round win in Las Vegas against Doug Kalitta. I remember pulling up to the starting line next to one of the toughest competitors and feeling that spark of how bad I wanted to win. The grandstands were filled with fans and I knew my team was standing behind me anxious to see if their hard work would pay off. After seeing my win light turn on I was screaming in my car for I saw that first round win as the start to my career. I jumped out of my car cheered on my crew guys and hugged my dad. That moment may sound like such a small victory, but it felt like winning the entire national event for me. That was a moment I will never forget and was so glad to have my dad who gave me this opportunity next to me to celebrate.”

You just missed the Countdown in your rookie year but in the history of the Countdown only one rookie ever made the Top Ten (Spencer Massey in 2009) in Top Fuel. Does that lessen the disappointment?

“Obviously the Castrol EDGE team and I wanted to get into the top ten, but that is not an easy thing to achieve and it wasn’t meant to happen in my rookie season. My team and I worked extremely hard, but will not let missing the countdown keep us down or hold us back from going after what we want. We have our goals for the rest of the season and still plan to keep the same fight we’ve had all year. Missing the Countdown does not change our attitude; it only fuels it and will push this Castrol EDGE team into the winner’s circle in our rookie season.” 

How hard of a challenge do you think this season has been for the whole JFR team building one Top Fuel team from the ground up?

“I definitely think it has been a challenge for John Force Racing having the first Top Fuel dragster in our pits, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. We are a Funny Car team and have been for almost three decades, so learning about something new is exciting for all of us. I have always been a hard worker and know the feeling of accomplishing something truly earned. Struggling week after week has taught me how to stay motivated and stay in the fight. My guys have worked harder than anyone I know and when it’s our moment all our hard work will have paid off. This year in itself will be an accomplishment of its own and I’m proud of my team and myself looking back on our year.  We came into the competition without any record to build off of and have still managed to keep up with the rest of the pack. My team has qualified in the No. 3 and No. 4 positions, have made it to five second rounds and can say we compete next to some competitors that I see as legends in the sport. I am proud of what the Castrol EDGE team has accomplished but more than anything I am proud of our drive to never give and how we put our hearts into this dragster. To achieve something after true dedication, motivation and hard work is a powerful feeling and one that this Castrol EDGE team will hopefully celebrate together this year.”

How did you handle the various crew chief changes throughout the season?

“It is difficult when your team changes and you lose someone or add someone to the mix. You tend to build a routine with your team, your crew chiefs and when you have to change your routine it’s a bit of a challenge. John Medlen has come on board and teamed up next to Dean Antonelli and Eric Lane. The three of them have had such success in the past and I know together they will make this dragster fly. John Medlen has always felt like family to me and I feel very blessed to be working with him. With a solid team that all want the same outcome, we plan to take this dragster to the winner circle before our season comes to an end.”

Down the stretch your team’s performance has improved. How much satisfaction does that give you?

“My team has definitely come a long way since the beginning of the year and I’m so proud to call every one of them my teammate. We’ve had our ups and downs, but all we can do is learn from those mistakes, move forward and stay positive. Coming out No. 4 qualifier in Indy was a very big move for my team. We were the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday and Saturday but moved to No. 4 going into eliminations. Being able to make changes and improve one step at a time gives me as a driver and my team the motivation we need to keep us focused and moving in the right direction. Achieving any goal, big or small has given me the spirit to keep doing what I love and keep my team in the fight to be competitive.”

How proud were you to win the Traxxas Shootout Fan Vote? What do you think that says about how the fans feel your season was going?

“Winning that Traxxas Shootout fan vote was such an amazing feeling! It made me realize how lucky I am to have such dedicated fans that want to see me do well in my rookie season.  My fans were the reason the Castrol EDGE team was able to compete in our first ever Traxxas Shootout and made a dream of mine come true. Having their support means so much to me and makes my job as a driver that much easier. Standing out at the ropes I have the chance to connect with my fans and in Indy I had countless people tell me they put their vote in for my team! I was lucky enough to look a few of my fans in the eyes and truly thank them because they could have been the one vote that gave my team the chance to compete.”

“The NHRA drag racing seri
es has the greatest fans and I know they love the sport as much as we do. The fans can turn a driver’s day around or even get them in the right spirit any day of the week. Whether you win or lose, they are there to cheer you on and encourage you. I have had fans bring my spirits up after a bad run and I’ve had fans pump me up before heading into first round. We wouldn’t be out here racing if it weren’t for our fans and that’s something I plan to make sure they know!”