Fast speed in Sonoma has PEAK Chevrolet driver
John Force pumped for Seattle and beyond

KENT, Wash. (Aug. 1) – PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil’s John Force joined the 337-mph club last weekend, becoming only the fourth Funny Car driver to reach that lofty plateau.

And heading into the NHRA Northwest Nationals this weekend at Pacific Raceways, the 16-time champion hopes to build on that impressive streak and add some more numbers to his already gaudy resume.

Force recorded a speed of 337.16 mph during qualifying for the Sonoma Nationals last weekend at Sonoma Raceway. That matched John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight for sixth-fastest speed in NHRA history and was the fastest Force had ever gone.

“Pretty cool,” Force said. “But let’s see what we can do with it.”

Force has been evolving his team this season, as crew chief Jimmy Prock returned to JFR before the season. Prock is crew chief for Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, with crew chief Mike Neff and co-crew chief Jon Schaffer leading Force’s team.

JFR now owns seven of the eight fastest runs in Funny Car history. Hight broke the speed record in Sonoma (339.87 mph) and has five of the eight fastest speeds. Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force owns the third-fastest speed.

Now, though, John Force wants to turn that speed into round wins and race wins. He’s won eight times in Seattle, the most among NHRA professional classes. His most recent victory here was 2014, and he also has six No. 1 qualifiers in Seattle.

Force has one victory in 2017 and sits seventh in the Funny Car points standings. Two races remain before the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis and three races are left before the Countdown to the Championship starts.

“I’m starting my career all over again, and it’s a brand-new ballgame,” Force said. “I ain’t quitting. Just have good days and bad days, and we just have to make them all good days.”

Two qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Pacific, with two more Saturday at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are slated to begin at 11 a. m. Pacific on Sunday.

Fox Sports 1 will provide one hour of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. Friday Pacific and 11 p.m. Saturday. Fox will broadcast three hours of live finals coverage at 1 p.m. Pacific on Sunday.

4-Second Reads:
John Force has competed in 30 races at Pacific Raceways and qualified for every race since 2009. He competed in his first Funny Car race at Pacific in 1988.
Force has eight victories at the track – 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2014. He has been to 10 finals overall.
Force’s eight Sonoma victories are tied for the fourth-most he has at any facility. He also has eight victories at Chandler, Ariz.; Sonoma, Calif.; and Gainesville, Fla.
Force is 55-20 in 75 elimination-round races at Pacific Raceways.
Force has a .733 winning percentage in elimination rounds at Pacific, tied for the fifth highest at any track at which he has competed. Only Richmond, Va. (.815); Brainerd, Minn. (.787); Topeka, Kan. (.745); and Sonoma, Calif. (.741) are higher among active tracks. Force also has a .733 winning percentage at Epping, N.H.
Force has qualified No. 1 at the track six times – 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2014. His only victories from the No. 1 spot came in 2004 and 2014. He’s advanced to at least the semis every time he has qualified No. 1.
Force is 20-8 in 28 first-round matchups at Pacific Raceways.
Force is currently seventh in Funny Car points standings. He has been as high as third in the standings earlier this season.
Force has swept the Western Swing in 1994, becoming the second driver in NHRA history to sweep the three-race swing and the only Funny Car driver to win all three races.
In his career, Force has 148 victories and 1,277 elimination-round wins, both records. He has 155 No. 1 qualifying spots, of which 60 have resulted in victories, also both records.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Force’s best time/speed at Seattle – 3.893 seconds (2016 Q3); 329.67 mph (2016 E1)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.832 seconds (2017 Gainesville Q2); 337.16 mph (2017 Sonoma Q4)