CHEVROLET AT ATLANTA
What: Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals
When: Friday, May 3-Sunday, May 5
Where: Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 6 p.m. ET May 5
Chevrolet enters Atlanta race with successful driver lineup
John Force seeks record-extending 150th victory on birthday weekend
DETROIT (May 1, 2019) – There’s no quit in 16-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car world champion John Force as he seeks to pick up career victory No. 150 a day after turning 70 years old.
“They were telling me to quit when I turned 50. And when I turned 60, it was ‘Oh, this has to be over.’ Now I’m going on 100 and still learning,” said Force, who will drive the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil/BlueDef Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals this weekend at Atlanta Dragway.
And there’s no apparent signs of Force slowing down.
This season, Force is third in the championship standings through six of 24 rounds. He scored a low qualifier honor (15th of career) at Houston and has advanced to the semifinals four times – most recently last weekend in the four-wide event at Charlotte.
“The better the car, the more confidence I get,” he said. “I’ve been struggling, but I have a good team behind me and I’m learning how to drive again. They’re teaching me. I think we’re getting there; we’re going to get 150, but I’m not focusing on that. I’m focusing on going rounds, doing my job. The wins will come. We’re close. I’m in the hunt and I love it. I love driving this hot rod.”
Force, who was 69 years, 3 months when he won at Denver in July 2018, already is the oldest winner in the four pro categories. Force was 38 when he won for the first time on June 28,1987, in Montreal in his 78th race (66th start) and 10th finals appearance.
Seven of his victories have been attained at the racetrack in Commerce, Georgia. Overall, in his Funny Car career that began in 1978, 18 of Force’s wins have been in a Chevrolet and 71 with General Motors backing. By model — Oldsmobile Cutlass (31), Pontiac Firebird (21), Chevrolet Lumina (10), Chevrolet Camaro (8), Oldsmobile Firenza (1).
Teammate Robert Hight, who has secured three wins and four No. 1 qualifier awards, increased his Funny Car points lead over second place with a runner-up finish at zMAX Dragway in the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS.
“We were really close in Charlotte to getting the win and if it hadn’t spun the tires and shut off, we would have had it,” said Hight, a three-time winner of the Southern Nationals who holds the Funny Car track elapsed time record of 3.880 seconds. “We’re still in the points lead though after finishing second and this car is dominant. I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a car this consistent and on it, so I know we can get after it again.”
Brittany Force, a two-time No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier and winner at Houston in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster, and Austin Prock, driving the Montana Brad/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, look to also go rounds on race day.
Chevrolet Pro Stock drivers, who have won all four events, are off until May 17-19 at Virginia.
Driving their Chevrolet COPO Camaros in Stock Eliminator will be 2017 class champion Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama; Jeff Taylor of Sellersburg, Indiana; Thomas Fletcher of Churchville, New York; Jeff Warren of Clinton, North Carolina; Cody Phillips of Lumberton, North Carolina; Chip Johnson of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Marion Stephenson of Williamsport, Indiana; and Brett Candies of Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Entered in Super Stock in their COPO Camaros are Brandon Bakies of Alexandria, Louisiana, and Jeffrey Bragg of Fort Myers, Florida.
FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 6 p.m. ET May 5.
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (2017 class champion; two-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Houston; runner-up in Las Vegas four-wide): “It was a tough weekend for the Advance Auto Parts team in Charlotte. We lost a round of qualifying because weather and really only got one good run in, and then on race day we had issues with the fuel pump in the first round and lost. It’s not what we planned for obviously, but I’m proud of this team and know what we’re capable of. We’ve made a lot of progress this year so far and have a lot to be proud of. We have one win and want to get this thing back in the winner’s circle in Atlanta.”
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (Making seventh start; has won two rounds): “We didn’t have the weekend we had hoped for in Charlotte, went out first round but we’re getting there. Ronnie Thompson and Jon Schaffer, and my entire crew are working hard to get this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster to stay consistent and I’m confident we’ll get there and can go some rounds in Atlanta. It’s going to be almost 100 percent different than it was in Charlotte — humid, the track’s bumpy and a little grip there just because of the temperature. Hopefully, we can get this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist car going up and down the track, just go A to B there and we should have a good weekend.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2017 class champion; class points leader; has won three of the five races; holds track Funny Car elapsed time record): “I’m excited to get to Atlanta. I stayed on the road after Charlotte, so I’ve already gotten into the mindset and I’m ready. It’s a back-to-back race and I like getting back into the car this quick without the long breaks, it keeps me in a routine. This track, too, it’s been a good race for me. I’ve won the Southern Nationals three times and I’d like to add another and get some more No. 1 qualifiers.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES PEAK CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; seven-time winner at track): “The better the car, the more confidence I get. I’ve been struggling, but I have a good team behind me and I’m learning how to drive again. They’re teaching me. I think we’re getting there; we’re going to get 150, but I’m not focusing on that. I’m focusing on going rounds, doing my job. The wins will come. We’re close. I’m in the hunt and I love it. I love driving this hot rod.”