7/09/07

Well, what do you know?

When the 2007 season began would you have guessed that John’s first win of the season would come AFTER the Fourth of July? And that it wouldn’t come at one of the NHRA’s big powerhouse tracks like Joliet, Gainesville, or Houston but would arrive at Bristol—and the winning elapsed time in the final round would barely be quicker than 5 seconds?

How unlikely has this year been overall? Weird isn’t a word that sufficiently covers it.

It was a great win for the team. Good Lord, they’ve needed it, especially with the enduring feeling of Eric’s loss that has been carried around by everyone at JFR since March. John even mentioned Eric in his comments following the race and they summed up the feelings of so many people. John wanted a win for Eric and having to wait until July to finally nail it down hasn’t helped heal the wounds.

But now, all seems to be getting back to normal in the universe.

Perhaps one of the most significant developments of Sunday’s win is the jump into the No. 13 spot in the standings that has placed John within reasonable distance of the eighth and final spot for the Countdown. That’s so vital. He’s not there yet but making the Countdown doesn’t seem as daunting a challenge as it did a few days ago.

It wasn’t as upbeat for Ashley or Robert, that’s for sure. Ashley picked up her first DNQ as a pro while Robert qualified in the bottom half of the ladder and was beaten in the first round by Jim Head. Robert remains a solid No. 2 in the standings and there’s very little doubt about him getting a slot in the Countdown when the points are reset for the next phase in Indy at the U.S. Nationals. But, Ashley fell from the final Countdown spot at No. 8 down to No. 9 with her DNQ and that’s going to need some attention this week in Denver.

Of course, if you’re paying attention to all this, the risk of John and Ashley fighting head to head for that final eighth spot is too discomforting to consider. The implications of that scenario becoming reality surely make me shift around in my chair.

Whom would you rather see make the Countdown if that last spot came down to either John or Ashley? A very tough choice.

But five races remain on the schedule before the Countdown kicks into its next layer at Indy and in one week, the notorious Western Swing cranks up at the series’ most eye-popping facility—Bandimere Speedway on Thunder Mountain outside Denver, Colorado. Then it’s on to Seattle, Washington and then Sonoma, California on three successive weekends. A stop in Brainerd, Minnesota and then Reading, Pennsylvania—where the eight Countdown survivors advance into the Countdown to Four.   We are about to get very, very serious here.

I’ve been on a whirlwind schedule of my own as I continue to cover the Champ Car World Series for ESPN which has taken me to Montreal and Toronto on the past two weekends and then to Edmonton in two weeks, completing the series’ Canadian Swing. But I remain in close touch with the gang at JFR and am enjoying this year’s tremendous drama and unpredictability on the NHRA trail as much as I ever have. It’s kind of cool being in love and intimately involved with not one, but two major motorsports series.

I have to admit, I’m a lucky guy.

Right after Denver, I’ll have more from “In the Groove” at JohnForceRacing.com so I hope you’ll bring your eyeballs back here in a week.

Thanks, and don’t forget to buckle up and drive safely!