BILL STEPHENS “IN THE GROOVE” 8/24/09

A Ford won in Reading on Sunday but the one from JFR was the runner-up.

Mike just missed picking up national event victory #1 when he was beaten by Bob Tasca III in the final round. For Bob, it was career win #2 and you won’t find many people in the Force organization muttering about Bob’s victory—even though everyone has been pulling for Mike to finally get into that first winner’s circle.

And once again, Maple Grove Raceway was socked with rain on race weekend, a scenario which has become a familiar one at one of the most picturesque and history-laden facilities on the tour. The race has been moved a couple of times over the past several years to try to dodge the wet weather, but this year the event was still plagued by on-and-off-again showers leading to water seepage oozing up from under the track just beyond the finish line.

John made it as far as the semi’s, but clinched his slot in the Countdown to 1. After a late night Saturday night with the team getting her Mustang prepared for eliminations after qualifying No.1, Ashley beat Jeff Arend handily in Round 1, only to be told after the race that her car was too light on the scales and she was disqualified. That hurt.

Robert fell to Bob Tasca III in Round 2 while driving John’s car after things got switched around a bit at JFR after the last race in Brainerd. Now, with only one race remaining before the C-to-1, Robert has to find a way to nail down a spot with Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan scrambling for their own ticket to the playoffs. And it will all come down to what happens at the sport’s biggest race, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in a couple of weeks.

It was another winless weekend for John as he tries to avoid his first campaign without a national event win since 1986. I spent a little time looking through some John Force stats today and the fact he’s won at least one race every season since ’86 is remarkable enough. But what is really astounding is how there hasn’t been another Funny Car driver in the history of the class who has been so dominant for so long. There just hasn’t been another driver who can match up with John when it comes to F/C round wins or race wins.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme had a great run between 1975 and 1978, as did Kenny Bernstein between 1985 and 1988. But following John’s first national event win in Montreal in 1987, it defies reality that he has won as many rounds, races, and championships as he has. He’s in a class by himself and it would be lunacy to think that anyone will ever amass the towering statistical achievements he’s rung up during his career.

Do you see another Funny Car driver poised to equal or eclipse what John has done? Neither do I, although there are some bright futures on the horizon with Ashley, Robert, and Mike capable of piling up a slew of drag racing milestones in the seasons ahead.

It would be unfortunate to see John end the 2009 season without a victory, especially after seeing him tally an enormous number of win lights and Wallys for the past 22 years. For John, it’s really all about winning the “Big Prize”—the Full Throttle championship—whether it be him, Ashley, Robert or Mike. Personal stats have never been his prime motivator and he’s serious when he says, “As long as there’s a Ford Mustang in the winner’s circle at the end of the day on Sunday, I’m happy.”

Well, this past weekend, that’s what happened--but it wasn’t exactly the manner in which he would have preferred it. John obviously made that statement before Mr. Tasca and Tim Wilkerson joined the Blue Oval gang.

For now, it’s time to get prepared for Indy and then the all-important Countdown to 1. Will there be four JFR Mustangs in the season-ending tournament? We’ll have our answer very soon.

Until after the “Big Go”, buckle those seatbelts and drive safely.