FORCE HOOD FIGHTS 'FEMALE' DRIVER TAG
March 10, 2010 |
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Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champ Credits 10-‘Man’ Crew
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – While NASCAR tries desperately to characterize Danica Patrick as the best female driver in modern-day stock car racing, Ashley Force Hood is trying just as hard to escape such labeling in an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series that moves this week to Gainesville Raceway for the 41st renewal of the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals.
Although she has been remarkably successful in her first three pro seasons, earning 2007 Rookie-of-the-Year honors, becoming the first woman to win an NHRA Funny Car event as well as the first to drive a Funny Car to victory in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Force Hood even now is reluctant to fully embrace her female celebrity.
“I really think the whole gender thing is kind of old news,” said the daughter of 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force. “We have a lot of women in our sport who have won races and championships. I was born a female. I had no control over that. Otherwise, I’m just another driver trying to improve and become more competitive, just like everyone else.
“I’m a female driver, but I’m backed up by a crew of 10 guys,” she said of her success at the wheel of a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in which she set the current national speed record at 312.13 miles per hour. “They’re the ones who have made it possible for me to develop and made me look probably better than I really am. As the only female (on the team), I get a lot more credit and attention than I probably deserve.
“Now if we had an all-girl crew with a female driver, that would be something to talk about. I think someday that will happen.”
As for Danica’s bid for stock car racing success, Ashley is supportive, if not that knowledgeable.
“I think a lot of people want a rivalry between us and want me to root against her,” Ashley said of the driver who now is concentrating her efforts on open wheel racing after making a couple of starts in NASCAR’s secondary Nationwide Series. “Honestly, I don’t know that much about the racing that she does. I really only pay attention to drag racing.
“I’ve met her only a couple times,” Ashley continued. “Before I got married, we were both at an event for our sponsors. She came over and introduced herself and was asking me how the wedding plans were going, such the opposite conversation I’m sure most people would think two women race car drivers would have. It was just neat. I only talked to her for a few minutes. She’s very nice.
“I think for any driver, whether male of female, it’s tough in motor sports. It’s not an easy thing to win races and I know the pressure is put on a lot of new drivers, so I support her. I hope she does well.”
As for Ashley’s own career, it no longer is a subject of skepticism.
After failing to win as a rookie, she earned a breakthrough victory at Atlanta in 2008 and last year had a breakout season, winning twice in eight final round appearances, finishing second in points behind teammate and brother-in-law Robert Hight and starting from the No. 1 qualifying position a category-best six times.
That performance established the 27-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton as one of the pre-season favorites to win the Full Throttle championship that has gone to a John Force Racing driver 16 times in the last 20 seasons.
After a slow, though certainly not disastrous start to the 2010 season, Ashley is hoping to jump start her title bid on a Gainesville track on which she has won before, although not in a Funny Car.
In 2006, her final year behind the wheel of an A/Fuel dragster prepared by Jerry Darien, the former high school cheerleader won the Top Alcohol Dragster championship at Gainesville Raceway on the same day her dad was the Funny Car runner-up.
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Ashley at the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals:
?Seeking her first victory at Gainesville Raceway since she won the Top Alcohol Dragster title in 2006. ? Has been eliminated in the second round in every Gatornationals appearance in the Funny Car division.
Gatornationals summary:
3 Starts, No Final Rounds, No Wins, No No. 1 Qualiifiers, 3-3 Record
Career summary:
67 Starts, 13 Final Rounds, 3 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 82-64 Record
Notable:
Reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion
Quotable:
“None of these crew chiefs want to ever give themselves any credit and they really should because it’s just amazing when things all come together and you have a car that’s running really, really fast (that’s) also getting down the track every run. You have recipe for success there.” – ASHLEY FORCE HOOD.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
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RESURGENT FORCE AIMING TO EXTEND LATEST STREAK
March 10, 2010 |
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14-Time Champ Aims For Third Straight Final Round
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – John Force is like crabgrass. Just when you think he’s gone, shazam, back again, stronger than ever.
After a brutally long 2009 season during which he failed to win an NHRA tour event for the first time in 23 years, the 60-year-old icon began the current campaign in spectacular fashion.
After driving his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang to an historic season-opening victory in the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., Force ended three years of qualifying frustration by starting No. 1 and reaching the finals just one week later in the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Phoenix.
As a result, for the first time in eight years, the sport’s biggest winner rolls into Gainesville Raceway as the NHRA Funny Car points leader and the favorite to claim the Funny Car championship in Sunday’s 41st annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals.
At an age when most of his peers are content to manipulate nothing more challenging than a TV remote, Force this year has demonstrated that he still can muscle an 8,000 horsepower hybrid race car down a 1,000 foot course as quickly as anyone in the world.
The upshot is that a 15th individual Funny Car Championship – and 17th in 21 seasons for John Force Racing, Inc. – suddenly seems both realistic and achievable, something that wasn’t true a mere three months ago.
This time, Force owes his resurgence to a willingness, 35 years into his career, to effect major change. He’s added a crew chief, replaced all but one member of last year’s crew and swapped last year’s chassis for a new one built in-house at the JFR facility in Brownsburg, Ind.
With the new chassis, a new 2010 Ford Mustang body and a BOSS 500 Ford nitro motor developed at JFR, Force’s current mount bears little resemblance to the one he last drove to a title in 2006. Nevertheless, the most provocative of Force’s moves was aligning Mike Neff, who last year was a Top 10 driver, with Hall of Fame crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly.
Combining Neff’s “young gun” mentality with the experience of Coil and Fedderly thus far has proven to be genius.
“Obama may be struggling with change, but John Force isn’t,” said the 127-time Full Throttle tour winner. “We had to shuffle the cards a little bit. For financial reasons, we couldn’t run the fourth car this year so it only made sense (to make use of the tuning expertise Neff demonstrated when he and driver Gary Scelzi beat Team Force for the title in 2005).
“We just put a young (guy) in with the older generation and they gave me a good hot rod,” Force said. “We want to get John Force Racing back to when it used to dominate. We had that at Pomona and we had it at Phoenix. Now, let’s see if we can do it again.”
Force has won the Gatornationals seven times, once stringing together five straight wins (1992-1996) and reaching the final round nine times in 11 years. That said, the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection admittedly has struggled in his most recent appearances.
Although he reached the semifinals a year ago (losing to eventual race champion Bob Tasca III), he was eliminated in the first round in both 2007 and 2008. He last won the Florida classic in 2001 although he was runner-up in both 2004 and 2006.
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Force at the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals:
? John has more wins in the Gatornationals than any other Funny Car driver (seven) but has advanced out of the first round just once in the last three years. ?Five straight Gatornationals’ wins (1992-1996) represent his most successive victories in a single event. ? John actually failed to qualify at his first Gatornationals (1979) but made the Sunday show as an alternate when Larry Fullerton couldn’t answer the call. ? Only five times in 30 appearances has John qualified outside the quick eight.
Gatornationals summary:
30 Starts, 11 Final Rounds, 7 Wins, 5 No. 1 Qualifiers, 54-23 Record
Notable:
From 1991 through 2001, John went to the final round nine times, missing only in 1997 and 2000.
Quotable:
“It wasn’t so much the winning as it was the coming back from the cellar because after not winning at all last year, I was in the cellar. When you’ve won all those championships, you start to think winning is easy. It’s not.” – JOHN FORCE, after winning the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., and ending a 40-race victory drought.
FORCE’s Edge
Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records)
– Most career victories (127)
– Most series championships (14)
– Most career final rounds (204)
– Most career rounds won (1046)
– Most consecutive series championships (10, 1993-2002)
– Most consecutive seasons with one or more victories (22, 1987-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with at least one final round appearance (24, 1985-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with multiple tour victories (18, 1990-2007)
– Most consecutive national events without a DNQ (395, 1988-2007)
– Most consecutive Top 10 seasons (25, 1985-present)
– Highest winning percentage, one season (91.5%, 65-6)
Other NHRA Funny Car division records
– Most final rounds, one season (16, 1996)
– Most victories, one season (13, 1996)
– Most rounds won, one season (65, 1996)
– Most career No. 1 starts (132)
– Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996)
– Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.)
– Career starts (527)
Awards
– Driver of the Year (1996)
– Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2008 inductee)
– AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (14 times, 1990, 1993-2002, 2004-2006)
– Jerry Titus Memorial Award (most AARWBA votes, 4 times, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002)
– AARWBA Comeback Award (2008)
– Speed TV Comeback Award (2008)
– SAE Motorsports Achievement Award (2008)
– AutoSport Magazine’s John Bolster Award for lifetime achievement (2005)
Milestones
– First round win, over Tom McEwen, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational Molson, Montreal, Canada
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.90 second barrier, July 6, 1996, Topeka, Kan.
– First drag racer to win Driver of the Year award for all of American motor sports (1996)
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.80 second barrier, Oct. 24, 1998, Dallas, Texas
– First (and only) drag racer to win 100 events, April 14, 2002, Houston, Texas
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.70 second barrier, Oct. 2, 2004, Joliet, Ill.
– No. 2 (behind Don Garlits) in balloting to determine Top 50 drivers in NHRA’s first 50 years (2001)
– First win at 1,000 foot distance, Feb. 14, 2010, Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
– First (and only) drag racer to win 1,000 racing rounds, May 4, 2008, Madison, Ill.
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JOHN FORCE By the Numbers
1 Driver of the Year award for all American motor sports (1996)
2 victories since a career-threatening 2007 crash in Dallas, Texas
3 screws securing ankle bones from compound fracture suffered in 2007 crash
4 time winner of Jerry Titus Memorial Award for receiving most votes in
balloting for the Auto Racing All-America Team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002).
5 seasons with 10 or more tour victories (1993-94, 1996, 1999-2000).
7 career victories in the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals (1992-96, 1999, 2001)
8 years since most recent Gatornationals victory
9 runner-up finishes before winning for the first time at Montreal, Canada in 1987.
10 straight Funny Car titles (1993-2002).
14 times named to AARWBA Auto Racing All-America First Team.
25 consecutive Top 10 finishes (1985-present)
127 tour events won
1046 competitive rounds won.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
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FORCE REFLECTS ON MARCH MEET MEMORIES
March 10, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (March 9, 2010) --- On Saturday and Sunday during the 2010 March Meet at famed Auto Club Raceway at Famoso 14-time Funny Car champion John Force enjoyed meeting old friends and watching Funny Cars from his early days roar down the track. As the event’s Grand Marshal Force was on hand signing autographs for sponsor Auto Club of Southern California and enjoying a trip down memory lane.
“There were cars out there that spanked me years ago. Cars like the Blue Max. I used to drive for Steve Plueger (who was tuning the LA Hooker at the March Meet). What is really cool is that (Force’s son-in-law and 2009 Funny Car champion) Robert (Hight) said that I have to get back up here. I came here for 10-15 years in my early days of racing. I won here in 1984 and crashed here a number of times. I love this place and I love the fans,” said Force from the Famoso tower. “I love coming back here. It is a real drag race. I was amazed by the crowds that are up here. (NHRA Vice-President) Steve Gibbs told me they are big and I was just amazed at all the people in the pits and all that is going on. God bless them. They never forgot where we came from. I am as old as all these guys nobody knows it though. There are guys that I didn’t recognize because I was on fire so much in the old days.”
As Force walked through the pits fans stopped him for photos and autographs. Force enjoyed talking with the tuners and drivers who were giving old and new fans a glimpse of drag racing history.
“I am pretty excited to be here. (Steve) Plueger is out in the pits. My brother Louis is here who I ran the Nightstalker Funny Car with. That Funny Car is out in the Auto Club tent. The Condit Brothers are here. This is pretty exciting for me. I saw Austin Coil here and talked to Gary Beck. There are so many legends here. People like Gordie Bonin and Roland Leong,” reflected Force during the event.
In addition to being a fixture on the starting line for the Funny Car qualifying and elimination sessions Force took in dragster action and the sportsman racers.
“I wanted to show all the racers my respect. I wasn’t here just to see the Funny Cars. I loved seeing all the cars and drivers. I went down to the swap meet to see if there were any of my old parts down there. When we pulled in on Saturday I saw a Chaparral trailer that looked just like the one I used to have. I would have sworn it was mine. This was an emotional weekend for me. Seeing these cars, they looked so great racing down the track, it made me remember the times that it was me and my wife Laurie driving up here and racing. Those were great times,” said Force.
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HIGHT READY TO TAKE BITE OUT OF GATORNATIONALS
March 10, 2010 |
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GAINESVILLE, FL --- 2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight spent the off-weekend before the 41st annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals in Bakersfield, California at the 2010 March Meet enjoying some nostalgia Funny Car racing action. The roar of the Funny Cars and front engine dragsters only revved up Hight’s eagerness to get back on the track himself behind the wheel of his Auto Club Ford Mustang.
“John (Force, the 2010 March Meet Grand Marshal) and I were both talking about how strange it was to be at a race and not be racing. I am really looking forward to the Gatornationals. It is a race that has so much tradition that to get a win at Gainesville Raceway is big,” said the 14-time NHRA national event winner.
Last year Hight’s season long struggles started at the Gatornationals. He qualified 10th with an inconsistent race car and dropped a first round match-up to rookie Matt Hagan. Hight and crew chief Jimmy Prock righted the ship in time for the 2009 Countdown to 1 eventually winning the Full Throttle championship but Hight knows that is not the ideal way to grab the brass ring.
“Last year we were terrible most of the season. John shook up the teams in Reading and we got rolling headed into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Then we got hot at the right time winning three of the last six races. We are not going to make the same mistake in 2010 (with an inconsistent race car). We had a good test session in Phoenix, qualified No. 1 at the Winternationals, and we went to the semi-finals in Phoenix. My Auto Club Mustang is in great shape and we are looking for a strong showing this weekend,” said Hight.
Hight is enjoying being the Full Throttle champion but he is also knows that having the No. 1 on the side of his Mustang does not guarantee him any more success. The former crewman has embraced the responsibility of being a national spokesman for the sport as the reigning champion but he also does not want this to be a one year engagement. He still enjoys walking by his Auto Club Mustang and seeing the No. 1 on the side.
“Honestly it is still hard to get used to seeing. I know when I used to see the No. 1 on someone else’s car I wanted to go after that guy. It is a little like putting a target on my Auto Club Ford Mustang. I knew how I felt when I was chasing the car with the no. 1 on the side and now I am that car,” said Hight. “People have said it is tougher to stay on top or to repeat as champion. I know this season will be tough but I am looking forward to defending this championship and keeping this no. 1 for more than one season.”
Hight has a Full Throttle Championship to go along with two wins at the stories Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Hight has raced to the last four finals at the famed track in Indianapolis. Getting a win at the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals would add another major bullet point to an already impressive racing resume.
“You look at the history of the Gatornationals. NHRA has been hosting a national event here for over forty years. Kenny Bernstein going over 300 mph for the first time here was amazing. John (Force) won here five years in a row. (Don) Garlits and (Don) Prudhomme dominated here. You want to see your name listed with those guys. The Funny Car class is so tough now you know if you win a race you have really done something special. I am looking at this weekend’s race as my chance to make some Gatornationals memories of my own,” said Hight.
Castrol/JFR 25th Anniversary Flashback:
After earning his very first NHRA tour victory at the 1987 Molson Grandnational at Montreal, Canada, John Force drove his Castrol GTX Oldsmobile to victory for the first time in the continental U.S. when he beat veteran Bruce Larson in the final round of the 1988 NHRA Spring Nationals at Columbus, Ohio.
Force credited his win at Montreal to the fact that, after losing nine straight final round matches, he had resigned himself to another defeat and resolved to just have fun, executing a particularly long burnout. As a result, when he went to the starting line, the pressure was gone – and he performed flawlessly. The same was true at Columbus.
“I wasn’t thinking about winning the race,” Force recalled. “I was thinking about getting it over so I could get back to California (where wife Laurie was preparing to give birth to his youngest daughter, Courtney). So I just went up there and did my job (and made it home in time to welcome the last of his four daughters).”
EVENT OVERVIEW:
Off to his best start in eight seasons, 14-time NHRA series champion John Force returns this week to the 41st annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals as the Full Throttle points leader and as the favorite to win the Gainesville Raceway Funny Car championship for a record eighth time.
After driving his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang to victory in the season-opening Winternationals and to runner-up honors in the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the 127-time tour winner is the points leader for the first time since 2006.
Force will be joined at the Gatornationals by teammates Robert Hight and Ashley Force Hood, who occupy the No. 4 and No. 6 spots in the current standings.
The reigning Full Throttle champion, Hight is winless in five previous appearances in the Florida classic at the wheel of the Auto Club Ford Mustang although crew chief Jimmy Prock has won twice – once in Top Fuel with Joe Amato (1997) and once in Funny Car with Hight’s predecessor, Gary Densham (2003).
Force Hood, who won the Gatornationals in her final year in the Top Alcohol Dragster division (2006), has been eliminated in the second round in each of her three starts in the Castrol GTX Mustang.
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JFR RACING HISTORY AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY:
Wins – 10 (including one by Ashley Force Hood for Castrol GTX in Top Alcohol Dragster, 2006). Seven by John Force for Castrol GTX (1992-1996, 1999, 2001); 1 by Tony Pedregon for Castrol SYNTEC (2002); 1 by Gary Densham for the Auto Club of Southern California (2003).
Last year – After qualifying second, Ashley Force Hood was upended by rookie Matt Hagan in round two. Ashley’s father, 14-time series champion John Force, reached the semifinals before falling to overall race winner Bob Tasca III.
Notable #1 – Eric Medlen beat John Force in the first round of the 2007 Tire Kingdom Gatornationals. It was the last round Eric won before he suffered fatal injuries in a testing accident the day after the race.
Notable #2 – Austin Coil, who is beginning his 26th season as crew chief to 14-time champion John Force, earned his first NHRA tour victory at the 1982 Gatornationals, celebrating in the winners’ circle with then driver Frank Hawley.
Notable #3 – John Force won the Gatornationals five consecutive years, 1992 through 1996, the longest such streak of his illustrious career.
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PRO POINTS (Current 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings):
FUNNY CAR – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 224; 2. Jack Beckman, MTS Dodge Charger, 187; 3. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 148; 4. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 121; 5. Matt Hagan, Diehard Dodge Charger, 120; 6. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 111; 6. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 111; 8. Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104; 9. Del Worsham, Al Anabi Toyota Solara, 97; 10. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 86.
TOP FUEL – 1. Cory McClenathan, 201; 2. Doug Kalitta, 196; 3. Larry Dixon, 161; 4. Tony Schumacher, 144; 5. Morgan Lucas, 108; 6. Steve Torrence, 107; 7. Troy Buff, 103; 8. Shawn Langdon, 92; 9. Antron Brown, 90; 10. Brandon Bernstein, 85.
PRO STOCK (reflects qualifying and one round of racing completed on Feb. 21 at Phoenix; racing to resume in conjunction with Gatornationals) – 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 197; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 147; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 136; 4. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 112; 5. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 105; 6. Larry Morgan, Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, 102; 7. Ron Krisher, Chevrolet Cobalt, 99; 8. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 87; 9. Ronnie Humphrey, Pontiac GXP, 85; 10. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 82.
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TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):
Qualifying – Sunday, March 14, 12-2 am
NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, March 14, 11 am.
Race Highlights – Sunday, March 14, 6-9 pm
Repeat race highlights – Wednesday, March 17, 3-5 am
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NEXT EVENTS (2010 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship):
Inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, March 26-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill. (St. Louis)
30th annual Summit Southern Nationals, May 14-16, Atlanta, Ga.
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Force and Hight Enjoy Time at Smokers Reunion
March 9, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (March 8, 2010) --- Over the weekend 2010 March Meet Grand Marshal John Force and 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car champion Robert Hight enjoyed a trip down memory lane. The weekend started on Friday night with an appearance at the Smokers Reunion in Bakersfield. The tandem arrived just in time to hear a front engine dragster fire in the parking lot before they moved into the hall to talk with assembled club members.
The highlight of the evening was engineering and drag racing legend Ed Iskenderian “refunding” John Force half of his first sponsorship deal. Force was telling the crowd that Ed’s Isky Racing Cams was one of the first sponsors in his racing career.
“It is a thrill to be here with Isky tonight. His company was one of my first sponsors and I put the deal together myself. It only cost me $2 for the decal but I had a sponsor,” said Force as the crowd roared with laughter.
As Force continued to talk Iskenderian took a dollar out of his pocket and wrote a message to Force. The dollar read, “1/2 refund on 2.00 deal purchase balance next time I see you.”
Isky handed the dollar to Force with the promise to make good on the other half at a later date. The pair then posed for photos with NHRA Vice President and Director of the NHRA Museum Steve Gibbs to a standing ovation.
Another special moment of the night came when during his remarks to the group 2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight took a moment to thank Isky for producing his wide variety of enthusiast pamphlets. For an aspiring mechanic and racing fan the books paved the wave for a successful career and ultimately a Funny Car world championship for Hight.
“Getting a chance to come here and say thanks to everyone involved with the Smokers is very special for me,” said Hight. “When I was growing up and learning about cars I used one of Ed Iskenderian books, Cam Degreeing is Simple, to learn how to degree a cam. That got me started and I really appreciate everything he has done and you all have done for the sport. You guys got ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits out to the West Coast. It is a privilege to be up here talking to you.”
Force and Hight posed for photos and talked racing with the group after they left the stage.
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HIGHT AND FORCE TAKE IN WORLD OF OUTLAWS IN TULARE
March 8, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (March 8, 2010) --- Late last Friday night 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion and 2009 NHRA Funny Car champion took in some World of Outlaw sprint car action as the guests of three time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi. The trio of Funny Car champions settled into their seats at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway, located 45 minutes south of Fresno, for an evening of dirt track racing and reminiscing. Scelzi’s passion for dirt track racing has been growing exponentially as his two sons, Dominic and Giovanni, continue to develop as drivers.
Robert Hight has had an interest in following a wide variety of motorsports and his attention has been drawn to the sprint cars thanks to a new neighbor at their Brownsburg, Ind., racing facility. Elite Racing is a new tenant in Brownsburg and Hight has been tracking the progress of their driver Jason Meyers including seeing the highlights of Meyers’ nearly legendary comeback win - from 18th to 1st - in Las Vegas two weeks ago.
“I saw the highlights of Jason’s win in Las Vegas on WindTunnel with Dave Despain. It was unbelievable. It was great to see him in action in person in Tulare. He is a great guy and super driver. John and I enjoyed seeing the sprint cars and hanging out with Scelzi is always fun. The fans were also really welcoming. We signed a lot of autographs and posed for tons of photos,” said Hight.
During a stoppage in action Force and Hight both got a chance to talk with the capacity crowd. They received a warm reception and Force encouraged them to come down to the March Meet or get to an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event in the near future.
“Let me tell you being here with Gary Scelzi and the new champ (Hight) is great. This is an awesome sight to see. I hope you all get down to the March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway this weekend. If you can’t get to the March Meet I want to invite you all to come see me, Ashley (Force Hood) and Robert anytime so we can show you what our Ford Mustang hot rods can do. We don’t make left turns but we put on a great show,” said Force.
Throughout the evening as Force and Hight moved through the crowd they could hear constant chants of “Way to go champ!” and “I can’t believe John Force is here!” fly in their direction. All three Funny Car champions signed a wide variety of hats, shirts, and tickets for thrilled fans.
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GRAND MARSHAL JOHN FORCE HEADLINES 2010 MARCH MEET
March 4, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA (March 3, 2010) --- Celebrating its 52nd year of competition, the March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield has always been a hotspot for the sport of drag racing. As a child, 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force remembers peering thru the chain link fence as merely a spectator of the event. In 1984 he found himself on the other side of the fence, living his dream capturing his first, and only, March Meet championship. Fast forward to 2010, Force finds himself wearing yet another hat as the Grand Marshal of the storied event this weekend March 5-7.
“The March Meet is and always has been a great place for entertainment. I will see a lot of my old race buddies that I started with and raced against there,” said Force. “I have wanted to come back for a long time. 2009 NHRA Funny Car champ Robert Hight has come up here with Tom McKernan, Auto Club CEO, and they always tell me the fun I’d have. It is an honor to have the Auto Club, Blake Bowser and Famoso Raceway invite me to be the Grand Marshal.”
2010 will mark the first return of John Force to the event since that 1984 win.
“It’s great to see the transition from where the sport was to where it is today. I saw it as a driver. So much has changed, not better, not worse, just different. It will be a great time and I encourage everyone to come up and enjoy it,” added Force.
“We’ve had some big names as Grand Marshals at the March Meet,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet, “but John Force is in a class by himself. He’s a living legend and the greatest Funny Car racer of all time. This will be a real treat for fans.”
Ticket prices are $25 for Fri., Mar. 5; $30 for Sat., Mar. 6; and $30 for Sun., Mar. 7. Fans can purchase a Super 3-Day Pass for $75 online at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com and pick them up at the track the week of the event. There are no service charges for tickets purchased online. Auto Club members also receive a $2 discount off daily admission tickets by showing their cards when they purchase tickets at the track. Daily tickets for children ages 7 to 12 are $10 and kids 6 and under are free when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.
The Kern County Racing Association (KCRA) operates historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway (just north of Bakersfield, Calif.) and promotes a full schedule of races year round, including the world famous March Meet recognized as the Mecca of nostalgia drag racing. For more details, visit www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com.
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JOHN FORCE TRADING CARDS A HOT COMMODITY
March 3, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA (March 2, 2010) --- John Force is off to a hot start in 2010. While his season opening win in Pomona and follow-up final round appearance in Phoenix have fans of the 14-time Funny Car champion giddy with excitement. It is collectors of John Force memorabilia that are really getting their engines revved up. John Force, as well as his daughters Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force are topping the charts of Beckett Racing’s Hot List in the Spring 2010 issue.
The two cards on the Hot List in positions No. 1 John Force card and No. 6 Force Family card are from the 2009 Press Pass Legends card set. Beckett Racing editor Tim Trout thinks these two cards are some of the most compelling of the set. The cards are valued at between $100-$175 and $300-$600 respectively
"All racing collectors can appreciate the greatness of John Force and what he means to auto racing. With only a couple certified autograph cards to date, this is his best one since it could be found in packs of the very popular 2009 Press Pass Legends. Legends is a product dominated by NASCAR drivers, which speaks volumes about the popularity of John Force," said Trout.
"The quad autograph which is number six on the Hot List, is truly unique since it includes the entire Force Family of drivers. The Force Family card could be one of those cards that ends up like the 2000 Maxximum Signatures card featuring autographs of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. together, which was the only one signed by the pair, and it has become the Holy Grail for racing collectors."
Since its inception in 2005, Press Pass Legends stands alone as a brand that uniquely combines the pioneers of NASCAR with the current stars that drive the sport’s popularity. In 2008, Press Pass Legends expanded to include Indy Car pioneers. For 2009, Press Pass Legends expands the roster to include NHRA legend John Force and his daughters Ashley, Brittany and Courtney. All four Forces will be included in the autograph card program. John and Ashley will also have base cards as well as race-used memorabilia cards.
The 70-card base set, inserts, autograph and memorabilia cards include unique photography from several multi-generation NASCAR, Open Wheel, and Drag Racing stars. Every 18-pack hobby box will include three autograph cards and three race-used memorabilia cards. Look for Nickname and Inscription Legends Autograph cards and the following exciting new insert series: Racing Artifacts Signature Edition-the first ever Legends autograph memorabilia cards, Racing Family Autographs-dual, triple and quad signed cards from racing’s most successful families, and the first ever Four Wide Signature Series.
Beckett Racing magazine has been re-launched in 2010 as a quarterly publication with a newsstand price of $9.99. It will continue to cover NASCAR, NHRA, Indy, FI and Sprint Cars trading card and die-cast collectibles. In addition to being available at hobby shops and book stores across the country fans can also purchase copies or subscriptions at www.beckett.com.
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A BANNER START FOR JOHN FORCE RACING IN 2010
March 1, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (March 1, 2010) --- Long-time John Force Racing sponsor Automobile Club of Southern California has reached new heights in their support for the 16-time Funny Car championship team. At the season opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals the Auto Club flew a commemorative banner celebrating Robert Hight’s first NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car championship. A surprised Hight enjoyed the moment with team owner John Force. Later Hight, the event’s No. 1 qualifier, shared this memory with the media in the Shav Glick Media Center on Saturday night.
“The Auto Club has done so much to promote this championship. They are flying banners around and (they ran) USA Today, LA Times and Dallas Morning News ads on Thanksgiving weekend. It just shows how involved they are in NHRA Drag Racing and John Force Racing,” said Hight. “It was pretty funny today. They had two banners flying over the race track offering lower rates for Auto Club at www.aaa.com and one with a picture of me winning the championship. (John) Force said he got in his car and drove down the street to see the other side of the banner to see if his picture was on the other side of the banner.”
“It really means a lot and it was a big surprise. Auto Club has done so much for us. They are as excited about this championship as we are. What is cool about the Auto Club is they are not putting any more pressure on us to go out and repeat. Tom McKernan (Auto Club of Southern California president) has said that is why the Auto Club has been so successful. They just keep going out and doing what they do every day. They don’t ever back down or give up a little. They keep their guard up and just keep working hard and the success will come. That is what my team is going to do this year,” added the 14-time national event winner.
After John Force won the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals, his 127th career win and first in over a year, he quipped to the assembled media that maybe the Auto Club would get a banner for him. The next weekend in Phoenix at the NHRA Arizona Nationals Force was rewarded for his strong start to the 2010 season with his own congratulatory banner compliments of Auto Club and its president Tom McKernan. Force was overwhelmed by the show of support. After his second round win on Sunday Force let his emotions flow as he addressed the crowd from his top end interview.
“You see that banner flying overhead? ‘John Force Congrats. Way to Go.’ That is Tom McKernan. That is Auto Club. They are great. I have to perform or I am going to be out of here. For my sponsors, especially Castrol for our 25th year and Auto Club. John Force is OK.”
As the team heads to Gainesville, Florida for the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14 the drivers of John Force Racing will be keeping one eye on the competition and one eye on the sky thanks to the great support from the Auto Club.
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Ashley Force Hood’s Ronald Mcdonald House Mustang To Be Featured At 48th Annual World Of Wheels
March 1, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (March 1, 2010) --- Chicagoland's largest custom car show will feature Ashley Force Hood's Ronald McDonald House Charity themed NHRA Mustang Funny Car. O'Reilly's Auto Parts and South Oak Dodge will present the 48th Annual World of Wheels, March 5-7 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Force Hood’s Mustang will be on display as part of the Chicago BrushMaster Kustom Kulture Art Auction with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Fans will be able to get their photo taken beside the Mustang throughout the weekend and get an up close look at one of the fastest race cars in motor sports.
Ashley Force Hood campaigned the Ronald McDonald House Charities Mustang at two events (Seattle and Sonoma) during the 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The attention the car generated for the Ronald McDonald House Charities is something Force Hood is proud to continue into 2010.
“I was thrilled to be able to help raise awareness and donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Seattle and Sonoma. BrandSource, one of our major sponsors, is very involved with this organization and their president Bob Lawrence, started talking with us about getting involved in early 2009. We got really excited about all the opportunities to help so this program came together very quickly,” said Force Hood.
“The biggest thing for me was being able to race this amazing looking Ford Mustang. I knew it would draw a lot of attention and I wanted to turn that excitement into donations for Ronald McDonald House Charities. I have so many fans that are children I really want reach out to them and their families to encourage them to give to or volunteer with this great organization.”
In just two previous World of Wheels Custom Car shows, the Chicago BrushMasters have raised over $110,000.00 for the charity. The Kustom Kulture Auction will feature the work of over 100 automotive artists from across the nation. Items auctioned off will include gold leaf lettered, pin-striped and air brushed pieces of Kustom Kulture Art and Automotive Memorabilia.
Auctions will be conducted Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 4 pm and 7pm with a final auction held on Sunday at 4pm. Ronald McDonald himself will be appearing near the Ashley Force Hood Mustang display both Saturday and Sunday 4 pm to 5 pm.
Fans are encouraged to come out and help support Ronald McDonald House Charities in building the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Chicago. At 14 stories, and 86 rooms, it will help keep families together during their child’s time of medical crisis.
The Donald E. Stephens Conventions Center is located at 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont, IL. Show Hours: Friday 3-10:30pm - Saturday 10am to 10:30pm and Sunday 10am to 7pm. Discount tickets can be purchased at any Chicagoland O'Reilly's Auto Parts retailer. For more information call 708-361-2665.
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FORCE DROPS MONDAY FINAL AT AZ NATIONALS & TEAM REPORTS
February 22, 2010 |
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TEAM JFR RACE REPORT
2nd of 23 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
Feb. 19-21, 2010
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz. (Phoenix)
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Final round results for Top Fuel and Funny Car from Monday’s 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, second race in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR – Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif., Valvoline MTS Dodge Charger, 4.121, 301.13 mph def. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 6.316, 106.24 mph.
TOP FUEL – Cory McClenathan, Brownsburg, Ind., FRAM Dragster, 3.813, 316.67 mph def. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich, Technicoat Dragster, 4.736, 219.47 mph
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FORCE DROPS MONDAY FINAL AT AZ NATIONALS
PHOENIX --- John Force will leave Firebird International Raceway with the Funny Car points lead and that is enough, for now, for the 14-time Full Throttle Funny Car champion. Force and veteran Jack Beckman were the first two race cars to cover the 1000 ft race track on Monday and Beckman made a smooth pass in 4.121 seconds while Force’s Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang smoked the tires at about half track.
The two-time 2010 finalist knew he and Beckman were in the same boat as far as dealing with a green track and there would be one winner and one loser.
“It (the track) is the same for Beckman that it is for me. At the end of the day we have been in the finals of the first two races and won one of them(50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winteernationals). Sure we would like to win them all but I have two other good race cars also Robert Hight in Auto Club and Ashley (Force Hood) in Castrol. We are doing our job for all our sponsors Castrol, Auto Club, Ford, Mac Tools, and BrandSource,” said Force.
“It has been one of those weekends. It was very strange with all the goings on,” said Force referring to the accident in the Top Fuel ranks and the consistent rainstorms that forced the Top Fuel and Funny Cars finals to Monday. “I am not disappointed. I am ready to move onto Gainesville (site of the NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, March 11-14). I’ll be here (Firebird International Raceway) this weekend for the Divisional with Brittany and Courtney (his two youngest daughters) racing the A Fuel Dragsters. Then the next weekend I’ll be up at Bakersfield because I am the grand marshal for the Auto Club March Meet. I have no reason to be disappointed in myself or my team.”
When asked if he was glad the NHRA kept the race in the Phoenix area for its conclusion Force gave an immediate response.
“Without a doubt. I wish we could have finished it last night. They had to make the call for the conditions on the track. We just didn’t get it. Let’s get over it and move onto Gainesville,” said Force.
John Force Racing will leave Firebird International Raceway with three Mustangs in the top six in points.
Robert Hight by virtue of his semifinal finish jumped from 9th to 4th place just 27 points behind veteran Ron Capps. With the new qualifying bonus points system that deficit is essentially one round of racing and a strong qualifying performance. Hight’s Auto Club Mustang bettered fellow Ford racers Tim Wilkerson and Ashley Force Hood before falling to Force in the semis.
Ashley Force Hood picked up her first round win at Firebird International Raceway when she defeated fellow female Melanie Troxel in the opening round. This highly anticipated race was a lot of fun for the 2009 Full Throttle championship runner-up.
“It is special because I don’t ever get to run a girl. Last year I was the only girl in the category so it is neat for the fans. It is neat for Melanie and I to race against each other. Not many people know but she actually went to Frank Hawley’s Driving School at the same time I was getting my Super Comp license. I have known her a lot of years. She is a great driver and I am proud to have her back in the funny car class. I am very lucky to get that win. They are a tough team and we just got the better lane and got down it,” said Force Hood.
Force Hood is tied for 6th place in the Full Throttle point standings with Bob Tasca III heading into Gainesville in two weeks.
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FULL THROTTLE POINT STANDINGS
FUNNY CAR - 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 224; 2. Jack Beckman, 187; 3. Ron Capps, 148; 4. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 121; 5. Matt Hagan, 120; 6. Bob Tasca III, 111; 6. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang,111; 8. Tony Pedregon, 104; 9. Del Worsham, 97; 10. Jim Head, 86.
TOP FUEL - 1. Cory McClenathan, 201; 2. Doug Kalitta, 196; 3. Larry Dixon, 161; 4. Tony Schumacher, 144; 5. Morgan Lucas, 108; 6. Steve Torrence, 107; 7. Troy Buff, 103; 8. Shawn Langdon, 92; 9. Antron Brown, 90; 10. Brandon Bernstein, 85.
THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 1st with a 4.063 at 308.78 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (2nd quickest of Q2 and quickest of Q3)
Race Results: Beat Cruz Pedregon, Jim Head, Robert Hight. Lost to Jack Beckman
Quotable: “At the end of the day we have been in the finals of the first two races and won one of them. Sure we would like to win them all but I have two other good race cars also Robert Hight in Auto Club and Ashley (Force Hood) in Castrol. We are doing our job for all our sponsors Castrol, Auto Club, Ford, Mac Tools, and BrandSource.” – JOHN FORCE
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 5th with a 4.119 at 295.74 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q2)
Race Results: Beat Melanie Troxel. Lost to Robert Hight
Quotable: on racing Melanie Troxel in the first round… “It is special because I don’t ever get to run a girl. Last year I was the only girl in the category so it is neat for the fans. Not many people know but she actually went to Frank Hawley’s Driving School at the same time I was getting my Super Comp license. I have known her a lot of years. She is a great driver and I am proud to have her back in the Funny Car class.” – ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 4th with a 4.094 at 302.96 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +3 (2nd quickest of Q1 and 3rd quickest of Q3)
Race Results: Beat Tim Wilkerson, Ashley Force Hood. Lost to John Force.
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FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
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NEXT EVENT:
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
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JOHN FORCE GRABS 132nd CAREER NO. 1, LEADS FC AT FIREBIRD & TEAM REPORTS
February 20, 2010 |
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TEAM JFR QUALIFYING REPORT
2010 NHRA Saturday Qualifying Summary
2nd of 23 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
Feb. 19-21, 2010
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz. (Phoenix)
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Team John Force Racing Qualifying Highlights: John Force grabs 132nd no. 1 qualifier…last no. 1 80 races ago 2006 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals… Hight finishes qualifying no. 4… Force Hood no. 5 qualifier
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JOHN FORCE GRABS 132ND CAREER NO. 1, LEADS FC AT FIREBIRD
PHOENIX --- 14-time Funny Car champion John Force is happy with his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang. He is not over-confident by any stretch of the imagination even though he is the most recent 2010 winner and has arguably the most consistent race car of the year. For the 132nd time Force is the no. 1 qualifier at an NHRA national event leading the field at the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals. It has been quite a drought for the 127-time national event winner spanning 80 races and three and a half years. His last number no. 1 was the 2006 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
Qualifying was shortened to one session today due to a strong rain storm that blew through in the morning washing out the early session. The rain did not dampen Force’s spirits.
“(Being no. 1) feels great considering the last three years. It has been a little drought. We shook up our cars a little bit with (crew chief trio) Mike Neff and Austin (Coil) and Bernie (Fedderly). We got the new Eric Medlen chassis built by Ford Motor Company and John Medlen. We got the BOSS 500. I finally have an all Ford car. I am getting her down the lane so I am pretty excited. I want to stay low-key and not get stupid,” said Force.
“(After the Winternationals win) we had a dinner Tuesday night with a few of the guys who were still in town and my family. Just to say thank you. Basically I said we need to focus on Phoenix. One of the young guys on the team said we can win Phoenix. I said let’s don’t get cocky. He said nobody knows it better than you. I thought about that today. I am not saying I am going to win but I am low qualifier and I am really at home here,” said the eight time NHRA Arizona Nationals winner.
Force has dominated Firebird International Raceway. He has won here eight times and been no. 1 qualifier seven times. He attributes this success to the sacred ground that rests under the concrete and asphalt.
“When I came here 23-24 years ago… I knew it was really like sacred ground. We knew that the land was owned by the Indian reservation and their families. I’m Indian too. My mom was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I always felt like this was sacred ground and it is sacred to me. If I could pick a casino to gamble in it would be right here on this ground where I’ve won all the races. We have watched it grow out here with all the casinos it is pretty cool. I always feel good here. I love (track owner) Charlie Allen. He has given us an oasis.”
Force will race nemesis Cruz Pedregon in the first round. That match-up will be the 80th between the two drag racing heavy-weights. Force has a 55-24 edge over the two-time Full Throttle champion.
In the final qualifying session Force laid down a blistering 4.063 second run at 308.78 mph to move around Matt Hagan. In the pressroom afterwards Force relayed his thought process as his Mustang pulled up to the starting line.
“I saw Neff turning on some screws when he went over the car. I didn’t know what he was doing. I even said over the radio, ‘Don’t run me out of gas,’ because it was taking some time. Neffy was looking at whatever he looks at. They don’t tell me because they know I would tell you guys,” Force said referring to the assembled media.
“I’ll be honest they pulled it back. When Robert ran that 4.09 I said, ‘Hey can you get after it?’ They said the conditions weren’t what they were earlier. I never thought it would run a low oh. I am packing a lot of ballast over here. I am heavy but my car is light. I have a race car that is light.”
“Mike Neff looked at the car over the winter and he said Coil has switches that override switches. He’s got mousetraps in here to catch rats. He has pictures of his great grandmother in boxes in there. Coil puts stuff on. He doesn’t take stuff off. I guess they went after putting it and put it on a diet. They don’t even want me at the scales. They say I’m too hard on the springs.”
As Force drove up the return road the crowd at Firebird roared their approval to the man that has made a Herculean physical comeback. Force will tell anyone that he used to spend two hours in the local bars around the track and now he spends two hours at the local hotel weight room. The fans are what give him the energy to keep going.
“It really feels good. You want to plug your sponsors like Castrol, Auto Club, Ford, Mac Tools and BrandSource in this economy. I’ve been with Castrol for 25 years. At the end of the day I would really like to just thank the fans. The fans have stood by me when I’ve been knocked out. The fans just kept cheering. They either really love me or they are really crazy. They keep cheering and telling me I’ll be back and I ask them to not put that (pressure) on me. I tell them I don’t want to fail you. I just do what my old hot rod says it can do and I’ll give you all I’ve got. It is what we are giving them,” concluded Force.
Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang made a solid run to end his qualifying effort laying down a 4.094 second pass. That pass was the third quickest of the session and Hight picked up a valuable qualifying bonus point.
Ashley Force Hood smoked the tires in her last qualifying effort and will head into Sunday’s elimination round in the no. 5 qualifying position. She will square off with fellow female Funny Car competitor Melanie Troxel. Ashley has only raced Troxel once before and came up on the losing end of the run in Bristol (2008). Troxel went on to upset Bristol no. 1 qualifier Mike Neff in that final.
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THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 1st with a 4.063 at 308.78 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (2nd quickest of Q2 and quickest of Q3)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Cruz Pedregon (55-24)
Quotable: “One of the young guys on the team said we can win Phoenix. I said let’s don’t get cocky. He said nobody knows it better than you. I thought about that today.” – JOHN FORCE
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 5th with a 4.119 at 295.74 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q2)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Melanie Troxel (0-1)
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 4th with a 4.094 at 302.96 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +3 (2nd quickest of Q1 and 3rd quickest of Q3)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Tim Wilkerson (8-7)
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RACE SCHEDULE:
Sunday, February 21
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM
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FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
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NEXT EVENT:
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
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FORCE LEADS WAY FOR JFR AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
February 19, 2010 |
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Team John Force Racing Qualifying Highlights: John Force no. 2 provisionally just misses no. 1 qualifying position… Ashley Force Hood finishes Friday at no. 3 and Robert Hight winds up no. 5.
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FORCE LEADS WAY FOR JFR AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
PHOENIX --- Winternationals winner John Force led the way for the trio of John Force Racing Mustangs at the NHRA Arizona Nationals today. Force finished the first day of qualifying in the no. 2 position just behind second year driver Matt Hagan. Force in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang was the fourth quickest funny car in the first session and then his crew chief brain-trust of Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly and Mike Neff stepped it up in the final session of Friday powering Force to the finish line with a 4.074 second run at 304.61 mph. Force and Hagan were the only drivers to dip into the ohs on Friday.
“This car and particularly this chassis that Ford and John Medlen put together has really come alive. It seems like there is more traction than I had last year. (Austin) Coil, Bernie (Fedderly) and (Mike) Neff teaming up (as crew chiefs). They really complement each other. We got our balance back. Our car is running good. I have to clap my hands to (Matt) Hagan. Running that big number out there and just getting around us. Robert (Hight) was going for it in the Auto Club Mustang. The fans are very positive and that is what it is all about,” said Force.
Throughout the day Force talked about maintaining a high energy level to be up for the fight. He is drawing some strength from the young men who are turning the wrenches on his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang.
“My guys that raced with me for years were great and we won a lot of championships. It was just time for a change. Some of them chose to leave and we kept some of them. Lew Arrington is still with us. His dad was a famous funny car driver. He is over with Guido (Ashley Force Hood co-crew chief Dean Antonelli) now because he and Guido grew up together and came up through the ranks together. We brought the complete John Medlen Mike Neff team over. They have a lot of energy. They have a lot of fight,” said the 127 time winner.
“The combination we have here is exciting. There are a lot of things that create a winner. You can’t do it all on your own. You have to have a team. You have to have a car that runs and you have to have a driver. I’ll be honest for the past two years I was carrying a lot of pain. My legs are back. I can get through the day down. At the end of the day in Pomona I was strong. It was all a matter of getting myself back into shape. I got my body back. I got my race car back and I got a new team so we’ll see what happens.”
2009 Full Throttle Funny Car champion Robert Hight made a strong opening run ending the first session in the no. 2 spot grabbing two qualifying bonus points. In the last session of the day running beside Hagan under a setting sun Hight smoked the tires and had to settle for his first run carrying over into Saturday
Ashley Force Hood opened the day with a 4.168 second run at 298.40 mph and finished the day with an improved 4.119 second run at 295.74 mph. She will enter Saturday’s final day of qualifying in the no. 3 position one one-thousandths in front of Winternationals runner-up and defending Arizona Nationals champion Ron Capps.
“Both runs we went right down the track. That is a great way to start off the weekend. We may not have the quickest runs but we have two really good runs from point A to point B. Those would be good runs to have on race day,” said Force Hood.
“Your goal is always to be the quickest but sometimes getting that consistency is also good. You want to be consistent in qualifying instead of just getting one good run over two days. We have some consistency and we’ll just need to build on that tomorrow and into Sunday. We have steadily improved and stepped it up. We don’t want to waste a run. We want to be a little cautious but also push it a little. That has worked well for us. Tomorrow we will run earlier in the day but Top Fuel runs before us so we’ll see what the conditions are like. It may not be too different as far as the time of day we run.”
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THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 2nd with a 4.074 at 304.61 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +2 (2nd quickest of Q2)
Quotable: “Our car is running good. I have to clap my hands to Hagan. Running that big number out there and just getting around us. Robert was going for it in the Auto Club Mustang. The fans are very positive and that is what it is all about.” – JOHN FORCE
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 3rd with a 4.119 at 295.74 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q2)
Quotable: “Both runs we went right down the track. That is a great way to start off the weekend. We may not have the quickest runs but we have two really good runs from point A to point B. Those would be good runs to have on race day. Your goal is always to be the quickest but sometimes getting that consistency is also good. - ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 5th with a 4.139 at 302.62 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +2 (2nd quickest of Q1)
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RACE SCHEDULE:
Saturday, February 20
Q3 Pro Qualifying 1 p.m.
Q4 Pro Qualifying 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 21
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM
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FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
****
NEXT EVENT:
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
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FORCE HOOD UPBEAT AS TOUR MOVES EAST
February 19, 2010 |
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Castrol GTX Driver Eyes First Round Win at Phoenix
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Despite a second round exit in the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals and the fact that she never has won a competitive round at Firebird International Raceway, Ashley Force Hood rolls into this week’s 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals both confident and upbeat.
The confidence comes from three successful seasons at the wheel of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, an historic victory in last year’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and the knowledge that, under the old points system, she, not brother-in-law Robert Hight, would have been the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle champion.
“I’ve got the best bunch of guys,” said the 2007 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year. “Yes, we were in a position to win (last year), but things don’t always go like you want them to. Talent, skill, equipment, those things are so important, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck. That’s part of racing as well.”
Instead of dwelling on the past. Force Hood prefers to focus on what most see as an extremely bright future.
The first woman to reach an NHRA Funny Car final and the first to win a Funny Car race, she has overcome an inherent shyness to star on the same stage as her bigger-than-life father, 14-time champion John Force.
Amazingly, the girl who took auto shop and hung at the back of the chorale so she wouldn’t have to sing an obligatory solo has found her niche in a 310 mile an hour race car.
“There were times in the past when I just had to go sit down in a dark corner and
go ‘holy cow, how am I going to get through this weekend and do my job with so many people around?,’” she said.
“But now that I’ve gotten a little more used to it and it’s not so overwhelming for me, it’s fun. It’s exciting to interact with people, especially all the little girls who come to my ropes. They understand that I can’t stop and talk for half-an-hour. It took me awhile to learn that our fans understand that we have a job to do. They’re visiting us in our workplace.
“I’ve always had a nice, protective bubble around me with my father and our team. But I’ve had a lot of support even from my own competitors. I have people I compete with, (Tim) Wilkerson, (Tony) Pedregon. They come over (and tell me) if you need to talk to someone other than your dad, or if you need another opinion. That’s pretty cool. I don’t think it’s like that in all types of motor sports.”
As for her upbeat attitude entering an event in which she has struggled, Ashley points to the successful test she completed last January on the same racetrack.
“We had a really good test session,” she said. “We ran 4.06 and 4.07. The only one quicker was Robert and he ran 4.05. So we have that to build on this weekend.
“We’ve really taken baby steps (the last three years),” she said. “We’ve never gotten too far ahead of ourselves. I think we can continue to get better as long as we continue to learn from our mistakes.
“We just want to go out and qualify well and go some rounds (at Firebird),” she said. “That’s our only goal. If we’re in the points later in the year, there’ll be plenty of time to stress about it. Right now we’re going to try to have fun and go rounds.”
That’s a philosophy that, so far, has served her well.
Coming off a season in which she went to eight final rounds, won twice and started No. 1 for a category-best six times, the new face of high performance is just trying to stay focused.
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Ashley at the Arizona Nationals:
?Looking for first ever round win after first round losses in 2007 and 2009 and a DNQ in 2008. ?Had solid test at Firebird in January with a best time of 4.06 at 310.34 mph, just a tick off brother-in-law Robert Hight’s best-of-the-session 4.05.
?Arizona Nationals summary:
2 Starts, 1 DNQ, No Final Rounds, No Wins, No No. 1 Qualiifiers, 0-2 Record
?Career summary:
66 Starts, 13 Final Rounds, 3 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 81-63 Record
?Notable:
Reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion
?Quotable:
“I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but it’s been a big advantage that I’ve had a team that has supported me. ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and Ron (Douglas) and the team have given me such a good race car. It really shortened the learning curve for me, I think.”
-www.johnforceracing.com-
For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US
^
BACK |
FORCE BACK IN FRONT AFTER POPULAR WIN
February 19, 2010 |
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TEAM CASTROL/JFR
25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
JOHN FORCE/ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
Pre-Race Package for the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
Feb. 19-21, 2010
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz. (Phoenix)
Second event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship
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follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing
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Castrol/JFR 25th Anniversary Flashback:
After signing Castrol as an associate sponsor in 1986 – for $5,000 cash and oil – John Force was introduced a year later as the Funny Car member of the new Castrol GTX Super Team that also included Gary Ormsby (Top Fuel), Larry Morgan (Pro Stock), Bill Barney (Top Alcohol Dragster), Pat Austin (Top Alcohol Funny Car) and David Nickens (Competition Eliminator).
In just his sixth race in the green, red and white Castrol GTX colors with which he would become synonymous, Force won the Molson Grandnational at Montreal, Quebec, Canada – June 28, 1987. It was the first of his record 127 victories, all with Castrol GTX sponsorship. Nevertheless, it was his only win in a year that ended in disappointment when he failed to qualify for the season-ending World Finals and slipped from second to fourth in the final Funny Car standings.
EVENT OVERVIEW:
Coming off a unexpected victory in the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals last week at Pomona, Calif., John Force tries to maintain momentum in his bid for an unprecedented 15th NHRA Funny Car championship on one of his favorite racetracks.
Force has won eight of the last 16 races at Firebird International Raceway, the only John Force Racing driver to have won on the Arizona track.
Force and crew chief Austin Coil, who are in their 26th season together, have raced together in every NHRA event at Firebird, never failing to put their car in the 16-car starting lineup. Force’s record at Firebird is a stellar 51-17 although he has been eliminated in the first round in each of his last three appearances.
Although he has yet to win at Firebird, reigning series champion Robert “Top Gun” Hight has reached the finals two of the last three seasons and in 2007 recorded the quickest quarter mile time EVER for a Funny Car when he was clocked in 4.636 seconds.
While Hight is seeking his first event victory at Firebird, teammate and sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood is seeking her first round win in a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in which she failed to qualify for the 2008 race and failed to advance out of the first round in 2007 and 2009.
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JFR RACING HISTORY AT FIREBIRD RACEWAY:
Wins – 8, all by John Force (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005),
Last year – Seeing double duty as both crew chief and driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang in the absence of ailing crew chief John Medlen, Mike Neff qualified No. 2 and posted the quickest time of eliminations before a clutch malfunction on the final round burnout ended his day.
Notable – Robert Hight recorded the quickest quarter mile time in Funny Car drag racing history at the 2007 race, stopping the timers in 4.636 seconds in the Auto Club Ford Mustang.
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PRO POINTS (Current 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings):
Funny Car – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 121; 2. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 94; 3. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 78; 4. Jack Beckman, MTS Dodge Charger, 74; 5. Del Worsham, Al Anabi Toyota Solara, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, Diehard Dodge Charger, 57; 7. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 56; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota Solara, 51; 9. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 43; 10. Tie, Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 33 each.
Top Fuel – 1. Larry Dixon, 122; 2. Doug Kalitta, 96; 3. Cory McClenathan, 86; 4. Tony Schumacher, 81; 5. Shawn Langdon, 55; 6. Tie, Antron Brown, Brandon Bernstein, and Troy Buff, 52 each; 9. Morgan Lucas, 36; 10. Tie, Thomas Nataas and Steve Torrence, 34 each.
Pro Stock – 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 130; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 95; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 78; 4. Larry Morgan, Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, 71; 5. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 54; 6. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 53; 7. Ronnie Humphrey, Pontiac GXP, 52; 8. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 51; 9. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Chevrolet Cobalt, 42; 10. Ron Krisher, Chevrolet Cobalt, 39.
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TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):
Qualifying – Sunday, Feb. 21, 2-4 am.
NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Feb. 21, 11 am
Race Highlights – Sunday, Feb. 21, 7-10 pm
Repeat race highlights – Wednesday, March 3, 3-5 am
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NEXT EVENTS (2010 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship):
41st annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
30th annual Summit Southern Nationals, May 14-16, Atlanta, Ga.
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FORCE BACK IN FRONT
AFTER POPULAR WIN
Winternationals Victory Ended 40-Race Drought
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Coming off a wildly-popular victory in last week’s season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, a win that carried him to the very top of the Funny Car point standings for the first time in more than three years, John Force rolls into Firebird International Raceway touting the benefits of a concept he once feared.
Force won a record 126 NHRA tour events largely because he was able to avoid change. He won No. 127 because he embraced it.
The Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Force will drive in this week’s 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals is brand new, top-to-bottom. The support crew is new, too, with only clutch technician Tom Ekstrom returning from a 2009 season in which Force failed to win a race for the first time in 23 years.
However, perhaps the most compelling change came at the crew chief level where Force partnered Mike Neff with veterans Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly.
“Obama may be struggling with change, but John Force isn’t,” said the 14-time NHRA champion. “I changed last year. I knew Robert Hight could drive a race car. I knew he could win a championship (and) I knew that Jimmy Prock could tune that car, but there was something wrong.”
Hight, a perennial championship contender, had gone 16 races without reaching a final round, the longest such drought of his brief career.
Force opted to swap teams with Hight. For one weekend, Force drove a car
prepared by Prock and his Auto Club crew while Coil and Fedderly worked with Hight.
A race later, defying logic, Hight went to the finals for the first time all season, won three of the last six races and, ultimately, the Full Throttle championship.
If some change is good, Force reckoned, more is better. So, he turned his attention to his own team and, as he said last week, “the proof is in the pudding.”
After two seasons of struggle that followed a devastating 2007 crash at Dallas, Texas, Force demonstrated last week that, even at age 60, he still can bring it. His 1000 foot times of 4.132, 4.120, 4.125 and 4.124 seconds recalled the dominating consistency that led him to 10 straight titles (1993-2002).
More discomforting for rivals, however, may have been the fact that Force drove the wheels off the green, red and silver Mustang that celebrates his 25 seasons with Castrol sponsorship. He was the quickest to react to the green start signal in every round and his .057-.073 edge over Ron Capps was the difference in the final round.
The win was only the second for Force since his accident and the first on the shortened 1000 foot course. It likely won’t be his last.
“We had to shuffle the cards a little bit,” Force said. “For financial reasons, we couldn’t run the fourth car this year (the Drive One Mustang in which Neff won last November’s Auto Club Finals). So it only made sense (to move Neff over to Force’s car) since he was a crew chief (who) beat Coil and Bernie and me in 2005 (with driver Gary Scelzi).
“We just put a young (guy) in with the older generation to mix it up a little bit and they gave me a good hot rod,” Force said. “To get a win after so many losses, it was big, but what was really big was we did it with the all-Ford chassis and the Ford BOSS 500 motor (both developed at the John Force Racing facility in Brownsburg, Ind.). That thing ran and it made the driver look good. It just whipped the numbers out.”
Force will be looking for big numbers again this weekend in a race he has won eight times previously, most recently in 2005.
“We want to get John Force Racing back to when it used to dominate,” Force said. “We had that (at Pomona). Let’s see if we can do it again at Phoenix.”
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Force at the Arizona Nationals:
?More wins in the Arizona Nationals than any other driver but hasn’t advanced out of the first round the last three years. ?Has never failed to make the starting field at the Arizona Nationals. ?Win in 1995 was noteworthy because it represented the poorest starting position from which he has won a race in his career.
Arizona Nationals summary:
25 Starts, 12 Final Rounds, 8 Wins, 6 No. 1 Qualifiers, 51-17 Record
Notable:
Is the only John Force Racing, Inc., driver to have won at Firebird International Raceway
Quotable:
“I am humbled beyond belief. People say, ‘what is it like to win again?’ Well, it wasn’t so much the winning as it was the coming back from the cellar, because after not winning at all last year, I was in the cellar. When you’ve won all those championships, you start to think winning is easy. It’s not.” – JOHN FORCE, after winning last week’s Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., thereby ending a 40-race victory drought.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US.
FORCE’s Edge
Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records)
– Most career victories (127)
– Most series championships (14)
– Most career final rounds (203)
– Most career rounds won (1042)
– Most consecutive series championships (10, 1993-2002)
– Most consecutive seasons with one or more victories (22, 1987-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with at least one final round appearance (24, 1985-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with multiple tour victories (18, 1990-2007)
– Most consecutive national events without a DNQ (395, 1988-2007)
– Most consecutive Top 10 seasons (25, 1985-present)
– Highest winning percentage, one season (91.5%, 65-6)
Other NHRA Funny Car division records
– Most final rounds, one season (16, 1996)
– Most victories, one season (13, 1996)
– Most rounds won, one season (65, 1996)
– Most career No. 1 starts (131)
– Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996)
– Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.)
– Career starts (527)
Awards
– Driver of the Year (1996)
– Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2008 inductee)
– AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (14 times, 1990, 1993-2002, 2004-2006)
– Jerry Titus Memorial Award (most AARWBA votes, 4 times, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002)
– AARWBA Comeback Award (2008)
– Speed TV Comeback Award (2008)
– SAE Motorsports Achievement Award (2008)
– AutoSport Magazine’s John Bolster Award for lifetime achievement (2005)
Milestones
– First round win, over Tom McEwen, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational Molson, Montreal, Canada
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.90 second barrier, July 6, 1996, Topeka, Kan.
– First drag racer to win Driver of the Year award for all of American motor sports (1996)
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.80 second barrier, Oct. 24, 1998, Dallas, Texas
– First (and only) drag racer to win 100 events, April 14, 2002, Houston, Texas
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.70 second barrier, Oct. 2, 2004, Joliet, Ill.
– No. 2 (behind Don Garlits) in balloting to determine Top 50 drivers in NHRA’s first 50 years (2001)
– First win at 1,000 foot distance, Feb. 14, 2010, Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
– First (and only) drag racer to win 1,000 racing rounds, May 4, 2008, Madison, Ill.
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JOHN FORCE By the Numbers
1 in Funny Car points for the first time since Nov. 12, 2006
2 victories since a 2007 crash in Dallas, Texas
3 screws securing ankle bones from compound fracture suffered in a crash
4 time winner of Jerry Titus Memorial Award for receiving most votes in
balloting for the Auto Racing All-America Team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002).
5 seasons with 10 or more tour victories (1993-94, 1996, 1999-2000).
6 No. 1 starts at the Arizona Nationals, but none since 2002
8 victories in the Arizona Nationals (1994-1997, 1999-2001, 2005)
9 runner-up finishes before winning for the first time at Montreal, Canada in 1987.
10 straight Funny Car titles (1993-2002).
14 times named to AARWBA Auto Racing All-America First Team.
25 consecutive Top 10 finishes (1985-present)
127 tour events won
1042 competitive rounds won.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
For more information about Castrol-branded products, contact us at Castrol/US.com
To celebrate 25 years of Castrol sponsorship, go to www.castrolforce.com
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BACK |
John Force, Austin Coil, Mike Neff Ford Racing Teleconference Transcript
February 18, 2010 |
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NHRA's winningest driver, John Force, driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, made his return to the winner's circle after a 40-race drought on Sunday when he defeated Ron Capps, at the 50th Annual NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. The victory marked Force's 127th win and the 186th win for John Force Racing. Force along with co-crew chiefs Austin Coil and Mike Neff participated in a Ford Racing teleconference yesterday.
AUSTIN COIL – co-crew chief Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang – CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SUNDAY’S WIN? “Well it was great. It’s been such a long dry spell for our team, it’s hard to fathom. We’re used to finding our way into the winner’s circle every now and then, but boy we’ve really had a tough go of it. The thing about it all is that it takes everybody to do their job flawlessly for us to win, and Sunday everything really clicked for us. We have a lot of new people in the group, the crew guys that we have on John’s car now are the guys that worked with Mike Neff and John Medlen last year, and they’ve come over with Mike Neff, and boy that’s just been a breath of spring time to me. They’re all younger guys and their ambitious, and they run and Neff is a smart guy. We put it all together and Force drove absolutely perfect all day. It’s great, I’m thinking we’re going to be doing a whole lot more of this in the near future.”
MIKE NEFF – co-crew chief Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang –CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SUNDAY’S WIN? “It was really exciting, especially helping John get a win. He works harder at it than anybody that I know. Ever since his accident, he’s made some serious changes to his life in general and he goes to the gym every night no matter what time it is. I’ve been around a few drivers and I’ve never been around anybody who wants to win as bad as he does. That’s exciting to have somebody with that dedication who’s driving for you. It had been a while since he won, and he felt like he had been working hard and he just wasn’t understanding why it wasn’t paying off, so it was nice. We’ve got our own chassis that we built at the end of last year that I actually drove a couple races last year, and while it was good it seemed like it could have been a little bit better. We put John in that chassis and then working with Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, Jimmy Prock and “Guido” [Dean] Antonelli, we all just kind of talked about a lot of things and got all the cars pretty similar. Austin and I, it seemed like we were on the same page and fortunately, it just started off on the right foot on the first run and testing in Phoenix. We went down the track and it was a good run and we were just able to adjust it from there. We went to Pomona, we went down the track seven out of eight runs and the car seems to be pretty forgiving. Everything just seemed to fall into place. Sunday was definitely one of the most exciting wins that I’ve been a part of in my drag racing career.”
HOW GRATIFYING WAS IT TO BE IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE AS A DRIVER DURING THE LAST RACE OF THE YEAR AND DOUBLE THAT UP AS A CREW CHIEF AT THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR?
MN: “It was great especially going back to last year. The one thing that I wanted to accomplish as a driver was I wanted to win a race. We didn’t know how long I would be driving, if it would be one, or two or three years, but the one thing I said from day one was that I really wanted to win a race. I wanted to experience that and kind of feel like you succeeded at it. We went basically two years and hadn’t gotten a win, had some close calls, went to some finals, and to be able to finally get that win was just a huge weight off of my back. It got to the point where it was like, hey you’ll get a win, hang in there, and then even when I won it, it was like finally, you got that win. Getting that win and to be able to experience that as a driver was a huge thing for me personally. Then to be able to go back to Pomona a few months later and be able to win there with John driving, it’s just been great. There’s nothing like winning. Myself, I was on quite a dry spell also, I basically hadn’t won a race in a couple of years, so I knew what John felt like and the frustration he was facing. To be able to put two together in a row is awesome, that’s why we do it and that’s what really keeps us motivated is the wins.”
YOU HAVE BEEN WITH JOHN FOR ALL OF HIS 14 CHAMPIONSHIPS. HAVE YOU NOTICED ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH HIM THIS YEAR?
AC: “Yes I do. I see John as being a little calmer, a little more focused and as driven as he has ever been. As Mike had pointed out, he spends every day in the gym. He started all of that as part of his rehab after the accident and he hasn’t let up on it a bit. He says, as you get older you have to work harder to stay up to the job, and he is working harder. I haven’t ever raced with anybody who has done as good a job as John did last week. He hasn’t lost a thing in the 25 years that I’ve been here, and that’s great.”
WHEN YOU SAID HE’S CALMER, DO YOU THINK IT’S BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE BACK?
AC: “John has always been kind of a radical personality and we had a lot of talks over the winter, me as well as him, that to keep the proper team spirit up that you’ve got to be human enough in dealing with all of your companions and partners in this game. Being too ambitious tends to make people holler and scream and be radical, kind of like the football mentality where we’re all kind of jumping up and down and screaming and yelling so that we can get that extra horsepower and throw the ball a little further. In this game it’s a little more mental than it is physical. It’s a good thing to stay under control and John has managed to pull off a fabulous job of it. I think he has confidence in the new group, and it’s been a real pleasure to have Mike Neff join our group. He reminds me of me when I was 20 years younger.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM WORKING CLOSER WITH AUSTIN COIL?
MN: “I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of great crew chiefs when I was learning like Allen Johnson, and there was a few of them at Tony Schumacher’s. Somebody has to teach you and you just kind of pick up things. The one thing that I’ve noticed by working with Austin Coil is that they’re just a lot more detailed and in-depth on just how it all works. They have the blower-dynos, the clutch-dynos, they study all of that data, their formulas for figuring out the air, the weather conditions and all of the adjustments they make is just a lot more scientific and detailed with the way that they do things. From where I come from, it wasn’t that detailed. It was more shooting from the hip, just kind of feeling your way through it somehow. I’ve learned a lot from being there at John Force Racing with what those guys have all put together. It’s an honor for me to work with someone like Austin Coil. He’s won more races than anybody out there. He’s in all the history books, so for me, someone who plans on doing this for another 20 years, to be able to have the opportunity to work with him and learn the ways that he does some of the things it’s definitely a huge thing for me. It’s something I’m honored to do and it’s exciting. I definitely enjoy going to work.”
WITH ALL OF THE ENERGY THAT JOHN HAS, HAS THERE EVER BEEN TIMES WHERE YOU HAD TO GO AROUND HIM TO GET YOUR JOB DONE?
AC: “Oh sure. I’ll admit it, the vast majority of the time I don’t wear a radio because, I’m pretty sure when we get down to crunch time and I’m trying to make a last second decision that John would be carrying on in my ear enough to where I couldn’t think. That’s just how I’ve learned to be. John is one of those guys where the more the pressure is on, the more he talks. He wants to talk while he’s staging, most drivers don’t, but that’s John and nobody does a better job. He’s got to do his job his way, and we’ve got to do our jobs our way and make it all come together. It can be a difficult thing, but we certainly have a group that’s jelled. I’ve been around a lot of groups of people, working for John as well as back when I had my own car, and it’s important to have a team. There is no I in team, you’ve all head that statement a lot, but it’s the first thing that I mentioned to our group. I noticed that our group works so tightly together that if somebody drops a wrench, the guy next to him grabs it and hands it to him before he has time to go get it. The groups that we had in the past, if somebody dropped a wrench, well the guy next to him would stand back and laugh. It’s all that kind of atmosphere between everybody. We don’t want to cut out the other guys because they’re all driving Fords and we’re all one big team as we’ve said many times. This is not three teams right now. This is one team that has three cars. Jimmy Prock, Guido and Ron Douglas and Robert and everybody just puts forth an effort to keep us all greatly informed. Most recently track specialist Lanny Miglizzi has joined our group and he gives us up-to-the-minute information on the conditions of the race track by many methods that we weren’t too familiar with. Lanni has done a great job on keeping us updated on the conditions of the racing surface and putting all this together is just what it’s all about.”
WAS JOHN STILL NURSING INJURIES THAT HE DIDN’T LET US KNOW ABOUT LAST YEAR?
AC: “I had several broken bones back when I was 16 years-old, and I can’t say to this day that they’re totally 100 percent. You’re never through getting back to shape, but I don’t know. Last year John was in pretty good shape. At one point in his training I believe he could do 100 chin-ups. He said don’t tell anybody that because I sure couldn’t do that everyday, but it’s like he works so hard at being back in-shape that, yes he was physically able, but a man like John isn’t going to let on if something hurts. I think you can watch him jump in and out of the car this year compared to last year and say yes, he is in better condition now than he was last year.
DO YOU THINK THAT JOHN HAD SOMETHING TO PROVE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT HE USUALLY DOES?
AC: “Well I would think that would be a pretty good bet. He’s been the one saying that we’ve got to have some change here if we’re going to have things work right again. Times are different and he is thinking that he better not be the one not holding up his end of the program. I bet he was focused and absolutely not trying to say that, but would he squeeze out that extra little bit? It seemed like it. He was just a crusher. That doesn’t come easy. The whole situation as a team, if you have a fast race car, you’ve got a group of guys that don’t make mistakes and put it together quickly enough where you have got time to think. You’ve got all the track information you can have, you start to look at all of that, and you think, we’re supposed to win now. Of course racing doesn’t always work like that. The driver’s going to be looking around him saying, better look at that man in the mirror too, and make sure he’s ready.”
WHAT CONVINCED YOU TO BRING THE CHASSIS IN-HOUSE THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DO BETTER THAN THE OTHER CHASSIS BUILDERS?
AC: “John Medlen heads up our chassis program with a lot of help from Ford Racing and some stress analysis and engineering from their people. We’ve scienced all of that out and carefully examined the chassis that we have purchased. We just sat out to bring the consistency of it all to a new level. We were foremost, with a lot of help from Ford, in analyzing the metallurgy of the chassis that we had problems with back in ’07, and we’ve done that. Also, there’s just so many things about, just because the chassis is built in a jig, the pieces need to lay in the jig without any interference or stress. That can be quite a time-consuming proposition, but the majority of chassis builders don’t do that. They just clamp it down and weld it up. We have every reason to believe that our chassis will not only be better, but they’ll be the same. John Medlen has worked night and day on that project. This is the first one that has been on the race track, and it sure works pretty well. It’s a difficult part to analyze because you can’t really run two different chassis at the same time, the conditions are always changing, but I’m certainly happy with it.”
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WITH THE TRACK IN PHOENIX AND RUNNING IN THE DESERT?
AC: “I would say that Phoenix is always been a pretty good racing surface, although it can by a little finicky early in the run. It usually produces some really good times. We tested there about a month ago and we got down the race track with John’s car more frequently than anyone else. That seems to be a pretty good sign. I don’t see any reason to have anything but optimism right now myself, how about you Mike?
MN: “We had a good test there, and last year the track was really good for the nationals. Our cars ran really well there. I would have to say coming off the weekend we just have, I definitely feel good about our chances.”
AC: – “Can I take this opportunity to talk about something that we’ve kind of left out of the equation with this BOSS 500 engine we’ve been running. We’ve run it for the last couple of years, but it just keeps getting better and better. We ran the same engine in the car the last couple of days in January and in the entire event in Pomona, and it seems like the crank shafts live longer with the sturdiness of the BOSS 500 block and just everything in that department is working so well. Of course that helps eliminate some confusion in the pits when you don’t have to change motors all of the time too, so that’s been another asset to us.”
JOHN FORCE – CASTROL GTX HIGH MILEAGE FORD MUSTANG FUNNY CAR – DO SOME WINS MEAN MORE THAN OTHERS? IF SO, WHICH ONES IN YOUR HISTORY MEANT THE MOST TO YOU? “We’ve had so many wins over the years and somewhere in the last couple of years of all the stuff we went through, with my crash and building the BOSS 500 engine, the new chassis, with Eric Medlen, we couldn’t seem to get a win. We just struggled and of course a lot focus was on Ashley and Robert Hight trying to win the title, but it was time for me to get in the game, that’s what Ford pays me for – to go out there and win. We had to shuffle the cards a little bit. Mike Neff because of financial reason, we couldn’t run the fourth car this year. It only made sense, since he was a crew chief that beat Austin and Bernie and me in ’05 with Gary Scelzi, was to put him in the mix on my team. We put a young kid with the older generation and to go out there and mix it up a little bit and they gave me a good hot rod. So, to get a win after so many losses, it was big, but to win the opening race of the season, the 50th Anniversary of the Winternationals, for Auto Club and NHRA, it was big. But what was really big, it was the all-Ford chassis and it was the Ford BOSS 500 motor. That thing ran and it made the driver look good. It just whipped the numbers out.”
FORCE – IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE PROGRESSION OF THE NITRO FUNNY CAR YOU SEE CHANGING AND BRINGING IN HOUSE TO JOHN FORCE RACING?
“When we lost Eric Medlen in ’07, it was a wake-up call to the reality of these cars. You can make them better. You’re just so busy to run them, you make them faster, but you don’t make them safer. We couldn’t have done this alone. Ford Motor Company, the engineers, the technicians and all the testing that’s gone up there that built not only the BOSS 500, but the chassis that came out of the shop the Eric Medlen Project in Indy. It was their people working with John Medlen that made this happen. This car, we believe its better. I know we’ve got some of the competition over wanting to buy it. This is our first in-house chassis. When I look at how to run the next stage and where we’re going in performance and safety. If I’m going to do it, I can’t just build it for my team. I’ve got to build it for others and for Bobby Tasca, that’s who’s in line next. I always promised Grandpa Tasca I’d take care of his grandson and I love the kid. We’re going to get him in our motor program. We’re going to get him in our chassis program. Number one, I want to keep him safe. He’s got the car that comes out Murk McKinney and it’s a great race car, but we want to get him the car out of John Force Racing. There are so many places that we’re going wit the new car. We built into the new car; the automatic bow instead of the slip tube and that came out of the engineers at Ford. That bow is what we think is giving the car traction because we went down race tracks that nobody else could go down, even in the heat of the day. So, we’re learning every day and we’re going to continue moving ahead with Ford. And we’re going to build cars. We want to get John Force Racing back to when it used to dominate. When the competition chased us. We had that this weekend – we had three of ‘em. Pomona was the proof in the pudding. Let’s see if we can do it again at Phoenix.”
IN YOUR POST-RACE QUOTES FROM POMONA, YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE PHYSCIAL LIMITATIONS YOU HAD. WERE YOU STILL RECOVERING LAST YEAR FROM YOUR LEG INJURIES? WERE YOU HIDIING INJURIES FROM US LAST YEAR THAT YOU WEREN’T FULLY RECOVERED FROM? “I can tell you now, yes I was hurting, but I can’t go on TV or to the media and cry about how bad of shape I was in because my sponsors are paying me, they pay for the best. Castrol and Automobile Club, MacTool, BrandSource, all those guys, they pay me and if I’m not in shape, I should get out of the car. But I couldn’t lose the time in the car. I needed that time to build myself back. Last weekend my two youngest girls, Brittany in the BrandSource’s dragster was No.1 qualifier, Courtney was No. 2, and she drives the Ford. Drive One dragster and she was No. 2. I sat with my youngest daughter, Courtney, this morning. She said, ‘Dad, when do I get to make the change?’ I said, first of all, something that I never realized, that I never really addressed with Ashley is that when I got injured, I never realized how important the muscle tone, your body weight, your strength, not just for your mental, to be able to react on the starting line. I thought it was all in the brain, all in the mind, the reaction. It’s also in the body muscle and the structure and I had none of that last year. I’d lost my legs. My arms couldn’t pull the brake handle the way they needed to do it. Because you need to roll in, put on that tree and not think about it. When you’re thinking about it, ‘Oh, I pulled too hard,’ or ‘I didn’t pull hard enough,’ you lose that magic that won me 14 championships. When I spoke with Courtney this morning, because she wants to go pro, she wants to go out there and drive for Ford, that is her dream. She said, ‘Dad, what do I need to do?’ I said, ‘At four o’clock this afternoon when you get out of school, we head to the gym. Because the gym is my life now.’ I go almost every day of the week. At first I got into it, it was tough. But when I realized that I couldn’t perform in my car, it’s what drove me. My trainer was out there this weekend, a guy named Horn from Fanatics, he said, ‘Well, it’s starting to pay off.’ There were days that I was embarrassed. I sat in the gym and I cried because I couldn’t get through my workout. I just couldn’t do it. I was an embarrassment and here I am, supposed to be the champ and wanting to lead my kids and you couldn’t tell anybody. It was bad. But now that it is over and I got through it. Last year I set the No Excuses Tour, I couldn’t hold the clutch pedal down. I still got six pins holding my left foot to my leg, but the muscles around it are strong. I ain’t going to cry about it. Now that it’s over, it was [awful]. It was get home at night, soak the legs after the race. Sit in there with the Epsom salts go through the stuff to build the muscles, pumping down them boiled eggs, drinking the power drinks – the Muscle Milks, I was a joke at the local kiwi store. You eat the same stuff every day, but it paid off at Pomona. I had energy. When you’re going up against a kid like Robert Hight or Ashley or your going to go up against Ron Capps in the final, you better be able to do what he can do. Even if you’ve got the best race car. Because if you noticed Capps ran identical runs and that was won on a hole shot. I couldn’t have done that last year. The year before, I couldn’t even get in and out of the car. I’m back. I can say it to the sponsors. They’ll probably all be mad now that I’m telling them, maybe they could have had a win if they had a good driver last year. But I’ve got a better race car too, so we’ll just see where it goes from here. It’s too early to tell, but me physically, I’m ready to fight.”
HOW SPECIAL WAS IT TO WIN THAT RACE ON VALENTINE’S DAY FOR YOUR WIFE? “My wife Laurie, I always joke, she loves me, she just don’t like me. We’ve kept this family together because it’s about family, just like the sport of NHRA drag racing. That’s why I thought Ford going over and becoming the official car, that is really big. NHRA needed that; they needed to have a good partner for the future because it is a family deal. Those are the people that buy the stuff that Ford builds. It is about family and my wife would go to the gym and she would do her workout. She could knock her workout out in an hour and if you look at her, she is a pretty nice looking lady, a pretty beautiful lady. I’m really proud of her. But it would take me two hours to get through the same workout. Now I’ve moved to get into weights, but she was always there with me. She would sit for hours to talk to me about the kids, to remind me why I was doing it.
Sometimes you start losing faith in yourself when others didn’t. Even my daughters, Ashley said, ‘Dad, you can win this race. Remember who you used to be? You’re back in shape now,’ my kids joked, they want me to flex my muscles for them at night. Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t no body builder, but I’m in a lot better shape than I was. To win it for her, for the woman in my life that kept this family together and to win it in front of my kids was a thrill. My kids were too young to see my heydays, I won on ’06, I lost in ’07 when we lost Eric, I crashed in ’07, and I lost in ’08 and ’09. I’m going to get back and win in ’10. That’s my plan. To show my children and to get her that [win], to her it was the best flowers I could give her. To win that Wally on the 50th anniversary of the Winternationals that was big. Laurie and I have been married for 28 years now. That’s a long time for a woman to put up with me. If anybody deserved that honor, and yeah, I was emotional, I lost my voice, I was almost in tears, it was all I could do to get through the interview. But I’ve got it behind me now, and now I’m going after wins. I’m hungry guys, I’m hungry.”
DO YOU AGREE RACING IS A SERIES OF LEARNING CURVES? IF SO, WHAT TYPES OF LEARNING CURVES HAVE YOU HAD TO FACE THESE DAYS? “It’s change. Obama may be struggling with change, but John Force isn’t. I changed last year. I knew Robert Hight could drive a race car. I knew he could win a championship. I knew that Jimmy Prock could tune that car with Eric Lane, but there was something wrong. I just wanted to get into that car and I got into that car, and I was only in it a weekend and went back to my car because Austin got sick in Indy. I was going to drive that car for a few races and shuffle around drivers, crew chiefs and see. Sometimes its right in front of you and you can’t see it. There were things over there, getting with Jimmy, having fun with Jimmy Prock and seeing how he goes, the battle, Robert getting over there and getting the change and then we put it back together at Indy and Robert’s car just flew. Jimmy’s car flew when I got it in. I’ve got to say, Jimmy Prock made the changes that fixed that race car and it sure wasn’t me, and it sure wasn’t Robert Hight. Robert went on to win the championship. But change is good. A lot of times the older guys get stuck in their way and you need the change of the young kid. A lot of times Coil worries about how to make the budget fit. He knows we’ve got budget crunches right now, and where can we save, and you get so far saving money that you forget how to race, but you’ve got to do it. Then you get Mike Neff and he comes in with another attitude, how to hit it and Mike Neff and Coil together with Bernie Fedderly, I’m telling you, what a brain trust they just gave me a car that came out of the box and just ran twelve’s and thirteen’s when nobody else could. Jimmy Prock, I believe he would have, he got snake-bit first round, but he’ll be back. I’m going to have three strong Fords, but there is another Ford out there that’s tough and that’s Wilkerson. He’s teamed up out there with Bob Tasca III, and that kid is ready for a win and he was taught by the best, his grandpa who raced in the early days, Bob Tasca Sr. ‘Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.’ I loved him, he’s passed, he’s gone and I miss him. The Tasca kid is going to be great. I’m still trying to get the boy to team up with me, he’s an independent, he’s just like grandpa and he likes to write the checks, but we’re going to be working together.”
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FC CHAMPION HIGHT WANTS FIRST 2010 WIN IN PHOENIX
February 18, 2010 |
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TEAM CASTROL/JFR
25THANNIVERSARY SEASON
ROBERT HIGHT
Pre-Race Package for the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals
Feb. 19-21, 2010
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz. (Phoenix)
Second event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship
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Celebrate 25 years of JFR and Castrol at www.castrolforce.com
Follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing
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FC CHAMPION HIGHT WANTS FIRST 2010 WIN IN PHOENIX
PHOENIX --- Robert Hight received the last elements recognizing him as 2009 Full Throttle Funny Car champion on Sunday morning of the 50th Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals as NHRA President Tom Compton presented him with his champion’s ring and jacket during the opening ceremonies. Unfortunately for Hight, the events no. 1 qualifier, that was the highlight of his day.
A surprising first round loss to no. 16 qualifier Cruz Pedregon had Hight moving into a supporting role at his first race as reigning champion. Immediately after Hight launched his Auto Club Ford Mustang he was cruising down the left lane and at mid-track his Mustang took an unceremonious right darting him across the centerline resulting in an immediate DQ.
“(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) is still baffled that we smoked the tires. Even after looking at the data. The tires weren’t hot. I had it perfectly lined up in the center of the groove. I knew I left on it- the Christmas tree. I saw the amber. It felt awesome. I pedaled it, got back on it and it hooked. When it does that usually it goes. I stayed in it and then all of a sudden it turned sideways so I lifted,” said Hight.
“When it does that the tires really start spinning. They slow down and then they really speed up and it shoots you. Unfortunately it shot me across the center line and I couldn’t bring it back. It wasn’t going to run 4.30 anyway after pedaling it out that far. It looked funny especially when Ashley goes out and runs 4.12 right behind us. It is just one of those deals and we’ll move on. We are still learning this clutch package. It is not like last year when we were struggling to figure it out. We just have to fine tune this Mustang to get it to react the way we need it to. We’ll get it.”
Both of his teammates – Ashley Force Hood and John Force - advanced to the second round and Hight’s team immediately began chipping in for a full day of support. Hight watched from the sidelines as team leader and mentor John Force ruled the day winning for the 127th time in his career.
It was a special moment for Hight. As Force was beginning his celebration in the winner’s circle he was calling out for Hight to join him and the Castrol GTX High Mileage team. Force left the protective confines of the awards presentation area in front of the suite tower at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to wade into the crowd of fans that were surrounding Hight. Force embraced Hight and the two champions shared an emotional moment before a cheering crowd pushing them back into the awards area. All day Hight had been receiving almost a hero’s welcome from the thousands of fans at the Winternationals.
It was a fitting end to the first event of the season for Hight, one that saw him capture the no. 1 qualifying position for the 33rd time in his career, receive his first championship ring and then support the man that made it all possible.
“I wasn’t around the fans all winter. We did a few shows like the LA Auto Show and our Holiday Car Show. When you get back to the race track and everywhere you go everybody is calling for you. They don’t call me Robert anymore they are saying “Hey champ!” and that is cool. I am looking forward to hearing that at 22 more events this season,” said a proud Hight.
Heading into Firebird International Raceway Hight will hope to build on the performance momentum he developed during testing in late January. Over the course of nearly a week of testing Hight recorded times solid times including a blistering 4.05 second run with his new 2010 Mustang body.
"(Firebird) is very tricky. It was perfect timing for that run because it was the first run with the 2010 Mustang body. I knew it was a good run. It felt good the whole way. It was pretty awesome. It was cool to hear the excitement of the guys on the radio. It has been a while since we have had some excitement over the radio," said Hight. "(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) says if you hit it right could run 4.03 out here. Hitting it right is the trick. This track will produce huge ETs but you have to hit it right. Every little thing counts. After that run the engine ran fine and the clutch came together nice. "
Getting back into race mode less than three days after a disappointing first event is a welcome situation for Hight. The 50th annual NHRA Winternationals was a whirlwind for Hight.
“Going to Phoenix next weekend is huge for me. I don’t have to think about this (his first round loss) for a week. I can get right back to work. We’ll get that work done and get ready to head to Phoenix and start over again. I am really looking forward to Phoenix. With this race being the 50th anniversary of the Winternationals it has been huge. It has been a crazy, crazy weekend. I’m back at my home track after winning the championship. I got my ring today and my champion’s jacket. There were just lots of things going on. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am not complaining. It will be nice to get to a more normal race weekend. It is good to be back with the fans and all the sponsors. I have missed my team,” said Hight from his trailer after the race in Pomona.
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Castrol/JFR 25th Anniversary Flashback:
After signing Castrol as an associate sponsor in 1986 – for $5,000 cash and oil – John Force was introduced a year later as the Funny Car member of the new Castrol GTX Super Team that also included Gary Ormsby (Top Fuel), Larry Morgan (Pro Stock), Bill Barney (Top Alcohol Dragster), Pat Austin (Top Alcohol Funny Car) and David Nickens (Competition Eliminator).
In just his sixth race in the green, red and white Castrol GTX colors with which he would become synonymous, Force won the Molson Grandnational at Montreal, Quebec, Canada – June 28, 1987. It was the first of his record 127 victories, all with Castrol GTX sponsorship. Nevertheless, it was his only win in a year that ended in disappointment when he failed to qualify for the season-ending World Finals and slipped from second to fourth in the final Funny Car standings.
EVENT OVERVIEW:
Coming off an unexpected victory in the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals last week at Pomona, Calif., John Force tries to maintain momentum in his bid for an unprecedented 15th NHRA Funny Car championship on one of his favorite racetracks.
Force has won eight of the last 16 races at Firebird International Raceway, the only John Force Racing driver to have won on the Arizona track.
Force and crew chief Austin Coil, who are in their 26th season together, have raced together in every NHRA event at Firebird, never failing to put their car in the 16-car starting lineup. Force’s record at Firebird is a stellar 51-17 although he has been eliminated in the first round in each of his last three appearances.
Although he has yet to win at Firebird, reigning series champion Robert “Top Gun” Hight has reached the finals two of the last three seasons and in 2007 recorded the quickest quarter mile time EVER for a Funny Car when he was clocked in 4.636 seconds.
While Hight is seeking his first event victory at Firebird, teammate and sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood is seeking her first round win in a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in which she failed to qualify for the 2008 race and failed to advance out of the first round in 2007 and 2009.
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JFR RACING HISTORY AT FIREBIRD RACEWAY:
Wins – 8, all by John Force (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005),
Last year – Seeing double duty as both crew chief and driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang in the absence of ailing crew chief John Medlen, Mike Neff qualified No. 2 and posted the quickest time of eliminations before a clutch malfunction on the final round burnout ended his day.
Notable – Robert Hight recorded the quickest quarter mile time in Funny Car drag racing history at the 2007 race, stopping the timers in 4.636 seconds in the Auto Club Ford Mustang.
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PRO POINTS (Current 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings):
Funny Car – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 121; 2. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 94; 3. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 78; 4. Jack Beckman, MTS Dodge Charger, 74; 5. Del Worsham, Al Anabi Toyota Solara, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, Diehard Dodge Charger, 57; 7. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 56; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota Solara, 51; 9. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 43; 10. Tie, Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 33 each.
Top Fuel – 1. Larry Dixon, 122; 2. Doug Kalitta, 96; 3. Cory McClenathan, 86; 4. Tony Schumacher, 81; 5. Shawn Langdon, 55; 6. Tie, Antron Brown, Brandon Bernstein, and Troy Buff, 52 each; 9. Morgan Lucas, 36; 10. Tie, Thomas Nataas and Steve Torrence, 34 each.
Pro Stock – 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 130; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 95; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 78; 4. Larry Morgan, Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, 71; 5. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 54; 6. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 53; 7. Ronnie Humphrey, Pontiac GXP, 52; 8. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 51; 9. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Chevrolet Cobalt, 42; 10. Ron Krisher, Chevrolet Cobalt, 39.
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TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):
Qualifying – Sunday, Feb. 21, 2-4 am.
NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Feb. 21, 11 am
Race Highlights – Sunday, Feb. 21, 7-10 pm
Repeat race highlights – Wednesday, March 3, 3-5 am
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NEXT EVENTS (2010 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship):
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
30th annual Summit Southern Nationals, May 14-16, Atlanta, Ga.
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“WIN WITH FORCE” FANS DOUBLE UP AT 50TH WINTERNATIONALS
February 16, 2010 |
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-Opportunity to win with no. 1 qualifiers also doubled for 2010-
POMONA, CA (February 16, 2010) --- John Force Racing started the “Win with Force” promotion off on the right foot doubling up on prizes for just the fourth time in the three years of the promotion at the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
By virtue of Brittany Force’s no. 1 qualifying effort behind the wheel of her BrandSource A Fuel dragster and John Force’s 127th career win in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang two lucky winners walked away with prizes from BrandSource.
Bill Ducoing of Placenta, Calif., won a Whirlpool washer and dryer set for Brittany Force’s no. 1 qualifying effort in Top Alcohol Dragster. Robert Hight was also the no. 1 qualifier with his Auto Club Ford Mustang in Funny Car. After the event BrandSource executives decided for future events if there are two JFR no. 1 qualifiers two sets of Whirlpool washer and dryers will be awarded.
After an exciting day of racing on Sunday Rick Pattison of Redland, Calif., won the 52” Mitsubishi TV when 14-time Funny Car champ John Force defeated Ron Capps on a hole-shot for the victory.
The previous three double up “Win with Force” events were 2009 Dallas (Robert Hight no. 1 and winner), 2009 Pomona2 (Ashley Force Hood no. 1 and Mike Neff winner) and 2008 Sonoma (Force Hood no. 1 and Hight winner).
In 2009 a total of six Whirlpool washer and dryer sets were given away and four Mitsubishi TV’s.
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 national event in 2010. The “Win with Force” promotion now includes team partners Castrol, BrandSource, Ford, AAA Auto Club of Southern California, Mac Tools, and Pleasant Holidays all joining together to create an incredible promotion for the fans.
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JOHN FORCE ON WFO RADIO WITH JOE CASTELLO TONIGHT
February 16, 2010 |
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HOLLYWOOD, FL (February 16, 2010) - 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, winner of the season-opening NHRA Winternationals, will appear on "WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday with Joe Castello", tonight at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). To listen, go to http://www.wforadio.com
Force won the Winternationals to earn his record 127th career NHRA Funny Car victory and snap a 20-month winless drought. He defeated Ron Capps in Sunday's Funny Car final, 4.124 to 4.123, to win the 50th anniversary of the Winternationals in the first event of Force's 25th anniversary with sponsor Castrol.
In addition to Force, NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart returns for his regular segment on NHRA Tuesday. Reinhart will provide analysis of the Winternationals and the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Joe Castello, the creator of hit satellite radio shows "Wide Open on NASCAR Radio" and "Power Shift", breaks new ground in motorsports radio with WFO Radio. Through a user-friendly, quality experience free of charge to the listeners, WFO Radio is setting a new standard for Internet based radio with opinionated coverage of NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, Formula One, ALMS and Grand Am racing.
"WFO Radio with Joe Castello" can be heard every Monday - Thursday, 7 - 8 p.m. ET. "WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday", a weekly show 100% devoted to NHRA drag racing, airs every Tuesday live at 7 p.m. ET.
Listen live or on-demand at www.wforadio.com on PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, Google Phone, Droid, Wii, and PS3. WFO Radio is also available as a free iPhone/iTouch/iPad application and on iTunes by searching "WFO Radio".
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JOHN FORCE WINS 50TH ANNIVERSARY NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
February 15, 2010 |
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CASTROL RACE REPORT
1st of 23 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series
50TH annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 11-14, 2010
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Final round results from Sunday’s 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first race in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
FUNNY CAR – John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 4.124, 298.61 mph, def. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Dodge Charger, 4.123, 305.08 mph.
TOP FUEL – Larry Dixon, Brownsburg, Ind., Al_Anabi Racing, 3.808, 316.60 mph def. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich, Technicoat Dragster, 3.848, 310.05 mph
PRO STOCK – Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Pontiac GXP, 6.577, 210.47 mph, def. Greg Anderson, Concord, N.C., Pontiac GXP, 6.618, 209.62 mph.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.332, 269.67 mph, def. Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.916, 196.42 mph.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Sean O’Bannon, Ontario, Calif., 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.541, 259.96 mph, def. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.643, 259.16 mph.
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JOHN FORCE WINS 50TH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA --- John Force broke the longest dry spell of his historic career opening the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season with an emotional victory at the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. Force was the model of consistency on race day defeating veteran Bob Bode, daughter Ashley Force Hood, Jack Beckman and Ron Capps with an average elapsed time of 4.123.
“I heard (Top Fuel winner Larry) Dixon say that he grew up in California and I’m from California too but I never grew up. I just love it and I have to tell you I can drink that Full Throttle. That stuff hops me up for a race like this. The 50th of this race at Auto Club Raceway is big and with Ford as official car of the NHRA, for all my sponsors Castrol, Ford, Auto Club, MacTools and BrandSource. This is twenty-five years with Castrol. It ain’t about a paycheck it is all about you (the fans). You are the blood that flows in my veins,” said Force from the winner’s circle stage.
“I know where (Ron) Capps comes from. I tried to hire him years ago before (Don) Prudhomme snatched him up. The kid is fighting for what he wants. That is that championship. He’s going to get that one of these days. A lot times it just takes a long time. He’ll get there because he has the talent. That is why I armed up for him. I gave him everything I had. I knew this guy will tree you. (Capps’ crew chief) Ed McCullough is going to throw a hardball. The weather is cooling down. We got the win.”
“I live this game. You race a kid like Capps and up against Schumacher Racing. They are tough. You have to just keep your focus. We have shuffled our team around. Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly they have teamed up with Mike Neff. All them together with Jimmy Prock, John Medlen, Guido (Dean Antonelli) and Ron Douglas they were all in the think tank trying to figure me out. Just seeing the younger generation with the older generation it works. My change worked.”
This was the 127th career victory for Force and the first since his win over Tim Wilkerson in Topeka on June 1, 2008, a span of twenty months and forty races. It is the 186th win for John Force Racing. It is the second win in a row for John Force Racing at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In November at the season ending Auto Club Finals Mike Neff drove the Ford Drive One Mustang to the winner’s circle.
Ironically Neff shifted gears this race and tuned Force to victory beside Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. Force was the no. 3 qualifier and on race day he recorded the quickest elapsed times every round. Neff’s last win as a crew chief was June 10, 2007 in Joliet when he tuned Gary Scelzi to victory.
John Force Racing has won all three 50th annual or anniversary events in the history of the NHRA. Gary Densham, then a JFR driver, won the 50th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2004 and Force won the 50th anniversary NHRA national in July of 2001.
“This is fifty years here. That is unique to be a part of that. You’ll win a lot of races. I’ve won Winternationals and World Finals but to win this race that has the magic. I want my kids to look back. You know when you were great and the kids were little and nobody cared. They were like I don’t care dad let’s go to Disneyland. All of a sudden you aren’t any good anymore and then all of a sudden you think you have done all you can do but your legs won’t carry you. My trainer, Horn at Fanatics, told me if I kept working I could get my legs back. He told me I had to keep building my legs so I could push on that gas. My leg was shaking so bad last year holding the clutch and you can’t drive like that. I wasn’t going to cry about it. I didn’t want you all to know I was so screwed up,” said Force. “Over the winter I hit it harder and all of a sudden I had strength to get through the day. It is awesome. I remember I got in the treadmill I couldn’t run for two minutes now I can go for an hour. That is a fact. I can’t run with my knees but I can put it up to three or three and half. I haul tail. Man, this is big for me.”
Force won a crucial round when he defeated his daughter Ashley Force Hood and her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in the second round. They were the two quickest Funny Cars from round one and the odds were whoever won that race had the inside track on victory today.
As Force Hood rolled through the water box one of her parachutes fell out of the parachute pack and unfurled behind her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Her co-crew chief Ron Douglas immediately gave her the stop sign and she sat for minutes as her team furiously repacked her chute. Unfortunately, in the other lane John Force did not see what the problem was as he completed his burn out. He waited patiently but was unclear if he was making a single run or if Force Hood would be able to run beside him.
“I didn’t know until I got out at the end that I had a parachute problem. I thought maybe someone fell or got bumped by the car. Ron was telling the guys to be sure to get the tires clean and then I thought maybe I rolled through some oil. They told me I was going to do a short burnout and back up. Then they decided there wasn’t enough time to do a burnout at all and we were going to just pull up. Dad was already staged,” said Force Hood from outside her trailer after the round loss.
“(My dad) thought he was on a single. I just remember thinking ‘How can they send me down the track with oil on my tires?’ I should have more faith in my team that they would never do that. I just stepped on it thinking I have no idea what this thing is going to do. It went right down the track. I knew I shouldn’t have been worried about all these other things when none of it was correct. I don’t know why I didn’t think if the parachutes before. We have never had a problem like that before. It was just one of those fluke things. We didn’t do the burn out so there were so many things that go along with doing the burn out that didn’t happen.”
“At the time I knew I just needed to wait and do whatever they told me to do. It wasn’t that chaotic where I was sitting. I remember just sitting there and clicking my visor down which it the last thing I do before I pre-stage. I remember thinking let me get myself ready so that when I pull up I don’t have anything else to think about. I remember thinking I am all set to go so I just pretended I already did a burn out so I could pull up and stage,” added Force Hood.
“I was surprised it did go down the track. It wasn’t as quick (running a 4.187 second elapsed time) as they wanted. They said it was heavier because of all the fuel still in it. The clutch didn’t get warmed up enough. It still made it. That is something to just learn. The best part was that I was racing against one of my own teammates. So if I had to lose at least one of my teammates went on. I felt bad for dad because he was getting a lot of mixed signals. He wasn’t sure what was going on. I was at least just getting my information from Ron. I didn’t know what was going on but I knew what I was supposed to be doing. That is a good feeling for a driver,” concluded Force Hood.
Newly crowned 2009 Full Throttle Funny Car champion Robert Hight’s day ended unceremoniously early. The no. 1 qualifier Hight in his Auto Club Ford Mustang was the victim of a first round upset to no. 16 qualifier Cruz Pedregon. In just over an hour’s time Hight was handed his Full Throttle champion’s jacket and ring then dispatched from the first race of the season in the first round. Hight is extremely excited to be getting back on a track next weekend in Phoenix for the NHRA Arizona Nationals.
“(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) is still baffled that we smoked the tires. Even after looking at the data. The tires weren’t hot. I had it perfectly lined up in the center of the groove. I knew I left on it. I saw the amber. It felt awesome. I pedaled it and got back on it and it hooked. When it does that usually it goes. I stayed in it and then all of a sudden it turned sideways so I lifted. When it does that the tires really start spinning. They slow down and then they really speed up and it shoots you. Unfortunately it shot me across the center line and I couldn’t bring it back,” said Hight. “It wasn’t going to run 4.30 anyway after pedaling it out that far. We have to not smoke the tires. It looks funny especially when Ashley goes out and runs 4.12 right behind us. It is just one of those deals and we’ll move on. We are still learning this clutch package. It is not like last year when we were struggling to figure it out. We just have to fine tune this Mustang to get it to react the way we need it to. We’ll get it.”
“Going to Phoenix next weekend is huge for me. I don’t have to think about this for a week. I can get right back to work. We’ll get that work done and get ready to head to Phoenix and start over again. I am really looking forward to Phoenix. With this race being the 50th anniversary of the Winternationals it has been huge. It has been a crazy, crazy weekend. I’m back at my home track after winning the championship. I got my ring today and my champion’s jacket. There were just lots of things going on. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am not complaining. It will be nice to get to a more normal race weekend. It is good to be back with the fans and all the sponsors. I have missed my team. They are all in Indy,” said the two-time Winternationals winner.
In the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks Courtney Force lost in her first round match up on Saturday when here BrandSource Ford Racing A Fueler crossed the center line versus Art Trautman.
“I was hoping it would be a good straight solid run. It had some tire shake and that drove me over to the center line. My helmet kind of fell down on me and I couldn’t see very well. That is when I lifted. I tried to pedal it and get right back into it when I got my vision back. Right when I did that my wheel was over and I hit a couple of cones. I did my best to drive it back into my lane. That is when I let off again,” said the no. 2 qualifier.
“It is still a big learning curve. I am still learning but people can tell you what to do but there is no real way to know how to do it until it happens to you. I don’t think I did too bad. I did hit a couple of cones but I am just really glad I was able to bring it back into my own lane and didn’t hurt the other racer.”
No.1 qualifier Brittany Force won her first round race against Brooks Brown but today her Jerry Darian tuned BrandSource A Fueler was just barely outrun by Shawn Cowie, 3.383 to Cowie’s 5.374.
“That race was really close. We have had a great car all weekend. It has been pretty consistent. I could see I was coming up right against him and I knew he was right there. I would like to do more racing than my schedule will allow me to with school and student teaching. I am looking forward to getting to the next race and going some more rounds. I haven’t been in my BrandSource A Fuel dragster in a while so this race was really nice. I was a little nervous that first run but I got back into my routine. Getting the no. 1 qualifier was great and it was good to be back,” said Brittany.
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FULL THROTTLE POINT STANDINGS
FUNNY CAR - 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 121; 2. Ron Capps, 94; 3. Bob Tasca III, 78; 4. Jack Beckman, 74; 5. Del Worsham, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, 57; 7. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 56; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 51; 9. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 43; 10. Tony Pedregon, 33; 10. Jim Head, 33.
TOP FUEL - 1. Larry Dixon, 122; 2. Doug Kalitta, 96; 3. Cory McClenathan, 86; 4. Tony Schumacher, 81; 5. Shawn Langdon, 55; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 52; 6. Antron Brown, 52; 6. Troy Buff, 52; 9. Morgan Lucas, 36; 10. Steve Torrence, 34; 10. Thomas Nataas, 34.
PRO STOCK - 1. Mike Edwards, 130; 2. Greg Anderson, 95; 3. Allen Johnson, 78; 4. Larry Morgan, 71; 5. Rodger Brogdon, 54; 6. Greg Stanfield, 53; 7. Justin Humphreys, 51; 7. Shane Gray, 51; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 42; 10. Ron Krisher, 39.
THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 3rd at 4.066 seconds, 310.41 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (quickest of Q2 and 2nd quickest of Q4)
Race Results: Beat Bob Bode, Ashley Force Hood, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps
Quotable: “I live this game. You race a kid like (Ron) Capps and up against Schumacher Racing. They are tough. You have to just keep your focus. We have shuffled our team around. Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly they have teamed up with Mike Neff. All them together with Jimmy Prock, John Medlen, Guido and Ron Douglas they were all in the think tank trying to figure me out. Just seeing the younger generation with the older generation it works. My change worked.” – JOHN FORCE
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 6th at 4.093 seconds, 310.70 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +2 (third quickest of Q1 and Q3)
Race Results: Beat Tim Wilkerson. Lost to John Force
Quotable: “The best part was that I was racing against one of my own teammates. So if I had to lose at least one of my teammates went on. I felt bad for dad because he was getting a lot of mixed signals. He wasn’t sure what was going on. I was at least just getting my information from Ron. I didn’t know what was going on but I knew what I was supposed to be doing. That is a good feeling for a driver.” – ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 1st at 4.059 seconds, 312.86 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (quickest of Q1, 2nd quickest of Q3)
Race Results: Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Quotable: “Jimmy is still baffled that we smoked the tires. Even after looking at the data. The tires weren’t hot. I had it perfectly lined up in the center of the groove. I knew I left on it. I saw the amber. It felt awesome. I pedaled it and got back on it and it hooked. When it does that usually it goes. I stayed in it and then all of a sudden it turned sideways so I lifted.” – ROBERT HIGHT
BRITTANY FORCE, 23, BrandSource A Fuel Dragster
Final Qualifying: 1st at 5.293 seconds, 268.82 mph
Race Results: Beat Brooks Brown. Lost to Shawn Cowie
Quotable: “That race was really close. We have had a great car all weekend. It has been pretty consistent. I could see I was coming up right against him and I knew he was right there. Getting the no. 1 qualifier was great and it was good to be back.” – BRITTANY FORCE
COURTNEY FORCE, 21, BrandSource/Ford A Fuel Dragster
Final Qualifying: 2nd at 5.302 seconds, 251.39 mph
Race Results: Lost to Art Trautman
Quotable: “I was hoping it would be a good straight solid run. It had some tire shake and that drove me over to the center line. My helmet kind of fell down on me and I couldn’t see very well. That is when I lifted. I tried to pedal it and get right back into it when I got my vision back. Right when I did that my wheel was over and I hit a couple of cones. I did my best to drive it back into my lane. That is when I let off again.” – COURTNEY FORCE
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FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
****
NEXT EVENT:
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 19-21, Phoenix, Ariz.
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
^
BACK |
HIGHT HEADS INTO WINTERNATIONALS NO.1
February 14, 2010 |
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Team John Force Racing Qualifying Highlights: Robert Hight holds onto no. 1 qualifying position…33rd of his career…John Force qualifies 3rd and Ashley Force Hood grabs 6th spot…Brittany Force on her first round race in TAD
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HIGHT HEADS INTO WINTERNATIONALS NO.1
POMONA --- 2009 Funny Car Champion Robert Hight’s day was full of surprises at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. On Thursday night he predicted that his 4.059 second pass would not hold up to keep him in the no. 1 qualified position. After two more days of qualifying the two-time Winternationals champion was still atop the field with that time. Hight was also surprised today by his primary sponsor Auto Club’s efforts to promote their affordable rates to the packed crowd at the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. The Southern California based company flew two huge banners over the Fairplex for most of the day, one of which featured Hight holding the Full Throttle World Championship trophy.
“The Auto Club has done so much to promote this championship. They are flying banners around and (they ran) USA Today, LA Times and Dallas Morning News ads on Thanksgiving weekend. It just shows how involved they are in NHRA Drag Racing and John Force Racing,” said Hight. “It was pretty funny today. They had two banners flying over the race track offering lower rates for Auto Club at www.autoclub.com and one with a picture of me winning the championship. (John) Force said he got in his car and drove down the street to see the other side of the banner to see if his picture was on the other side of the banner.”
“It really means a lot and it was a big surprise. Auto Club has done so much for us. They are as excited about this championship as we are. What is cool about the Auto Club is they are not putting any more pressure on us to go out and repeat. Tom McKernan (Auto Club of Southern California president) has said that is why the Auto Club has been so successful. They just keep going out and doing what they do every day. They don’t ever back down or give up a little. They keep their guard up and just keep working hard and the success will come. That is what my team is going to do this year,” added the 14-time national event winner.
In the first session today Hight and his Jimmy Prock tuned Auto Club Ford Mustang made the second quickest run of the session. Hight was especially excited because he felt that run was more representative of race conditions and his team would be ready to go for tomorrow.
“What is awesome is we got one good run today. We were second the first session. (Matt) Hagan ran a .09 and we ran .10. Ours was backed off pretty good. That is really what is going to win this race tomorrow is runs like that. You want to go down the race track with a 4.09 or a 4.10. That will win this race. I think we are set up for that. There are no easy rounds. I am racing the 2008 Funny Car champion in the first round. Cruz Pedregon. We know he is always tough. We are just going to do the best we can.”
Following Hight in the John Force Racing qualified pecking order is 14-time champion John Force. Force piloted his 25th anniversary Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang to the 3rd qualifying spot on the strength of his 4.066 second run yesterday. The owner was thrilled with his teams overall performance from the Funny Car ranks all the way to his two BrandSource A Fuel Dragsters piloted by his daughters Brittany and Courtney Force.
“I am excited for all my Funny Cars and for Brittany and Courtney to be no. 1 and no. 2 in A Fuel. It is the beginning of the season. It is the 50th anniversary. The show that was put on this weekend not just by the fuel Funny Cars but by the nostalgia funny cars is important. I saw the Pisano car, Candies and Hughes, Beach City Chevrolet, and I raced those guys. It is unbelievable the fuel altered. To have my race cars run was great. I was able to show my kids where I came from was also awesome,” said the 126-time national event winner.
Force won the 50th anniversary NHRA national event in 2001 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Another win at this 50th annual event would be icing on the cake for the winningest driver in NHRA history.
“I won the 50th NHRA anniversary race. I have had pretty good luck at these specialty races. I am back in my game. I am strong and so is Robert our champion. He is hot. Ashley is right behind him. (Bob) Tasca (III) got in there right at the end. God bless America. I want to thank our troops for what they do to allow us to do this. We are going to give the fans a great show and this is going to be a great year because when you kick of Pomona with no rain buddy you have done something,” concluded Force.
2009 Funny Car championship runner-up Ashley Force Hood is looking forward to tomorrow’s first round where she will square off with friendly rival Tim Wilkerson. For a driver who has captured a number of firsts in her young career getting her first win at the Winternationals would merely add to the female success at this storied track.
“I would love to get off to a win here at the Winternationals. They showed a video on the ACDelco Vision screen and it asked which female has never won the Winternationals and the answer was me. Melanie Troxel has won here. Shirley Muldowney has won here. I would really like to get a win here for me and my team. It will not be easy. I have Wilkerson in the first round and he is a great buddy of mine. I am bummed we match up against each other for the first round of the year but at least no matter what a Ford will go to round two,” said Force Hood.
Starting the season off on the right foot would be a big boost for Force Hood as she continues her quest to be the first female to win the Full Throttle Funny Car World Championship. That goal will not be easily met considering how competitive the Funny Car class is.
“Getting off to a good start tomorrow would be really nice to get that boost of confidence. I am a little nervous about tomorrow. I would like to be a little more comfortable with my Mustang. We made some changes this year to my gear and the body I didn’t think they would make as big of a difference as they have. Every driver is different. We are working those out and it is getting better every run. You have to put those things aside,” said Force Hood.
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THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Final Qualifying: 3rd at 4.066 seconds, 310.41 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (quickest of Q2 and 2nd quickest of Q4)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Bob Bode (3-0)
Quotable: “I won the 50th NHRA anniversary race. I have had pretty good luck at these specialty races. I am back in my game. I am strong and so is Robert our champion. He is hot. Ashley is right behind him. We are going to give the fans a great show and this is going to be a great year because when you kick of Pomona with no rain buddy you have done something.” – JOHN FORCE
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 6th at 4.093 seconds, 310.70 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +2 (third quickest of Q1 and Q3)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Tim Wilkerson (4-6)
Quotable: “I would love to get off to a win here at the Winternationals. It will not be easy. I have Wilkerson in the first round and he is a great buddy of mine. I am bummed we match up against each other for the first round of the year but at least no matter what a Ford will go to round two.” – ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Friday Qualifying: 1st at 4.059 seconds, 312.86 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (quickest of Q1, 2nd quickest of Q3)
First Round Opponent (W-L): Cruz Pedregon (10-4)
Quotable: “What is awesome is we got one good run today. We were second the first session. Hagan ran a .09 and we ran .10. Ours was backed off pretty good. That is really what is going to win this race tomorrow is runs like that. You want to go down the race track with a 4.09 or a 4.10. That will win this race.” – ROBERT HIGHT
BRITTANY FORCE, 23, BrandSource A Fuel Dragster
Final Qualifying: 1st at 5.293 seconds, 268.82 mph
First Round Opponent: Beat Brooks Brown, Shawn Cowie
COURTNEY FORCE, 21, BrandSource/Ford A Fuel Dragster
Final Qualifying: 2nd at 5.302 seconds, 251.39 mph
First Round Opponent: Lost to Art Trautman
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RACE SCHEDULE:
Sunday, February 14
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM
****
FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
****
NEXT EVENT:
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 19-21, Phoenix, Ariz.
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
^
BACK |
HIGHT STARTS SEASON WHERE HE LEFT OFF… NO. 1
February 12, 2010 |
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POMONA --- Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang picked up in 2010 right where they ended the 2009 season. They raced to the provisional no. 1 qualifying position at the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The run moved Hight around good friend Del Worsham who was sitting in the no. 1 spot before Hight ran. It also garnered him three qualifying bonus points giving him the points lead after the first official day of the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing season.
“I do kind of feel bad for my buddy Worsham. Today is his 40th birthday and I bumped him down. That is what we have to do here. It makes you feel good that people see you start strong after you just won the championship. We proved today that last year was not a fluke on the performance side. Going to no. 1 right off the bat was cool. That won’t stick. There will be a lot quicker runs later in the weekend. It gives us a start and a chance that we can really get after our Auto Club Mustang and get close to national record stuff,” said Hight.
Hight was the no. 1 qualifier at the 2009 edition of the Winternationals but immediately after that race his season went into a tailspin that he barely recovered from by the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. He does not want to start 2010 in the same manner.
“My no. 1 qualifier here last year was the highlight of my season until Indy. We were terrible. We started out good even though we only got one qualifying run. It is definitely nice to get off on the right foot. Looking at the rest of the weekend it is going to be great weather,” said Hight.
Along with the Mustang’s performance running at a very high level Hight’s crew chief Jimmy Prock is also tuning with confidence. Hight feels that Prock’s attitude improved right alongside of the car’s performance Labor Day weekend in 2009.
“Since Indy last year Jimmy has been totally different. He has a confidence and you can just see it. He is not second guessing himself and he is not going back and forth to the box making changes. He leaves the pit with a good tune up and he sticks with it. He has a lot of confidence now. As the driver that gives me confidence. It is a lot of fun. I figured it would run a 4.05. That is what we did in testing and we didn’t change it a whole lot. That track in Phoenix was real tricky,” added Hight.
Ashley Force Hood was in the lane beside Hight and her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang also made a stellar run to start the 22010 Full Throttle season. Fans were treated to an awesome side-by-side performance by the top two Funny Car finishers. Force Hood was right with Hight clicking the finish line timers in 4.093 seconds at over 310 mph.
“We are still getting all the little kinks worked out. The run was really great. I think that was the smoothest run I can remember having. It didn’t just physically feel smooth visually it was crystal clear. There never any rough spots or anything like that. It was pretty exciting to start with a run like that,” said Force Hood. “Now Guido and Ron (co-crew chiefs Dean Antonelli and Rob Douglas) and work from there instead of not getting down the track. It was cool and kind of overcast in Phoenix when we were testing and here it is kind of similar conditions. I think that might have helped us set up for this track.”
Team leader John Force made a strong opening run in his 25th anniversary Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang but his time was disallowed due to a rear wheel start. The NHRA released a statement which stated in part, “In review of the data, it was determined by Compulink Timing System representatives that Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang left the starting line prior to the timing system activating. Once the timing system started Force’s car had advanced forward and the rear-wheel on his car was recognized by the beams at the starting line and initiated the elapsed time clock in his lane, thus resulting in the 3.800 second elapsed time.”
Overall Force’s crew chief combo of Austin Coil and Mike Neff were pleased with the run and feel that they can easily improve on his performance. To the casual observer Force’s elapsed time looks equal to or quicker than Matt Hagan’s 4.109 second pass in the lane beside him.
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THE DRIVERS
JOHN FORCE, 60, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang
Thursday Qualifying: No time
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, 27, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Thursday Qualifying: 3rd at 4.093 seconds, 310.70 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (third quickest of session)
Quotable: “The run was really great. I think that was the smoothest run I can remember having. It didn’t just physically feel smooth visually it was crystal clear. There never any rough spots or anything like that. It was pretty exciting to start with a run like that.” - ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
ROBERT HIGHT, 40, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang
Thursday Qualifying: 1st at 4.059 seconds, 312.86 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +3 (quickest of the session)
Quotable: “I figured it would run a 4.05. That is what we did in testing and we didn’t change it a whole lot. That track in Phoenix was real tricky. Since Indy last year Jimmy has been totally different. He has a confidence and you can just see it.” – ROBERT HIGHT
BRITTANY FORCE, 23, BrandSource A Fuel Dragster
Qualifying: 12th at 11.025 seconds, 80.51 mph
COURTNEY FORCE, 21, BrandSource/Ford A Fuel Dragster
Qualifying: 14th at 16.597 seconds, 41.90 mph
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RACE SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 12
Q2 Top Alcohol Dragster 1:30 p.m.
Q2 Pro Qualifying 3:30 p.m.
Q3 Top Alcohol Dragster 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 13
Q3 Pro Qualifying 12:30 p.m.
Top Alcohol Dragster Rnd. 1 1:30 p.m.
Q4 Pro Qualifying 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 14
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM
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FOLLOW JOHN FORCE RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com
****
NEXT EVENT:
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 19-21, Phoenix, Ariz.
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
^
BACK |
STUDENT BRITTANY FORCE WILL SWITCH GEARS TO TEACHER
February 10, 2010 |
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POMONA, CA --- Entering her third season behind the wheel of the BrandSource A Fuel Dragster Brittany Force has been an eager student. Sure the occasional butterflies start stirring before a run but the 23 year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate puts those feelings on the back burner before she makes a 275 mph pass. As the 2010 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series seasons starts Force will continue her education both on and off the track as a racer and a student teacher.
“I am excited to be back from a quick Winter Break and to start off the season at my home track in Pomona. It’s been a few months since climbing into my BrandSource A Fuel dragster and thinking about making my first pass of the year down the track puts butterflies in my stomach in a good, exciting way. Due to the rigorous schedule I am beginning for student teaching I won't get to make all the qualifying runs I would like but I hope the ones I do make will lock me into the show. I can't wait and hope for a great weekend for the Force team,” said Force.
When the up and coming driver is not on the track she will be spending most of her time in front of middle school students getting valuable teaching experience. She is participating in a post degree teaching credential program instructing classes 3-4 days a week. This rigorous schedule may limit her on track time but Force plans to make the most of her available schedule. The first stage of her 2010 season will begin on Thursday afternoon when qualifying begins at 1:30 p.m. at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals.
She will continue to race in tandem, sharing information and experiences with her younger sister Courtney there will be a healthy competition between the two youngest Force daughters. Courtney’s path to her two final rounds in 2009 led through Brittany and that fact is not lost on her.
“I know sooner or later I will be running against my sister in the lane next to me. We are both very competitive but also enjoy having fun when running against each other. My no. 1 goal this season is to get that first win,” said Force.
Now that Gary Densham has retired from his day job as an auto shop teacher, the designation of “world’s fastest schoolteacher” could fall to Brittany Force, who will be splitting time between a middle school classroom and the cockpit of the BrandSource A/Fuel dragster.
“I think there are some similarities between racing and teaching. You have to be patient in both situations and you definitely have to be prepared. To get up in front of a room full of kids and teach them is a great feeling. I am still learning in both environments and I think I get a nice balance from being able to focus on two different worlds,” said Force.
The third youngest of drag racing icon John Force’s four daughters, Brittany is moving forward this year with plans for a teaching career while at the same time improving her driving skills in her Top Alcohol Dragster prepared by veteran crew chief Jerry Darien.
After completing a semester of study at Hunter College, the largest school in the City University of New York system last year Brittany graduated from Cal State-Fullerton with an English degree.
Identified by Force as his “problem child,” Brittany initially eschewed a job at John Force Racing, Inc., to work instead at a pizza café, a manifestation of her independence.
Nevertheless, her “need for speed” brought her back to JFR where she races alongside her father, older sister Ashley and younger sister Courtney. Like her father, the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion, she is intensely competitive once she climbs into the cockpit.
“She’s tough when she’s in the car,” Force said. “She’s always done things her own way, kinda like me, but if she really wants to race, I’ll do all I can to give her a chance (to succeed).”
Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying will continue on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. with eliminations beginning on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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JFR TEAMS UP WITH SANDERSON FORD
February 10, 2010 |
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Glendale, Ariz (February 10, 2010) --- Sanderson Ford is providing support vehicles the weekend of February 18-21, during the drag race at Firebird International Raceway for John Force Racing drivers, crew chiefs and executives including John Force and his drag racing daughter, Ashley Force Hood as part of a multi-faceted marketing partnership.
In addition to the Forces, who drive 310 mile-an-hour Ford Mustang Funny Cars sponsored by Castrol GTX and Castrol GTX High Mileage on the pro drag racing tour, John Force Racing also features 2009 Funny Car world champion Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Mustang.
Fans can visit Sanderson Ford on Thursday, February 18 to meet 14-time champion John Force and 2009 champion Robert Hight from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m.
“We wanted to find a way to work with local Ford dealers again this year,” Force said, “because in these hard economic times, we need to help out our sponsors in any way we can. We are proud to be a part of the Ford family and we want to encourage all our fans to go out to Sanderson Ford and test drive a new Mustang, Flex, Edge, Fusion or other great Ford car or truck before they come out to the track to see us.”
“We’re very excited to have 14-time NHRA Champion John Force and 2009 NHRA Champion Robert Hight at Sanderson Ford. This is a rare opportunity for race fans and our customers to meet two of the best drivers in the world,” said David Kimmerle, President of Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury.
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STILL LEARNING, FORCE HOOD A RELUCTANT CONTENDER
February 10, 2010 |
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Castrol GTX Ford Driver Poised to Deliver at 50th Winternationals
POMONA, Calif. – In her fourth season at the wheel of a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang that is one of the world’s most powerful race cars, Ashley Force Hood hasn’t yet warmed to the notion that she has been established as is one of the favorites to win the 2010 NHRA Funny Car Championship.
Entering this week’s season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, her home track, the 27-year-old daughter of drag racing icon John Force refused even to acknowledge the obvious, that in just three pro seasons she has transformed herself from novelty to nobility in the Full Throttle Series.
To hear Force Hood tell it, her goal for the new season is simply to try to continue to improve, accept the fact that mistakes will be made and try to learn from them.
The thing is virtually any improvement in her 2009 performance likely would carry the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton to the next step in her wholly unlikely evolution from high school cheerleader to world racing champion.
Second behind brother-in-law and teammate Robert Hight a year ago, she is poised this year to become the first woman ever to win an NHRA Funny Car title and the fourth different John Force Racing driver to do so in the last eight years.
That’s pretty heady stuff for a one-time cheerleader who in high school was too shy to actually lead a cheer. The girl who took auto shop and hung at the back of the chorale so she wouldn’t have to sing an obligatory solo has found her niche in a 310 mile an hour Ford Funny Car.
“I’ve made plenty of mistakes,” she said of three seasons punctuated by her victory last September in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, “but it’s been a big advantage that I’ve had a team that has supported me. ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and Ron (Douglas) and the team have given me such a good race car. It really shortened the learning curve for me, I think.
“We’ve really taken baby steps,” she continued. “We’ve never gotten too far ahead of ourselves. If we can learn from our mistakes and keep building our foundation, I think we can continue to get better.
“I’ve got the best bunch of guys,” said the 2007 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year. “Yes, we were in a position to win (last year’s championship), but things don’t always go like you want them to. Talent, skill, equipment, those things are so important, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck. That’s part of racing as well.”
Ashley started from the front of the pack a category best six times last year, went to eight final rounds and won at Houston and Indy. Nevertheless, in the midst of her title run, the car that had been the most consistent on the tour inexplicably lost its magic, a brief, but costly stumble that eventually was traced to a bad batch of clutch discs the compromised the car’s performance at key Countdown races in Richmond, Va., and Las Vegas.
As a result, she had to settle for second place behind Hight, who finally got his first title by winning half the playoff races including the first two.
But that’s ancient history according to Ashley. She is re-focused, but it’s a very narrow focus, because that’s what has worked for her in the past.
“We want to qualify and win the Winternationals,” she said. “That’s our only goal right now. If we’re in the points later in the year, there’ll be plenty of time to stress about it then. Right now we’re going to try to have fun and go rounds.”
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Ashley at Pomona:
?No. 1 qualifier and runner-up to teammate Mike Neff in most recent appearance at Auto Club Raceway (Auto Club Finals, Nov. 15, 2009). ?2004 Auto Club Finals Top Alcohol Dragster winner. ?Shared 2004 podium with her father, John, as the first father-daughter winners of the same event. ?Made First Funny Car Start at 2007 Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals.
?Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals summary:
3 Starts, No Final Rounds, No Wins, No No. 1 Qualiifiers, 3-3 Record
?Career summary:
65 Starts, 13 Final Rounds, 3 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 80-62 Record
?Notable:
Reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion; NHRA national record h older for Funny Car speed (312.13 mph)
?Quotable:
“You can’t get too ahead of yourself. First, we’ve got to go out there and qualify well and utilize every qualifying run to get that info we need for ‘Guido” and Ron to make their tuning decisions. I need to get my experience in the car and then go out there hopefully on Sunday and have a strong race.” – Ashley Force Hood.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US
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BACK |
FOR FORCE, ALL THAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
February 10, 2010 |
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14-Time Champion Determined to Recapture Past Form
POMONA, Calif. – Declaring himself in the best physical condition of his career, John Force this week begins his 25th season with principal sponsor Castrol determined to prove to sponsors, fans and especially rivals that, at age 60, he still has what it takes to succeed at the top levels of his sport.
“I’m feeling better than ever right now,” said the man who, little more than two years ago, was lying in a Dallas hospital recovering from injuries suffered in a 300 mile-an-hour crash, pondering the possibility of never again driving a race car.
“I still go to the gym every night,” he said of a physical therapy program that addresses injuries incurred in the worst accident of his 33-year NHRA career. “I’m in the best shape of my life, I still love driving my hot rod and nobody’s been down more racetracks than me. That has to count for something.”
The 14-time champion gets his first opportunity to make good on a pledge “to prove to these young kids that I still have a lot of wins left in me” when he climbs behind the wheel of a special edition Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang for this week’s season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway.
A four-time Winternationals champion, Force is coming off a 2009 season in which he was winless for the first time in 23 years. Not only did he not win, he was the only Top 10 Funny Car driver who didn’t appear in at least one final round last year, something that hadn’t happened since 1985. The upshot is that he will start the season cast in the unfamiliar role of underdog. It is a challenge he relishes.
In reality, Force’s driving skills weren’t the issue in a largely forgettable 2009 season during which his only meaningful accomplishment was earning a Top 10 finish for the 25th consecutive year. The problem was the car itself, a 310 mile-an-hour hybrid that never came close to achieving the dominant performance of its predecessors.
As a result, virtually everything is new this year from the chassis (built in-house at JFR’s Brownsburg facility) to the motor (an 8,000 horsepower BOSS 500 built collaboratively with Ford) to the body (an aerodynamically superior 2010 Mustang) to the paint (special green-and-silver metallic recognizing Force’s 25 years with Castrol).
Significantly, there also is a new crew chief dynamic.
Austin Coil, winner of more races (133) and more championships (16) than anyone else in history and the architect of a JFR dynasty that has won 16 of the last 20 NHRA championships, has been paired with crew chief turned-driver-turned crew chief Mike Neff in an exciting new partnership that has re-energized Force and his team.
Nevertheless, the challenge is a daunting one.
Force has won just one race since his September, 2007, crash and he hasn’t won at all since the NHRA shortened the course from a quarter mile to 1,000 feet in July of 2008 to address issues of speed and safety.
Moreover, it’s been more than three years since the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection has started a race from the front of the pack. Still, it would be ludicrous to discount the man who in 1996 became the first drag racer ever named Driver of the Year for all of American motorsports.
Drawing inspiration from Brett Favre, Mariano Rivera and other professional athletes who have defied the constraints of aging, the one-time truck driver believes he can become just the second driver in the sport’s history to win a tour event beyond the age of 60 and the first at that age to win a title.
“In drag racing, 60 is the new 40,” Force said. “I know I can still drive. I still love it and I haven’t been this excited about a season in a long time.
At age 40, Favre led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC title game while Rivera, the New York Yankees closer, at age 39 was named Pro Athlete of the Year by The Sporting News.
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Force at Pomona:
?Total of 16 wins at Auto Club Raceway but only four in the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals (1991, 1993, 1997, 2002). ?One of only two drivers (with former Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.) to have won three different events at Auto Club Raceway. ?Has won 102 racing rounds at Pomona, the only driver with more than 100 round wins at a single racetrack.
Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals summary:
29 Starts, 7 Final Rounds, 4 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 42-25 Record
Notable:
Seeking first win at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona since 2006 Auto Club Finals.
Quotable:
“As a team, we’ve had pretty good luck at 50th annual NHRA events. Gary Densham won the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indy in the Auto Club Ford and I won the special 50th anniversary NHRA Nationals at Pomona in 2001. We want to keep it going at the Winternationals” – John Force.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US.
FORCE’s Edge
Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records)
– Most career victories (126)
– Most series championships (14)
– Most career final rounds (202)
– Most career rounds won (1038)
– Most consecutive series championships (10, 1993-2002)
– Most consecutive seasons with one or more victories (22, 1987-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with at least one final round appearance (24, 1985-2008)
– Most consecutive seasons with multiple tour victories (18, 1990-2007)
– Most consecutive national events without a DNQ (395, 1988-2007)
– Most consecutive Top 10 seasons (25, 1985-present)
– Highest winning percentage, one season (91.5%, 65-6)
Other NHRA Funny Car division records
– Most final rounds, one season (16, 1996)
– Most victories, one season (13, 1996)
– Most rounds won, one season (65, 1996)
– Most career No. 1 starts (131)
– Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996)
– Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.)
– Career starts (526)
Awards
– Driver of the Year (1996)
– Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2008 inductee)
– AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (14 times, 1990, 1993-2002, 2004-2006)
– Jerry Titus Memorial Award (most AARWBA votes, 4 times, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002)
– AARWBA Comeback Award (2008)
– Speed TV Comeback Award (2008)
– SAE Motorsports Achievement Award (2008)
– AutoSport Magazine’s John Bolster Award for lifetime achievement (2005)
Milestones
– First round win, over Tom McEwen, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La.
– First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational Molson, Montreal, Canada
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.90 second barrier, July 6, 1996, Topeka, Kan.
– First drag racer to win Driver of the Year award for all of American motor sports (1996)
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.80 second barrier, Oct. 24, 1998, Dallas, Texas
– First (and only) drag racer to win 100 events, April 14, 2002, Houston, Texas
– First Funny Car driver to break 4.70 second barrier, Oct. 2, 2004, Joliet, Ill.
– No. 2 (behind Don Garlits) in balloting to determine Top 50 drivers in NHRA’s first 50 years (2001)
– First (and only) drag racer to win 1,000 racing rounds, May 4, 2008, Madison, Ill.
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JOHN FORCE By the Numbers
1 win since returning from a 2007 crash at Dallas, Texas, in which he suffered life-threatening injuries.
2 DNQs at the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals (1980, 1982)
3 screws securing ankle bones from compound fracture suffered in a 2007 crash at Dallas, Texas.
4 time winner of Jerry Titus Memorial Award as driver receiving most votes in balloting for the AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002).
5 seasons with 10 or more tour victories (1993-94, 1996, 1999-2000).
6 DNQs in last three seasons after enduring just one in 22 previous seasons with Austin Coil as his crew chief.
7 final round appearances at the Winternationals
8 years since last Winternationals’ victory (2002)
9 runner-up finishes before winning for the first time at Montreal, Canada in 1987.
10 straight Funny Car titles (1993-2002).
14 times named to AARWBA Auto Racing All-America First Team.
25 consecutive Top 10 finishes (1985-present)
102 rounds won at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
126 tour events won
1038 competitive rounds won.
-www.johnforceracing.com-
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BACK |
HIGHT LOOKING TO GET EVEN AT WINTERNATIONALS
February 9, 2010 |
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TEAM CASTROL/JFR
25THANNIVERSARY SEASON
ROBERT HIGHT
Pre-Race Package for the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals
Feb. 11-14, 2010
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
First event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship
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Follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing
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EVENT OVERVIEW:
Reigning Full Throttle Champion Robert “Top Gun” Hight leads drag racing’s dominant team back to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona where John Force Racing, Inc., will try to keep its record perfect in 50th anniversary events.
Hight, who last year secured a record 16th series championship in 20 years for JFR, has an impressive racing history at Auto Club Raceway that includes Winternationals wins in 2006 and 2008, an Auto Club Finals victory in 2007 and a track record 4.646 quarter mile time in 2007.
Force, who this year is celebrating his 25th season with primary sponsor Castrol, has won four Winternationals’ titles but hasn’t taken his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford to the winners’ circle in the opener since 2002. Ashley Force Hood, who last year finished second in Full Throttle points, will be trying to win for the first time at her home track in the Funny Car division. She was the Top Alcohol Dragster champion at the 2004 Auto Club Finals where she and her dad became the first father and daughter to share an NHRA winners’ circle.
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HIGHT LOOKING TO GET EVEN AT WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA --- 2009 Funny Car Full Throttle world champion Robert Hight will be looking to establish a personal trend at the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals as well as possibly extend a John Force Racing team trend. Hight and his Auto Club Ford Mustang are two-time Winternationals winners grabbing the title in 2006 and 2008. A win this year would continue the even-year winning streak for the Alturas, Calif., native.
“Our goal for this year is to have a better team and better race car throughout the season. I am looking forward to it. Last year I didn’t even pull the chutes in testing. We went to Pomona and ended up qualifying no. 1 there but that was the highlight in the beginning for us but after that it turned really bad,” said Hight a 14-time national event winner. “This year testing went really well. We were on a tricky track (Firebird International Raceway) but when it went, it went good. I think we will have a real decent shot at it this year with our new 2010 Mustang body that we are debuting. I am looking forward to it everyone always says defending it is harder than getting the first one and we are going to have to see how that plays out.”
This is the third 50th annual event for the NHRA. The 50th annual NHRA anniversary race was won by team owner John Force in 2001. The 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2004 was won by then John Force Racing team member Gary Densham. A win at the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals would be a sweet trifecta for Hight or one of his teammates either Ashley Force Hood or John Force.
The historic 50th annual Kragen-O’Reily Winternationals contested at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is familiar turf for Hight. In addition to his two Winternationals titles Hight has won the season ending race at Auto Club Raceway once (2009), last year he clinched his first world championship in Pomona.
In 2009 the Winternationals were plagued by rain yet Hight was the no. 1 qualifier and raced to a semi-final finish before losing to eventual event winner Ron Capps. For the next sixteen races Hight and the Auto Club team struggled to find their way. As they battled race to race they never seemed to get a handle on their tune-up until right before the Countdown. This year Hight knows they cannot repeat that kind of struggle.
“Last year I think us just getting lost in our car performance just shows how tough it is to run one of these race cars. We were trying some new things and along with the new testing rules we were just sticking with things we normally would have worked out or put aside after testing. We didn’t have that luxury so we stuck with things while we were out there trying to qualify and trying to win races. It just wasn’t going anywhere and finally we said ‘Uncle!’ at just the right time,” said Hight.
“We didn’t change, much this year, very little. We’ve got the new 2010 Mustang body which I hope will give us a little bit of an advantage in the aerodynamic department. We are sticking to basics and refining what we left off with last year. If we can do that I think we will be a car to be reckoned with. There are still a lot of good cars out there and it is not going to be easy to get into the Countdown or win any races. “
As the reigning world champion Hight will enter his first event with the no. 1 on the side of the Auto Club Ford Mustang. It will be a memorable moment for Hight and having the no. 1 on the side of his funny car will be a unique experience for him.
“Honestly it is still hard to get used to seeing. I know when I used to see the no. 1 on someone else’s car I wanted to go after that guy. It is a little like putting a target on my Auto Club Ford Mustang. I knew how I felt when I was chasing the car with the no. 1 on the side and now I am that car,” said Hight. “People have said it is tougher to stay on top or to repeat as champion. I know this season will be tough but I am looking forward to defending this championship and keeping this no. 1 for more than one season.”
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Castrol/JFR 25th Anniversary Flashback:
John Force credits former Funny Car rival Gordie Bonin for paving the way to a Castrol sponsorship that today stands as the longest active sponsorship in motor racing.
“Gordie Bonin introduced me to John Howell (former Castrol sponsorship manager) in 1985,” Force recalled. “I’d just lost my Valvoline deal and all I wanted was something to replace it, which was $5,000 cash and our oil. So, that was the original deal for 1986. Then, in 1987, they came out with the Castrol Super Team with me and Gary Ormsby (Top Fuel), Larry Morgan (Pro Stock), Pat Austin (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Bill Barney (Top Alcohol Dragster) and David Nickens (Competition). And here we are, 126 wins and 14 championships later, still together and not through winning, either.”
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JFR RACING HISTORY AT AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA:
Wins (Winternationals in parentheses) – 20 (8). 12 (4) by John Force for Castrol GTX (1991, 1993, 1997, 2002 Winternationals; 1988, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 Auto Club Finals; 2001 NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals); three by Robert Hight for the Automobile Club of Southern California (2006, 2008 Winternationals; 2007 Auto Club Finals); three by Tony Pedregon for Castrol SYNTEC (1999, 2003 Winternationals; 1997 Auto Club Finals); one by Mike Neff for Ford Drive One (2009 Auto Club Finals); and one by Ashley Force Hood for Castrol GTX (2004 in Top Alcohol Dragster).
Last year – After qualifying No. 1, Robert “Top Gun” Hight’s bid to reach the final round for the fourth consecutive year ended in a semifinal loss to eventual race winner Ron Capps.
Notable #1 – John Force has won a record 102 racing rounds at Auto Club Raceway – 42 in the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, 56 in the Auto Club Finals and four in the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals contested in 2001.
Notable #2 – For sheer drama, it would be difficult to top Robert Hight’s first victory at Auto Club Raceway in 2006. After qualifying just 12th, the current Full Throttle Champion seemed destined to finish second when a spectacular engine explosion in the semifinal round left him without a useable carbon fiber Ford Mustang body. Ever resourceful, the team pirated a Mustang shell off of the Auto Club display car in the Top Eliminator Club, mounted it and then watched Hight beat Ron Capps in the final round. It was voted the No. 6 most memorable moment in the event’s 50 years.
Notable #3 – When reigning series champion Robert Hight was ousted in the semifinals of last year’s Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, it marked the first time in 10 years that a John Force Racing Ford Mustang did not reach the Funny Car final round at the season-opener.
Notable #4 – Ashley Force Hood made her professional debut at the 2007 Winternationals. After being bumped out of the field by her father, she regained a starting berth on her final attempt before ultimately losing to brother-in-law Robert Hight.
Notable #5 – Robert Hight is known for the performance of his Auto Club Ford Mustang, which has started from the front of the pack 32 times in the last five seasons. However, each of the reigning champions three victories at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona came from a starting position outside the Quick 8. He won the 2006 and 2008 Winternationals from the No. 12 and No. 9 positions, respectively, and the 2007 Auto Club Finals from No. 14.
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PRO POINTS (Final 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings):
Funny Car – 1. Robert Hight, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, 2547; 2. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 2481; 3. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 2433; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 2430; 5. Jack Beckman, Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger, 2406; 6. Tony Pedregon, Q Racing Chevrolet, 2403; 7. Del Worsham, Al-Anabi Toyota Solara, 2352; 8. Bob Tasca III, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, 2326; 9. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 2268; 10. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Ford Mustang, 2235.
Top Fuel – 1. Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster, 2571; 2. Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi dragster, 2569; 3. Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster, 2522; 4. Cory McClenathan, Fram dragster, 2490; 5. Brandon Bernstein, Budweiser dragster, 2438; 6. Spencer Massey, US Smokeless Tobacco dragster, 2437; 7. Morgan Lucas, GEICO Powersports dragster, 2353; 8. Doug Kalitta, Technicoat dragster, 2325; 9. Shawn Langdon, Lucas Oil dragster, 2299; 10. Clay Millican, Nitrofish dragster, 2093.
Pro Stock – 1. Mike Edwards, Young Life/Penhall Pontiac, 2682; 2. Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, 2572; 3. Jason Line, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, 2486; 4. Greg Stanfield, Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP, 2403; 5. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jeg’s Chevrolet Cobalt, 2375; 6. Ron Krisher, Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt, 2363; 7. Allen Johnson, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus, 2334; 8. Kurt Johnson, ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt, 2307; 9. Johnny Gray, Johnny Gray Racing Dodge Stratus, 2300; 10. Rickie Jones, Quarter-Max/RJ Race Cars Dodge Stratus, 2142.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 1. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Buell, 2590; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Englishtown, N.J., Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 2588; 3. Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 2446; 4. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Suzuki, 2369; 5. Douglas Horne, Aberdeen, Md., Buell, 2362; 6. Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge, La., Suzuki, 2321; 7. Karen Stoffer, Smith, Nev., Suzuki, 2249; 8. Shawn Gann, Stoneville, N.C., Buell, 2248; 9. Craig Treble, Harvey, La., Suzuki, 2202; 10. Matt Guidera, Loomis, Calif., Buell, 2020.
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TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):
Qualifying – Saturday, Feb. 13, 11 pm-1 am
NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 am
Race Highlights – Sunday, Feb. 14, 8-11 pm
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NEXT EVENTS (2010 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship):
26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 19-21, Phoenix, Ariz.
41st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville, Fla.
Inaugural NHRA Charlotte Nationals, March 25-28, Charlotte, N.C.
23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals, April 9-11, Houston, Texas
11th annual SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev.
14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill.
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BACK |
COURTNEY FORCE READY TO ACCELERATE WINNING WAYS
February 9, 2010 |
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POMONA, CA --- Courtney Force capped her most successful racing season last year by reaching the finals round at the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway making a run at her second Lucas Oil event win. She came up just short but that just gave the 21 year-old Cal State-Fullerton student more motivation for the 2010 season.
Heading into the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals Force will be eager to get behind the wheel of her BrandSource/Ford Drive One A Fuel Dragster. Her first qualifying lap on Thursday, February 11 at 1:30 p.m. will get the season underway for John Force Racing. Once again Courtney will be sharing the Top Alcohol Dragster category with her older sister Brittany Force who drives the BrandSource A Fuel Dragster.
“I am excited to be racing again. The start of the season is really exciting. I’ll be finishing up at Cal State-Fullerton and racing whenever it works with my schedule. I got my first win in Seattle and then getting to the finals last year at the Auto Club Finals was a great way to end the season,” said Force.
“I am still learning and it is great to have my sister Brittany also in an A Fueler. We talk a lot about what is going on in the dragsters and we learn from each other. The key for me this year will be to just continue to be consistent and keep learning. I am hoping to make it to more winner’s circles this year too.”
For Courtney when your dad and your oldest sister keep setting records and re-writing drag racing history, following in their 17-inch wide tire tracks might seem like a very intimidating prospect.
Not for the youngest of 14-time Funny Car Champion John Force’s four daughters and the one he identified early-on as the most likely to follow him into the family racing business.
She picked up her first career win last year at Seattle, Wash., and she earned runner-up honors at the season-ending Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif., so the communications major is poised to make history of her own this year at the wheel of her A/Fuel dragster prepared by veteran tuner Jerry Darien.
She also scored off the track last season when she was named the Top Agent in the Fiesta Movement, a summer-long program designed to introduce the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Ford Motor Company designated 100 “agents” nationwide who drove and talked about the Fiesta on their MySpace sites, the YouTube channel and Twitter.
“Being selected Top Agent was a great honor. There were so many awesome agents and their videos really made me try harder with every new mission. The thousands of people that voted for me to be the top agent were so important and appreciated as well as all the thousands and thousands of fans that posted comments to my videos or Tweets over the summer. It was just awesome. I loved driving my Fiesta and I can’t wait to continue to promote Ford this season,” said Force.
Courtney actually has followed sister Ashley’s career course. Both were cheerleaders at Esperanza High School (Yorba Linda, Calif.); both took elective courses in auto shop and welding; and both majored in Communications at Cal State Fullerton, the university from which Courtney will graduate this year.
Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying will continue on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. with eliminations beginning on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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John Force Racing Partners with Simpson Performance Products in Multi-Year Safety Initiative
February 3, 2010 |
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New Braunfels, TX (February 3, 2010) Simpson Performance Products and John Force Racing have reached an agreement naming Simpson as the official safety gear for John Force Racing, beginning with the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season. The partnership between the two companies will further the safety initiatives undertaken by The Eric Medlen Project, a safety initiative that grew out of the tragedy that claimed the life of promising young driver, Eric Medlen.
Additionally, discussions are underway between JFR and Simpson to move some personnel to Brownsburg, IN to grow the effect and influence of The Eric Medlen Project and safety programs in motorsports. The Eric Medlen Project has been responsible for many of the safety innovations that now are mandated by the NHRA in Funny Car and Top Fuel. A worldwide leader in the manufacture of racing safety equipment including helmets, gloves, firesuits and parachutes, Simpson will operate as a “safety partner” with JFR, working with John Medlen and The Eric Medlen Project.
Commenting on the partnership, Chuck Davies, CEO of Simpson said, “Simpson looks forward to working closely with the Force Team and The Eric Medlen Project. Working together and sharing our knowledge and engineering resources with John Force Racing will lead to better, safer products for racers. Everyone at Simpson is very proud to be associated with John, his family and the entire team. John’s sixteen Funny Car championships as a driver and owner are a powerful testimony to his leadership and ability. When Force Racing wants to make something better, it happens. John wants to win with safety as a top priority which is good for everyone in racing.”
“I like and trust the folks at Simpson,” said team owner John Force. “I have worked with Dave Nelson for twenty years on my suits. Dave and his people are the best in the business. For fifteen years, Allen and Debbie Bridges have attended every NHRA Full Throttle event with the traveling Simpson trailer providing support, onsite service and a full complement of Simpson gear. We take safety seriously at John Force Racing. I asked for a safety company to step up and provide more than helmets and firesuits, and Simpson did that. That is why we are partnering with Simpson Performance Products.”
About Simpson Performance Products
Since 1959, Simpson Performance Products (www.teamsimpson.com has been manufacturing a complete line of products for racing safety, including drag parachutes, the flagship Simpson product. That is over 50 years of being the dominant brand in racing safety, protecting the driver and crew from head to toe with helmets, Nomex® firesuits, restraints, shoes and gloves. Simpson firesuits, team apparel and sublimated shirts are created at our 53,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Harbor City, CA. Helmets, restraints and parachutes are manufactured at our 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in New Braunfels, TX. Simpson offers trackside race support at all NHRA Full Throttle races.
About John Force Racing, Inc.
John Force Racing, Inc. (www.johnforceracing.com) is a professional sports dynasty spanning 35 years, one that has earned 16 Funny Car championships and claimed over 185 funny car tour victories. Led by team owner and driver John Force, the most prolific winner in NHRA history, JFR’s driver lineup also includes 2009 Full Throttle Funny Car champion Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club Ford Mustang; 2009 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Ashley Force, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang; and Brittany and Courtney Force, who compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster division.
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FORCE FOCUSED ON 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP ADDRESSES ECONOMIC ISSUES
January 29, 2010 |
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Completes Year-long Consolidation of Racing Operations at Brownsburg Facility
YORBA LINDA – Responding to an unpredictable economy drag racing icon John Force on Thursday outlined a plan to insure both the competitive and financial viability of John Force Racing, Inc., for years to come. The plan has been a work in progress for over a year.
The cornerstones of Force’s initiative are (1) a reduction in the number of cars the team will support next season in its bid for an unprecedented 17th NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car championship; (2) re-location of all JFR racing resources to the Brownsburg facility; (3) creation of new revenue streams through production of the BOSS 500 engine and the JFR chassis; and (4) personnel consolidation.
“In this economy,” Force said, “I’m having to re-evaluate my programs and my people to create a game plan for the future. It’s all about the Next Generation.”
“I have invested with the IMG group, headed by George Pyne, to help look for new sponsorship opportunities but I also know that I need to insure that my current sponsors, primarily Castrol, in our 25th year together, Ford, Auto Club, BrandSource, and Mac Tools are getting more value than they expect. We will continue to hit the media hard and work with them to make sure that our message along with our sponsors’ messages reaches the fans.”
Whereas JFR has fielded four Ford Funny Cars the last three seasons, Force said he is parking, at least temporarily, the Drive One Mustang directed to a season-ending victory by 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year Mike Neff.
His team’s 2010 lineup will feature only three Ford Mustangs: his own Castrol GTX High Mileage entry; the Auto Club Mustang in which Robert “Top Gun” Hight will defend his Full Throttle championship; and the Castrol GTX Mustang in which reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals champion Ashley Force Hood will try to become the first woman to win the Funny Car title.
The 126-time tour winner said Mike Neff, crew chief for Gary Scelzi when they won the 2005 Funny Car world championship will join Austin Coil, the most successful crew chief in drag racing history, in support of his bid for a 15th NHRA driving championship.
Bernie Fedderly, Coil’s partner for the last 17 years and one of only three crew chiefs to have won NHRA titles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, will continue to be in the mix but will adjust his travel schedule after 30 years. He will also assume the new role of Special Projects Manager at John Force Racing, Inc. as well as contributing to the Coil-Neff alliance.
As Fedderly’s role changed it opened the door to one of the most intriguing crew chief partnerships in recent history. After winning the 2005 NHRA championship as crew chief to Gary Scelzi, Neff spent the last two seasons at the wheel of the Ford Drive One Mustang, earning 2008 Rookie of the Year honors before winning the Auto Club Finals last November at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Coil has won more NHRA races and more championships than anyone – including Force. The man who started as a line mechanic at a Chicago dealership enters 2010 with 16 championship trophies and 133 tour victories. Before joining Force in 1985, he won seven races and two NHRA championships (1982 and 1983) with his own car, the ChiTown Hustler, driven by Frank Hawley.
Significantly, the makeover of Force’s team extends well beyond the crew chiefs. In fact, all but one crew member will be new to the team with the start of the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, Feb. 11-14, at Pomona.
In addition, the car itself will be new, front to back, utilizing JFR’s in-house chassis that Neff took to victory for the first time last year, the Ford BOSS 500 nitro motor developed by JFR’s John Medlen, in conjunction with Ford Racing, the new, sleeker 2010 Mustang body, new logos and new metallic paint featuring silver highlights that recognize the 25 seasons Force has shared with Castrol.
Neff’s crew chief, John Medlen, will concentrate his efforts on managing The Eric Medlen Project, which will continue to focus on racing safety, as well as the in-house engine and chassis programs he helped create which will generate new revenue streams through production of the BOSS 500 engine and the JFR chassis. Medlen will also be available to team up with crew chief Jimmy Prock and car chief Eric Lane to create a potent tuning triumvirate for the 2009 Funny Car Championship Auto Club Ford Mustang team.
“I am dropping the fourth car for the 2010 season strictly as a business move,” Force said, “because in this economy we haven’t been able to fund it properly through new sponsorship.”
Moreover, to underscore the seriousness with which his teams are pursuing the 2010 title, Force has added track specialist Lanny Miglizzi to work with his crew chiefs and with son-in-law Dan Hood, who last year served as track specialist while also developing as a backup for Fedderly in his role as inventory manager and personnel manager. The combination of Hood and Miglizzi also gives JFR more personnel to monitor the ever changing track conditions as race cars compete throughout the day in Funny Car and the Top Alcohol Dragster.
Miglizzi will also work out of the Brownsburg shop leading the JFR in-house clutch program. For years he operated one of the sport’s most successful clutch management businesses with his late father, Tony. He is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable, detail-oriented experts in the field of track-mapping.
Another change is the consolidation of all race car operations at Brownsburg. The last of Force’s race cars to make the move from the West Coast facility in Yorba Linda, Calif., was his own Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford. Furthermore, the machine shop operation, which previously was split between the two facilities, has been centralized in Brownsburg.
Force’s attention has not just been focused on on-track performance. One of the strongest brands in motorsports has also been looking at ways to insure his corporate backing can weather the up and down economy with his teams.
“I’ve had to re-evaluate everything from show car programs to midway displays to help activate programs for the sponsors and help cut costs,” Force said.
“I’ve talked a number of times with Tom McKernan, the CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California, who helped keep the Auto Club profitable even in tough times, to help me re-evaluate our JFR business plan,” Force said.
“Last year I started talking with Brian Wolfe, who came over from Powertrain where he was instrumental in managing Ford’s mass production capabilities. We talked about how to produce products in-house not only for our team but also to generate revenue by selling to other teams. I will continue to speak to Brian in this area as time permits because he is the expert. In Phoenix I had the chance to speak with Jamie Allison, the new Director of Ford Racing, and it was business as usual. We have to continue to be cost efficient but at the end of the day Ford wants to win.”
“One of my biggest losses was the recent passing of Bob Tasca Sr. He introduced me to Ford in 1997 and he wrote the book “You Will Be Satisfied,” about how to sell to the next generation of consumers. He was one of the icons with Ford and I pray that I listened enough.”
“I listen to these individuals because they’re successful in what they do and, with the 25th anniversary of JFR and Castrol and the continued growth of the NHRA, we need to know where we’re going for the next 25 years,” Force said.
“My priority right now is to execute this business plan, and make sure existing sponsors like Castrol, Ford, Auto Club, BrandSource and Mac Tools can activate trackside and elsewhere. I am investing in show car trailers to help make that happen.
“It’s a tough economy, but these are exciting times, too, because of the way we are responding to the challenge. For me,” Force said, “the key word is ‘activate.’ We need to activate for our sponsors but we need to activate for ourselves, too.”
Photos attached: 1) Mike Neff and Austin Coil, 2) Jimmy Prock, Eric Lane and John Medlen, 3) Lanny Miglizzi and Dan Hood
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FORCE HOOD STARTS AND ENDS TESTING DAY WITH SUCCESS -NEFF MAKES LAP IN FORCE’S MUSTANG-
January 26, 2010 |
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PHOENIX (January 26, 2010) --- Ashley Force Hood started the day with a blistering run at Firebird International Raceway and she capped the day with an even better pass in her Dean Antonelli - Ron Douglas tuned Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. As the first John Force Racing Mustang to hit the track Force Hood covered the 1,000 ft. racing surface in 4.07 seconds at 305.73 mph as the last Mustang to power down the track she stepped it up with a 4.06 second, 310.34 mph run.
In the early session John Force also made a solid 4.10 second run at 306.99 mph behind the wheel of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang. 2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight made three runs in his Auto Club Ford Mustang as crew chief Jimmy Prock tested a variety of clutch packages and tune ups. A day earlier Hight made the quickest run of the 2010 testing session a 4.05 second run at over 310 mph so today’s slower times (5.03, 9.97, and 9.48 seconds) did not dampen his team’s enthusiasm.
While most observers watched the testing action with mild interest the spectators and teams on-hand perked up when Mike Neff made the third and final pass of the day in John Force’s Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang. Neff the most recent NHRA national event winner, Auto Club Finals in November, has been involved with John Force’s team throughout the Phoenix testing session and the team will have some future announcements about the overall organization of Force’s racing operation.
After his run Neff commented on the experience.
"It was fun. It is always fun to climb into one of these Mustangs. It was a little stressful since it was John's Mustang and a few of the controls were in different places. It is not a big deal just a little awkward. It was exciting to make a run. I'm bummed it didn't make it to the top end. That is an awesome feeling to drive one of these Mustangs. I was glad to get back in it and keep my skills sharp," said Mike Neff.
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MONDAY’S TRIO OF OHS FOR JFR AT FIREBIRD HAS TEAM GOING IN RIGHT DIRECTION
January 26, 2010 |
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PHOENIX (January 25, 2010) --- At the end of the day on Monday the trio of John Force Racing Mustangs that ran down Firebird International Raceway all rang up positive numbers. Led by 2009 Funny Car Full Throttle Champion Robert Hight’s 4.05 second run at over 310 mph in the Auto Club 2010 Ford Mustang every JFR Mustang clocked a time quicker than 4.10 seconds. It was the maiden voyage for Hight underneath his new Mustang body and the Full Throttle Funny Car champ was all smiles at the top end after the run.
“This place is very tricky. It was perfect timing for that run because it was the first run with the 2010 Mustang body. I knew it was a good run. It felt good the whole way. It was pretty awesome. It was cool to hear the excitement of the guys on the radio. It has been a while since we have had some excitement over the radio,” said Hight. “(Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) says if you hit it right could run 4.03 out here. Hitting it right is the trick. This track will produce huge ETs but you have to hit it right. Every little thing counts. After that run the engine ran fine and the clutch came together nice. We have a pretty good baseline going into Pomona.”
Hight’s run came on the heels of John Force’s best run of testing a solid 4.08 second pass in his 25th anniversary Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang. Force’s run was spectacular on the race course and at the top end. The 14-time champion drifted to the left and clipped a timing cone that was set up to record 1320 ft. times for the handful of sportsman racers that are also sharing the track.
“I’m excited about (the 4.08). Last year here I couldn’t get down the race track for four days and then we finally did. It shows the preparation of the track (this year). That is why so many people didn’t come here and chose to go to Florida or even Vegas. I chose to come here (Firebird International Raceway owner) Charlie Allen said it wouldn’t be like last year they would fix it. This is the road to Pomona,” said Force.
“4.08 (seconds) is good. I am starting to feel a little good there. Robert ran right around me. He got an .05 that is big. I feel good. I feel confident. Although it is never good to get too fast too quick because then you almost feel lucky then luck goes away.”
“They (the track personnel) left the cones out because they have so many different categories running. It is a lot of work in all fairness to them, to change it back. They have to go glue them and everything. I went through the lights not thinking anything was there. I am not supposed to cross the centerline anyway. That’s my fault. When I passed the lights it started to drift over and I didn’t jerk it back. I thought (I would) just pull it back slowly. I had nobody in the other lane and I mowed ‘em (timing cones) down.”
Force's team pulled out the Castrol Edge Mustang body for him to run the rest of the day after the top end incident.
At the end of the day Ashley Force Hood capped the session with her best run of testing a nice 4.09 second run at 310.34 mph behind the wheel of her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Her two runs earlier in the day did not yield positive results.
“We were a little frustrated today. We started the testing sessions good then suddenly today it wouldn’t go to half track. We were dealing with some tire shake but they got it under control for that last run. This run it went right down there. It thought about shaking but it powered through. That was a good feeling. It is good to get these different experiences on the track again since you’ll have to deal with that during the season. You don’t want your first experience of tire shake during the season to be in the semi-finals,” said Force Hood.
“Getting a good pass at the end of the day is important for me but also for the guys. If I make a full run or I shake the tires at the hit that is a huge difference for me as far as what I experience. For my crew guys their job is exactly the same whether it goes to the finish line or not. I know they were happy to see that 4.08. Those are the kind of numbers you need to start the season.”
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John Force Racing First Day of Testing in Phoenix Results
January 23, 2010 |
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PHOENIX (January 23, 2010) --- Saturday was a true shake down day for John Force Racing. The goal of the day was to knock the rust off the teams and begin to put the pieces together to win an unprecedented 17th team Full Throttle Funny Car world championship.
2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight’s Auto Club Mustang made two passes with the final lap of the day covering the race track in 4.11 seconds at 302.21 mph. Not to be outdone Ashley Force Hood’s Castrol GTX Mustang followed in his tracks recording a 4.11 at 302.75 mph on her second pass. Team leader John Force only made one run on Saturday but it was JFR’s first full pass when the 14-time champ clicked it early and tripped the lights at 4.19 seconds and a diminished 242.06 mph.
“I was a little rusty and I definitely used up a lot of race track. NHRA and Firebird have done a great job with setting up the track. Last year it took us seven or eight runs per team before we got down the race track. On our second try today we went down the track so today was a good way to start. Our biggest deal right now is we want to get it past half track and try to lock the clutch up. That is the biggest thing we are testing right now is our clutch pack. We want a smooth lock up and have it run real quick. We don’t learn that by shutting off at the 330 ft. mark,” said Hight.
“One thing that we have changed from previous years is we are not changing a lot of other things. We are changing what we have to. We spent a lot of time this winter on the dyno and we have a pretty good idea what our clutch disks will do but you don’t know until you put them on together. That is what we are testing now,” add Hight.
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O’REILLY STORE MANAGERS SURPRISED BY JOHN FORCE, ASHLEY FORCE HOOD
January 20, 2010 |
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YORBA LINDA, CA (January 19, 2010) --- On Monday during the annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Manager’s Conference in Memphis, Tennessee 14-time Funny Car Champion John Force and 2009 Funny CarFull Throttle Championship Runner-Up Ashley Force Hood surprised 4,500 O’Reilly store managers making an unannounced appearance and entertaining the crowd for nearly an hour.
Force talked about the challenges and satisfaction of running his multi-car team in a tough economy and how he felt 2010 would be a much better year for the winningest driver in NHRA history. Ashley Force Hood explained to the crowd how the diversity at all levels of the NHRA was a huge selling point for the sport. At the end of their discussion the crowd gave the pair a standing ovation.
The tandem of Castrol sponsored drivers also presented awards to the top performing store managers and dined with the top brass from O’Reilly.
In addition to the speaking engagement and the awards presentation the drivers signed autographs for the managers until midnight. It was a whirlwind weekend for Force who prior to the O’Reilly event hosted the AARWBA banquet on Saturday night at his Brownsburg, Ind. facility.
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Castrol Unveils Official John Force Racing 25th Anniversary Fan Site
January 13, 2010 |
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WAYNE, NJ (January 13, 2010) --- After nearly a year of planning and development Castrol launched the official John Force Racing 25th anniversary fan site located at www.castrolforce.com this week. At the end of the 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series fans were asked to sign up to be a part of the most comprehensive and interactive website to celebrate John Force Racing’s upcoming 25th year with Castrol. Almost 10,000 fans got in the ground floor and they got the first opportunity to join the celebration and begin a year-long interactive experience with the winningest driver and team in all of motorsports.
“Having the official website www.castrolforce.com up and running is a major accomplishment for Castrol and our marketing team. This celebration of the first twenty-five years with John Force and John Force Racing will be a season long adventure for Castrol, the entire JFR team and our tens of thousands of fans. The site will boast all sorts of interactive zones as well as pages where fans can upload photos and videos. There will be contests throughout the year and castrolforce.com will become one of the hottest destinations on the web for exclusive John Force Racing 25th anniversary information and news,” said Lori Anne Gola, Assistant Sponsorship Manager.
The castrolforce.com website will be the main destination for fans of John Force Racing who are interested in twenty-five years of stories, photos and exclusive video highlights covering John Force’s rise to the top of the NHRA. Members of John Force Racing from every level of the organization participated in the creation and the ongoing development of the site.
The site is completely free to join and will feature pages highlighting the traditional news and information as well as areas where fans can upload their favorite videos and photos. Contests run throughout the 2010 season revolving around John Force Racing history, fan interaction and a wide variety of promotio | |
