ONE YEAR LATER - JOHN FORCE HAS NEW PERSPECTIVE

TEAM CASTROL
JOHN FORCE
Pre-Race Package for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
August 27-September 1, 2008
O’Reilly Raceway Park
Indianapolis, Indiana
18th of 24 Events in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series

Overview:

Since all four John Force Racing drivers have clinched spots in the NHRA’s Countdown to One, the focus this week will shift to winning the world’s oldest, largest, richest and most prestigious drag race and building momentum for the playoffs, which begin Sept. 12-14 at Charlotte, N.C.

After failing to qualify a year ago, John Force will try to recapture the form that put his Castrol GTX Funny Car in the winners’ circle in 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2002. Nevertheless, he isn’t the team’s only previous Indy winner. Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Ford, won the Mac U.S. Nationals in 2006 and was runner-up last year.

Ashley Force won the Top Alcohol Dragster championship at the 2004 U.S. Nationals, a title for which her younger sisters, Brittany, 22, and Courtney, 20, will be racing this year in twin dragsters prepared by veteran Jerry Darien.

Mike Neff, whose qualification for the Countdown helped validate his Rookie-of-the-Year credentials, will be driving in the U.S. Nationals for the first time in his career although he has worked on and prepared cars that have raced at Indy every year since 1991.

U.S. Smokeless Showdown:

Three JFR team drivers managed to make the eight -car lineup for the 27th annual U.S. Smokeless Showdown which will be contested on Sunday, Aug. 31. As the No. 1 seed, Ashley Force extended to 19 the number of consecutive seasons in which a John Force Racing Funny Car has started from No. 1 in the Showdown.

First Round Pairings – 1. Ashley Force, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 2940 points, vs. 8. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 2370; 2. Robert Hight, Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, 2930, vs. 7. Del Worsham, CSK Chevrolet, 2385;
3. Tony Pedregon, Q Racing Chevrolet, 2895, vs. 6. Cruz Pedregon, Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet, 2615; 4. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Chevrolet, 2860, vs. 5. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge, 2770.

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John Force Racing History at O’Reilly Raceway Park:

– John has qualified No. 1 11 times at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, more than at any other event in the POWERade Series. That said, he suffered his third career qualifying failure at Indy just last fall.
– Twice John has won the U.S. Smokeless Showdown Funny Car bonus race and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on the same race weekend (1993, 1996).
– John has won just 39 racing rounds at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, fewest of any race in which he has made at least 15 starts.
– Although he’s won four times in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, John hasn’t won a single round in the world’s most prestigious race since he beat Jim Head in the first round in 2004 (before losing to Gary Scelzi in round two).
– John is making his 24th consecutive starts in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown in which he has reached the finals 12 times, won 35 rounds and claimed six titles, all records. His last victory came in 2006.

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Track Records (quarter mile records):

Funny Car – 4.691 seconds by John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, Sept. ‘06; 331.04 mph by Robert Hight, Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, Sept. ‘06.
Top Fuel – 4.459 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Sept. 05; 333.66 mph by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ‘07.
Pro Stock – 6.648 seconds by Dave Connolly, Sept. ‘07; 207.30 mph by Kurt Johnson, Sept. ‘07.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.948 seconds by Chip Ellis, Sept. ‘07; 193.85 mph by Andrew Hines, Sept. ‘05.
Top Alcohol Dragster – 5.180 seconds by Bill Reichert, Sept. ‘06; 278.35 mph by Michael Gunderson, Sept. ‘03.

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Current Points:

NHRA POWERade Series (after 17 of 18 races to determine the 10 drivers eligible to compete in a six-race Countdown to the Championship) – 1. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Chevrolet, 1189; 2. Tony Pedregon, Q Racing Chevrolet, 1066; 3. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 1000; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Advance Chevrolet, 948; 5. Ashley Force, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 922; 6. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 871; 7. Gary Densham, Racebricks Chevrolet, 859; 8. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 840; 9. Jack Beckman, Valvoline Dodge, 836; 10. Mike Neff, Old Spice Ford Mustang, 796.

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Television (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):

Qualifying – Sunday, Aug. 31, 12:30 midnight-1:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; 5-7 p.m.
NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m.
Race Highlights – Monday, Sept. 1, 12-2 p.m.; 7-10 p.m.
Repeat race hightlights – Friday, Sept. 5, 2-4 a.m.
Sportsman Highlights – Sunday, Sept. 7, 10-11 a.m.

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Next Events (Countdown to the Championship)
Sept. 11-14 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, N.C.
Sept. 18-21 O’Reilly Fall Nationals Dallas, Texas
Sept. 26-28 O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals Memphis, Tenn.
Oct. 10-12 NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, Va.
Oct. 30-Nov. 2 ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 13-16 Auto Club of SC Finals Pomona, Calif.

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NOTE: Race-specific press releases on the 27th annual U.S. Smokeless Showdown to be contested in conjunction with the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals are included at the end of this package.


For Immediate Release
ONE YEAR LATER, FORCE
HAS NEW PERSPECTIVE
Funny Car Icon Tries to Bounce Back at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Last year, John Force, the most prolific winner in drag racing history, stumbled and fell on his sport's biggest stage, failing to qualify his Castrol GTX® High Mileage™ Ford Mustang for the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Having grown accustomed to starting the world's oldest, richest and most prestigious race from No. 1, his qualifying position in 11 of his previous 17 appearances at ORP, Force believed it was the worst moment of his professional career. He was wrong.

Three weeks later, while racing in the second round of a POWERade tour event in Dallas, Texas, he suffered career-threatening injuries when his Mustang broke apart and, at 300 miles per hour, collided with the Dodge of friend and rival Kenny Bernstein

After walking away from literally dozens of other accidents with nothing more than the occasional singed eyebrow, Force suffered broken bones in his arms, legs, fingers and toes including a compound fracture of the left ankle. He underwent six hours of reconstructive surgery after which he spent 27 days in a Dallas hospital and months more in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Despite the injuries, which for two months left him unable to do almost anything on his own, the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection vowed not only to return to competition this year, but to compete for the championship.

"I didn't want that to be my last Indy – not qualifying," Force said. "I still have that fire and if (crew chiefs Austin) Coil and Bernie (Fedderly) can figure out this race car, I think we can still be competitive."

Force took a major step in his comeback when he won last June at Topeka, Kan. That enabled him to extend to 22 the number of consecutive years in which he has won an NHRA tour event, tying Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson's record. Nevertheless, Force has more lofty goals.

"I want to win another championship," he said. "This Countdown, I didn't know whether I would like it, but it's given me a chance to win again even at my age. If we can get on a roll, we've got the same shot as everybody else."


After his crash last fall and the earlier testing accident that claimed the life of rising young star Eric Medlen, Force focused on making the sport safer. His creation of the Eric Medlen Project adjacent to the team's Brownsburg satellite shop created a clearing house for ideas and information designed to create a safer competitive environment.

He wants the safety initiative to be his legacy but not his only one.

"At the end of the day, I want to be safe," he said, "but I still want to win. That's what it's all about."

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Did You Know?
– John hasn't qualified No. 1 since the 2006 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. That's a span of 46 races, the longest he's gone without starting No. 1 since beginning his career with a 59-race drought. That said, he has started from No. 1 more often at the U.S. Nationals than at any other event in the POWERade series, a total of 11 times.
– With his victory in the June 1 O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Topeka, Kan., John extended to 22 the number of consecutive seasons in which he has won at least one NHRA tour event, tying him with Pro Stock veteran Warren Johnson, who won at least one race every year from 1982 through 2003.
– John's quarter mile track record of 4.691 seconds will stand for at least one more season insomuch as this year's race is being contested at the 1,000 foot distance mandated in the aftermath of the crash last June that claimed the life of former Top Fuel Champion and Funny Car contender Scott Kalitta.

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JOHN FORCE by the numbers....

1 victory since suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash last September at Dallas, Texas
2 double-up wins as the champion of the U.S. Smokeless Showdown and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
(1993, 1996).
3 screws permanently securing the snapped bone in his left ankle.
4 Career victories in the Mac Tools U.S.Nationals (1993, 1996, 1998, 2002)
5 years (2001-2005), longest span without a win in Big Bud Shootout/U.S. Smokeless Showdown.
6 losses in the 1996 season, fewest in history.
7 position in 2007 points, worst finish since 1984.
8 final position in 2008 U.S. Smokeless Showdown points, pitting him against daughter Ashley in
Sunday's first round.
9 runner-up finishes before winning his first race.
10 consecutive NHRA championships (1993-2002)
14 series championships, a drag racing record
22 consecutive seasons with at least one victory.
24 consecutive starts in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown.
126 career tour victories, a drag racing record
202 career final rounds, a drag racing record
1009 career rounds won, a drag racing record.

-www.johnforceracing.com-

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John Force @ the U.S. Smokeless Showdown:

1983 Beat Ken Veney; lost to Al Segrini
1985 Lost to Kenny Bernstein
1986 Beat Tom McEwen, Billy Meyer; Lost to Mark Oswald
1987 Beat Don Prudhomme, Billy Meyer and Mark Oswald
1988 Lost to Ed McCulloch
1989 Beat Kenny Bernstein, Mark Oswald; Lost to Don Prudhomme
1990 Beat K.C. Spurlock, Ed McCulloch and Bruce Larson
1991 Beat Al Hofmann, Richard Hartman; Lost to Jim White
1992 Beat Whit Bazemore, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Al Hofmann
1993 Beat Whit Bazemore, Tom Hoover and Cruz Pedregon
1994 Lost to Kenji Okazaki
1995 Beat Jim Epler; lost to Cruz Pedregon
1996 Beat Gary Bolger, Tony Pedregon and Cruz Pedregon
1997 Beat Del Worsham; lost to Kenji Okazaki
1998 Beat Al Hofmann; lost to Cruz Pedregon
1999 Lost to Del Worsham
2000 Beat Del Worsham, Tony Pedregon and Jim Epler
2001 Beat Del Worsham; lost to Whit Bazemore
2002 Lost to Dean Skuza
2003 Beat Ron Capps, Whit Bazemore; lost to Tony Pedregon
2004 Beat Phil Burkart Jr., Tony Pedregon; lost to Gary Densham
2005 Lost to Robert Hight
2006 Beat Tony Pedregon, Eric Medlen and Tommy Johnson Jr.
2007 Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.

Number starts: 24
Final rounds: 12
Victories: 6
Won-Lost Record: 35-18

-www.johnforceracing.com-