FORCE STILL A FACTOR AS COUNTDOWN MOVES TO LVMS.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 24, 2018) — In a career spanning 42 seasons, John Force routinely has defied the odds while paying little attention to conventional wisdom. It’s a strategy that has worked out okay for the former big rig truck driver if you call 16 championships and 149 tour victories okay. The upshot is that even though he is only seventh in Mello Yello driver points entering this week’s 18th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the sport’s most successful pro driver still believes he can win another title at the wheel of a much-improved PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro. “This PEAK Camaro has gotten better every week,” said the former Driver of the Year for all American motorsports (1996). “It has consistency now. (At the last race at Charlotte) it went down the racetrack every run in qualifying and every run (on race day). Overall, as a team, we’re doing good. “It’s a long way to that championship and we are running out of races,” he grudgingly admitted, “but I never give up as long as there’s a chance. Things happen. It’s drag racing. I know we’ve got our work cut out for us but if we go out and win Vegas, we’ll see where it goes?” Winning Vegas” is something Force knows how to do. After a horrid first 10 years at The Strip during which he won just one time in 17 attempts, the Hall of Famer has turned things around, winning five of his last 16 Vegas starts including Toyota Nationals’ titles in 2010, 2013 and 2016, the first two paving the way to championships. After a start to the 2018 season where Force made multiple trips to the hospital after on track incidents, the racing icon turned around and won the Mile-High Nationals at Denver and extended to 31 the number of different seasons in which he has won at least one tour event, a feat unparalleled in professional sport. “I want to win and I know I still can,” Force said. “This isn’t NASCAR. I don’t have to drive around for three or four hours. I’ve been doing this a long time. I know the drill. When it’s over, I’ll know it’s over – but it ain’t over yet!” Although he is on the verge of win 150, Force will be focused on something much grander. “It’s all about the championship,” Force said. “If I can’t get it and Courtney (youngest daughter Courtney Force, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Camaro) can’t get it, then I’m going to try to take out the guys who are chasing Robert (Hight, the current points leader and president of John Force Racing) so he has the best chance of winning.” Nitro qualifying at the Toyota Nationals is scheduled at 12:30 and 3 p.m. on Friday, 12:30 and 2:45 p.m. Saturday. The single elimination tournament will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Photo Credit: Gary Nastase, Auto Imagery

PROUD JOHN FORCE ACCEPTS HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM UNOH

LIMA, OH (January 10, 2018) – An emotional and proud John Force, legendary NHRA Funny Car driver, accepted an honorary doctorate today at the University of Northwestern Ohio in a special ceremony presided over by university president Dr. Jeffery Jarvis. The 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his historic motorsports career and his dedication to racing safety.

“I never had this kind of opportunity. I learned on the race tracks and in the boardrooms. I got an education at truck stops across the country,” Force told students and faculty during the special ceremony. “I am honored to receive this doctorate mainly because I saw the passion these UNOH students have for motorsports as well as their other programs. They are really turning their passions into careers here. I could not be more impressed with what I saw around campus and I am excited to be Dr. Force.”

Force, as well as 2017 NHRA Funny Car champion Robert Hight, 2017 NHRA Top Fuel champion Brittany Force and winningest female Funny Car driver Courtney Force, toured the UNOH campus. The group met with students in a variety of degree programs and also spent time with the students on the successful UNOH motorsports team.

UNOH president, Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, presented Force with the honorary degree during a special ceremony at the UNOH Event Center. Current students, faculty, staff and special guests were in attendance filling the center to near capacity.

“John Force is truly a wonderful role model and icon in the motorsports industry. He is not only a championship driver, but he embraces a love for the future of the sport which lies within many of our students today,” said Jarvis. “John Force Racing has employed UNOH graduates for many years. It was an easy decision to honor a man that has had such a large impact on the racing industry, the business community, and educational environment. We are thrilled to have John Force join the UNOH family.” 

The University of Northwestern Ohio is the first university to honor Force in this way. With this degree, Force became the first drag racer recognized in this manner. He became the third motorsports luminary after Richard Petty and Richard Childress to receive honorary doctorates. Childress was honored by UNOH in 2013.

For additional information contact Sara Slaughter, John Force Racing PR at sara@johnforceracing.com or UNOH Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Stephanie Malloy at smalloy@unoh.edu. 

Story courtesy Sara Slaughter, JFR-PR.

All Photos courtesy JFR PR.

Editor's Note: I guess we need to call him Dr. Force now. And it seems only fair since we call Warren Johnson, "The Professor". DW.

Robert Hight Wins another NHRA Funny Car Championship.

Photo Credit: Ron Lewis.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11) – Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight ran the gamut of emotions during the Auto Club NHRA Finals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

In the end, it was pure elation, as Hight captured the 2017 Funny Car championship.

“It’s been an eventful weekend,” Hight said. “Twenty-four hours ago, I wasn’t even qualified for this event, and we were leading the points. We got it together, got in the 15th spot. If you’re in, you have a chance, especially when you have a team like we’ve got with (crew chief) Jimmy Prock, (co-crew chief) Chris Cunningham. You just believe that those guys are a couple adjustments away from turning this thing around.”

The right adjustments were made, and Hight sped to a first-round win over Tim Wilkerson that eliminated John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force from title contention. Then, Del Worsham knocked off second-place Ron Capps, and Hight had the second championship of his career – this one coming eight years after his first.

“Del Worsham came over to me before first round and said, ‘I don't think I can outrun him, but I’m not going to give it to him. I’m going to make sure my car goes down the track,’” Hight said. “Del Worsham did the right thing by making it go down the track. It’s pretty cool; it’s been 10 years since Chevrolet has won a championship in Funny Car, and we’re back.”

Hight came into the final race of the 2017 season leading by 20 points over Capps, but struggles in qualifying dropped that to eight before race day. Hight and his team struggled to get down the track in qualifying, and Hight had to pedal his Chevrolet Camaro SS in the final session to get in the 16-car field at No. 15.

But Prock and Cunningham tuned Hight to an incredible pass of 3.839 seconds at 332.51 mph in the first round Sunday, and qualifying was forgotten. Hight made another stellar run in the second and third rounds, beating Courtney Force in the semifinals to reach his seventh final of the season.

After getting the win light, though, the engine in Hight’s Auto Club car exploded, and the Camaro darted from left from the right lane.

Force, fortunately, had slowed from tire smoke and wasn’t close to Hight as he bounced off the wall in the left lane. The concussion from the explosion knocked the parachute handle out of Hight’s reach, but he was busy trying to control the car and slow it down.

Eventually, it reached the gravel pit past top end and ran into the nets. Hight was unhurt, but the car was too damaged to continue. The team brought out a backup chassis and a third body; the first, sporting a special California Highway Patrol paint scheme, was damaged in Q4.

The third body was built for Brittany Force’s Funny Car, and the JFR team had to swap decals for the final round.

There, Hight went up in smoke against Tommy Johnson Jr. and couldn’t get the race win, but the championship trophy was his.

“That was a crazy, crazy run,” Hight said. “When I got back to the pits, there were Advance crew members and PEAK crew members, and we really rallied to get this thing back together.”

But that was typical of JFR this season. John Force brought Prock and Cunningham to the team, and eventually moved them to lead Hight’s group. Hight responded with four victories – and two in the Countdown to the Championship – and national records in elapsed time (3.793 seconds) and speed (339.87 mph).

“We did a lot of work over the winter to put John Force Racing back together,” Hight said. “This was kind of a building year. It’s crazy how this building year turned into a dream. We could’ve never dreamed that we’d win two championships.

“Everybody worked their tail off and was quiet and knew they had a job to do. This is just huge for John Force Racing. For a couple of years, we have struggled but it is such a great group. We signed a long-term deal with Auto Club and they deserve better than what we were giving them. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham they got us back in the game. It’s been a long time and you want it so bad.”

And Hight joined legends like John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Raymond Beadle, Matt Hagan, Frank Hawley, Cruz Pedregon and Tony Pedregon as a two-time Funny Car champion.

“Not many guys can say they are a two-time champion,” Hight said. “There are only a handful of guys who are a two-time Funny Car champ.”

But Hight was quick to credit his team at the race track – and the guys back at John Force Racing in Brownsburg, Ind.

“We have a bunch of people back in Indianapolis at Force American Made who we need to really thank,” Hight said. “They build all this stuff. They build our race cars, mount our bodies, build all of our parts, engine parts, clutch parts and superchargers. These guys run those Hurco machines, and they really work their butts off. This championship is as much for them as it is for us.”

Story and Photo Credit Courtesy JFR-PR Lee Montgomery & Michael Harker.

First Day of Qualifying at New England Dragway, Epping, NH.

SCHUMACHER, JOHNSON JR. AND MCGAHA TOP QUALIFYING LEADERBOARD FRIDAY AT NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

News From: The NHRA Communications Dept.
(Anthony Vestal & Chris Lawyer)

EPPING, N.H.  – Tony Schumacher raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel Friday at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Boston.

Bob Tasca II & III - Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

Schumacher ran a track record 3.742-second pass at 324.12 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to top the leaderboard after the first day of qualifying. Schumacher, the eight-time and defending world champ, is looking for his first top qualifier at Epping and second of the season.

“I think the car is excellent right now,” said Schumacher, winner of this event last season. “There was more there. You look at the computer and there is some room [to improve]. I’m sure most cars that go out there are going to find it.”

Robert Hight  - Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

Schumacher debuted a new car at the national event in Atlanta last month and finally feels that his dragster is starting to pick up steam. The team has struggled since the switch, losing twice in the second round and once in the first.

“We brought the car out at Atlanta and that’s not been many races,” said Schumacher. “We haven’t gone and won rounds, haven’t been to a final with it. It’s a great car. It should benefit us when it gets warm outside. Right now, we are just maintaining.”  

Ron Capps - Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

Richie Crampton currently sits second following a 3.744 at 325.92 in his Lucas Oil dragster. Shawn Langdon, the 2013 world champ, was strong with a 3.745 at 324.98 in his Knuckle Sandwich/Bass Pro Shops/AJPE dragster and is provisionally third. Steve Torrence and Spencer Massey, who reset the track speed record at 327.66 mph in his Red Fuel dragster, are fourth and fifth.

Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

Johnson Jr. claimed the Funny Car top spot during the final pair of the category with his 4.047 at 319.45 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T. Johnson Jr., who entered this event sixth in points, is two sessions away from securing his first No. 1 qualifier since Chicago last season and his first at Epping.

“I was expecting a lot better numbers than what we saw tonight,” Johnson Jr. said. “We got up there and thought we were going to try to run a low zero. The 4.04 was a good number and the guys had a good handle on the tune-up. Track conditions kept getting better and I was thrilled with a 4.04.”

Two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon ran a 4.052 at 306.46 in his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to sit second. John Force, a 16-time world champ searching for his first New England win, is currently qualified third with two sessions remaining. Fellow John Force Racing competitors Courtney Force and Robert Hight are fourth and fifth. 

In Pro Stock, McGaha ran a 6.520 at 212.66 in his Harlow Sammons Chevy Camaro to lead the factory hot rod field following Friday’s sessions. McGaha is searching for his fifth career No. 1 qualifier and third of the season. 

“It’s a pretty good start. Starting sometimes is the most important thing but you’ve got to finish in the end,” said McGaha. “We’ve started off No. 1 before and been able to maintain it. You never know what tomorrow leads. We will see what happens tomorrow and will go from there.”

Four-time world champ Greg Anderson, the most recent Pro Stock winner at Englishtown, is second following Friday’s action with a 6.521 at 213.30 in his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro. Two-time world champ Jason Line’s 6.530 at 212.69 in his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was good enough for the provisional No. 3 spot. Defending world champ Erica Enders and Jonathan Gray sit fourth and fifth.

Qualifying at the NHRA New England Nationals wraps up on Saturday with sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to set the fields for Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations.

*** UPDATE ***

Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the Third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway and Motorsports Park, tenth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  

Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Tony Schumacher, 3.742 seconds, 324.28 mph; 2. Richie Crampton, 3.744, 325.92; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.745, 324.98; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.765, 323.04; 5. Spencer Massey, 3.773, 327.66; 6. Antron Brown, 3.784, 316.30; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.795, 323.12; 8. J.R. Todd, 3.813, 322.27; 9. Clay Millican, 3.817, 318.17; 10. Brittany Force, 3.819, 320.89; 11. Larry Dixon, 3.824, 321.88; 12. Leah Pritchett, 3.861, 315.05. 

Not Qualified: 13. Morgan Lucas, 3.908, 302.48; 14. Terry McMillen, 3.921, 305.70; 15. Dave Connolly, 3.968, 302.28; 16. Dan Mercier, 3.998, 295.21. 

Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.047, 319.45; 2. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.052, 306.46; 3. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.055, 318.24; 4. Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.059, 319.45; 5. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.068, 320.13; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.070, 318.24; 7. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.073, 313.66; 8. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.075, 309.42; 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.081, 315.42; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.095, 310.20; 11. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.187, 288.15; 12. Dave Richards, Toyota Solara, 4.624, 195.17.  

Not Qualified: 13. Jack Beckman, 5.299, 139.39; 14. Dom Lagana, 5.768, 125.67; 15. John Hale, 6.585, 99.05; 16. Jeff Diehl, 6.655, 102.29; 17. Bob Tasca III, 15.097, 49.74. 

Pro Stock -- 1. Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.520, 212.66; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.521, 213.30; 3. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.530, 212.69; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.543, 211.99; 5. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.552, 211.83; 6. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.553, 212.09; 7. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.562, 211.63; 8. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.563, 212.26; 9. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.569, 212.69; 10. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.590, 211.10; 11. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.602, 210.01; 12. John Gaydosh Jr, Pontiac GXP, 6.641, 209.49.  

Not Qualified: 13. Alan Prusiensky, 6.715, 208.81; 14. Val Smeland, 6.823, 195.14; 15. V. Gaines, 9.394, 98.19.

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[Reposted by: Dana Marino for "The Motorsports Report"]

JFR FUNNY CARS "WICKED" QUICK ON FRIDAY AT NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

John Force at the N.E. Nats. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

JFR FUNNY CARS "WICKED" QUICK ON FRIDAY AT NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

EPPING, NH – At the conclusion of the first day of qualifying only two Funny Cars were quicker than the trio of John Force Racing Chevrolet Camaros at the 3rd annual NHRA New England Nationals.

The team was led by 16-time Funny Car champion John Force who capped the day with a 4.055 second pass as the provisional No. 3 finisher. Force was followed by daughter Courtney Force’s 4.059 second run and son-in-law Robert Hight’s 4.068 second pass. Brittany Force powered the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster to the provisional No. 10 spot and will look to improve on Saturday at New England Dragway.

Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

John Force who is seeking his first NHRA national event win at New England Dragway started the day with a run that had him No. 10 after the first session. His first run of 4.696 seconds hazed the tires at half-track. In the second session Force’s Peak Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car blazed down the left lane and lit up the scoreboard with a 4.055 second elapsed time at 318.24 mph. It was quick enough to hold up as the quickest time until the last three pairs took to the track. Force earned qualifying bonus points as the third quickest Funny Car of the second session.

“We ran a little bit quicker there. We showed them what is out there. We are playing with a new combination. I have Jon Schaffer and this young team working hard. Like I said in the paper we have a long ways to go and we’ll be ready when the Countdown gets here,” said Force from the top end.

Bob Tasca, III Burnout at New England Dragway. Epping, NH. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2015)

The AAA New England Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and driver Robert Hight started the day with a solid 4.139 second run that had him in the No. 6 position going into the night session. His Mike Neff tuned Chevy Funny Car took advantage of the later qualifying position to improve to the No. 5 spot on the strength of a 4.068 second run at 320.13 mph. Both runs were smooth and right down the middle of the racing surface. Hight and Neff will have two solid runs to build on going into the second day of qualifying as they work towards a dominant race day tune-up.

“That was a pretty good start for this AAA New England Chevy Funny Car. Neff has a pretty good handle on the tune up and I think there is more performance out there. I am looking forward to tomorrow and I think we are in a good spot,” said Hight.

Courtney Force drove her Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car straight down the race track during both qualifying sessions and ended the day in the No. 4 spot at the 3rd annual NHRA New England Nationals. She made a 4.137 second pass at 314.17 mph on the first qualifying attempt and followed up with a 4.059 ET at 319.45 mph to go to the top half of the field.

“I’m proud of my Traxxas guys this weekend. We have definitely started out on the right foot which is what we need to do this weekend if we want to make any progress in points,” said Force. “We went out and ran a 4.13 which put us in the top half of the field in Q1. Then we came back and improved with a 4.05 later on in the day so we’re excited. We’re going home tonight in the No. 4 spot and we’re looking to stay in the top half tomorrow throughout the rest of qualifying. We’re trying to hopefully work off the good runs we had today and keep this Traxxas Chevy consistent.”

After the first session of Top Fuel qualifying Brittany Force and the Monster Energy dragster were No. 7 with a consistent 3.856 second pass at 319.75 mph. The data gathered on that run allowed crew chiefs Todd Smith and Ronnie Thompson to step up on the performance side with an improved 3.819 second run at 320.89 mph. Force will head into the second day of qualifying as the No. 10 qualifier.

“I feel good going into tomorrow. We held onto the No. 10 spot which helps us going into Saturday. We made two solid passes. The car went down there both runs and that is where we have been struggling lately. We improved on the second pass which is even better. We aren’t exactly where we want to be but we can try and step up tomorrow. I have great crew chiefs in Todd Smith and Ronnie Thompson and a great crew with this Monster Energy team.”

* * * *

THE DRIVERS

JOHN FORCE, 66, Peak Anti-Freeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS
Qualifying: 3rd at 4.055 seconds, 318.24 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q2)

ROBERT HIGHT, 45, AAA New England Chevrolet Camaro SS
Qualifying: 5th at 4.068 seconds, 320.13 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0

COURTNEY FORCE, 26, Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS
Qualifying: 4th at 4.059 seconds, 319.45 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0

BRITTANY FORCE, 28, Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster
Qualifying: 10th at 3.819 seconds, 320.89 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0

* * * *

RACE SCHEDULE:

Saturday, June 13
3rd round qualifying 1:00 PM
4th round qualifying 3:30 PM

Sunday, June 14
Final Eliminations 11:00 AM

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Report by: Elon Werner JFR-PR, reposted by:Dana Marino
http://www.twitter.com/jfr_racing.com

Coming soon our NHRA Only site by Dicken Wear and Dana Marino

Editor's Note: Apologies to our readers. It turns out there has been a link missing to our “NHRA” and “Ladies Point of View” website hosted by Dana Marino. We are working on it and hope to have a solution soon and have the site back up as quickly as possible. Thanks to Anthony Vestal of the NHRA for bringing it to our attention. - Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief.

Camaro/GM and John Force Racing Are The Forces To Watch In 2015

John Force's new 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car. Image Credit: Jerry Bonkowski post on MotorsportsTalk.nbcsports.com

Camaro/GM and John Force Racing Are The Forces To Watch In 2015

Congrats to GM, Chevy and JFR for putting together what many of us thought, and even more of us had hoped for. A deal between Chevy and JFR. 

This falls under the category as a "No Brainer" for both Companies. We all knew Dodge and Toyota were out there in NHRA TF Racing, but we were pretty sure, they had enough Teams already. 

With GM now having the best Hi-Performance Brands of a Production Car line-up of any American make, (Chevy SS, Camaro, Corvette, Caddy ATS-V and CTS-V) it makes sense for the best names in American Performance, and one of the best known names in the NHRA to join “Forces”.

It will be fun to be able to drive some of my GM and Chevy Automobiles to Force Family gatherings from now on. Something I wouldn't have done out of respect before.

Editor's Note: Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief. “The Motorsports Report”.

NHRA (Updated): After nearly 20 years away, John Force Racing returns to Chevrolet/GM in 2015

Jerry Bonkowski Jan 15, 2015, 1:33 PM EST 
5 Comments (Reposted with permission by: Jerry Bonkowski)

After months of rumors and speculation about which car manufacturer he’ll represent, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force has made it official.

Force announced Thursday in a teleconference that after nearly 20 years with Ford as the manufacturer of record on his Funny Car and those of daughter Courtney and son-in-law Robert Hight, John Force Racing has now switched affiliations and will return to Chevrolet, where the winning-est driver in drag racing history began his professional career more than 30 years ago.

“We signed the deal right before Christmas,” Force said. “That was the biggest Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”

Force, his daughter and Hight will drive Chevrolet Camaro Funny Cars in the 24-race 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Force’s other daughter, Brittany, will also carry Chevy sponsorship on her Top Fuel dragster. 

“I get the opportunity to go back to my roots,” Force said. “It’s personal for me. I got my first (NHRA) win with Chevrolet, my first championship with NHRA and six (championships) overall with GM. 

“People wanted to know ‘where’s he going with the manufacturer?’ Everybody told me they wanted me to stay with Detroit. GM was where I wanted to land. 

“At the end of the day, if you don’t have a manufacturer, you’re in big trouble. … It’s a change and change is good. I’m ready to go drag racing. It’s an exciting time.”

With no other Chevrolet-branded Nitro Funny Cars in the sport, John Force Racing will essentially have the Chevy brand exclusively all to itself.

“That was it,” Force said when asked by MotorSportsTalk. “That was key with my past with GM. We got an exclusive. … We’re just getting started. This whole thing, you don’t do all this change overnight. We’re going to hit the track running.  
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“We’re going to have our first test at Phoenix next Monday. I have great financial backing with GM. … We have an exclusive and that makes it great. Ain’t nobody that loves drag racing more than I do. I feel like a little kid, I feel like I’m 16 all over again. But in that race car, I’m 21 again and I’m a bad hombre when you put me in a firesuit.” The agreement between JFR and Chevrolet is a multi-year deal.

“It’s a big day for the sport,” NHRA president Tom Compton said. “Welcome back, GM. We’re really proud to work for you.” Ford announced near the end of the 2013 season that 2014 would be its last with Force, choosing to allocate resources in another direction in its motorsports program in 2015. Ford followed Castrol Oil, which had sponsored Force for the last 30 years, in leaving the Force camp at the end of the 2014 season to go in another direction.

“I was in trouble and dancing like a mad man (for funding),” Force said. “We did approach others in the industry, but my heart’s with Detroit. My company is called ‘John Force, American Made.’ It’s where I needed to land. My other partner (Ford) was great, but this is a new relationship.”

Initial reports had John Force Racing potentially signing with Dodge to represent its HellCat R/T Challenger or Charger. There were also reports that Force was also talking with Toyota.  

However, Force rival Don Schumacher Racing has four drivers (Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Tommy Johnson Jr. and defending 2014 Funny Car champ Matt Hagan) that will drive 2015 Dodge Charger R/Ts, but they won’t be the more vaunted HellCat. The HellCat is the most powerful stock street car built in the U.S., with 707 horsepower under the hood. 

At the present time, no NHRA Funny Car team has affiliated with the HellCat. Despite all the rumors and media reports, Force surprised those on the conference call when he said, “I never had a conversation with Dodge.”

Toyota, meanwhile, has Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Chad Head, Del Worsham and Tony Pedregon in its own Funny Car lineup. “My conversation with Toyota, we had a brief conversation, but nothing in writing or on the table,” Force said. “This is where I wanted to land. I’m back to my roots, back to where I started. This is an easy transition for us.”

Chevrolet won 11 major championships in five different forms of motorsport in 2014 (including Erica Enders-Stevens winning the NHRA Pro Stock championship) and looks to have Force to win a record 17th Funny Car championship in 2015. 

“We need John Force Racing, every person in the organization, to focus and win races and championships for us,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We’re excited about getting to the race track, John, and welcome home.”

NOTES: Because a new primary sponsorship will likely not be announced until after the season begins, Brittany Force and her Top Fuel dragster program could potentially miss the season-opening Winternationals (Feb. 5-8) at Pomona, Calif., and perhaps the next few races before an anticipated new primary sponsorship begins at the March race in Gainesville, Fla.
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Follow me on Twitter: @JerryBonkowski
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Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Camaro, Force, John Force, John Force Racing

Reposted with permission: Dicken Wear for The Motorsports Report.

LUCAS OIL JOINS JOHN FORCE RACING AS OFFICIAL OIL SPONSOR

POMONA, CA (November 15, 2014) ---- John Force Racing today announced a multi-year sponsorship with Lucas Oil Products. The announcement makes Lucas Oil the “Official Oil of John Force Racing” and the Corona, California based company will have signage on all the John Force Racing Funny Cars and the Top Fuel dragster as well as driver uniforms and race transporters beginning in 2015.

“Forrest and Charlotte Lucas with their son Morgan and Lucas Oil Products are a perfect fit for John Force Racing. This partnership between two strong American families and companies is what makes this sport and country so great. Our two families have grown up together in this sport and we will have a strong future together,” said John Force, CEO of John Force Racing. “I had a great partner for almost 30 years with Castrol and they will always be part of our history but Lucas Oil is our future. I am excited about the opportunity to grow my company and keep racing for many years with the backing of Lucas Oil.”

Force winner of sixteen Mello Yello Funny Car championships has almost 1,200 round wins and 141 Funny Car race wins to his credit. The entire John Force Racing team has 237 Funny Car victories, the most by any NHRA racing organization in one class, and is chasing down their 19th team Mello Yello Funny Car championship this weekend at the 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.

“John Force is a guy I have admired for many, many years. In my opinion he made Castrol oil in this country. The fact that he became available was shocking to me. I see him partnering with us and it will be a huge economic boost for Lucas Oil around the world. It will be good for John Force Racing because it is more stability and I see this as a win-win situation. It will also be good for NHRA drag racing because it keeps John racing and we don’t have any intentions on leaving so it should be good for everybody. Hopefully all the fans will keep coming back and using Lucas Oil,” said Forrest Lucas, Founder and CEO Lucas Oil Products.

“There are not as many young people coming into NHRA as we would like to see but John has his beautiful daughters involved and they are doing a good job. He has given them good equipment and has good people working with them. Morgan grew up with the girls and they are all good friends. The fact that we are creating the second generation of drag racing leaders and we are not the only ones doing this but we have some of the top rising stars out there,” added Lucas.

Forrest and Charlotte started Lucas Oil Products with the simple philosophy of producing only the best line of lubricants and additives available anywhere. Since its inception, Lucas has steadfastly adhered to this corporate objective. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas has established itself as a top selling additive line in the American truck stop industry.

Lucas is also one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry. A premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives has helped to firmly establish Lucas as a prominent figure in this marketplace.

Lucas has long been directly involved in the American racing industry through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing event promotions, at all levels. The Lucas success story has been built upon hard work, an unparalleled line of premium products and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. This single formula for success will continue to guide Lucas Oil Products as it grows in the years to come.

This is the second major sponsorship announcement for John Force Racing. In Las Vegas JFR announced PEAK anti-freeze and Blue Def as a primary sponsor for John Force for the majority of the races in 2015. Today’s announcement is another major step forward to financially strengthening the winningest Funny Car team in NHRA history. In the coming weeks John Force Racing plans a number of additional announcements leading up to the 55^th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals.

Press Release from:  Elon Werner - JFR Public Relations.

Re-Posted by AARWBA Members: Dicken Wear & Dana Marino of "The Motorsports Report".

Editors Note: I think this was the best for both companies. The JFR and Lucas Oil main offices are only a few miles apart, and this gives the SoCal Motorsports Powerhouses and even more powerful standing in the Racing World. Also of note: "The Original Competition Engineering Since 1954" and "The Motorsports Report" Race Car and Street Car Fleet of Vehicles, buys and sells Lucas Oil Products over every other brand of additives. (DW).

54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals Gets Better With Age

This weekend's 54th annual Circle K Winternationals, NHRA's 2014 Mello Yello Series season-opener at Auto Club Raceway Pomona, will mark Tommy Johnson Jr.'s eagerly anticipated return to full-time drag racing as well as the opportunity to finally show the world the eye-catching Don Schumacher Racing Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T sponsored by Terry Chandler pictured here. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals Gets Better With Age

Many people who look in on all matter of motorsports generally have a little trouble getting their minds around American drag racing. It is easy to transfer an experience of driving a car on a winding/curvy road and watch F1, IndyCar (road or street course), and Prototype/GT sportscar racing. What may be a bit harder to grasp for the casual motorsports observer are automobiles that develop 10,000 plus horsepower piloted by drivers who spend a total of five to six minutes of actual competition seat time during 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

An 8 cylinder Top Fuel or Funny Car drag racing engine develops more horsepower in one cylinder than most of the exotic open wheel racing engines in Formula One or IndyCar do in total.That being said, visiting the season opening NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Auto Club Raceway dragstrip in Pomona, California this past weekend for the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals leaves one with an experience that gets better with time and ... age.

John Force, 64, wins the funny car class for his record 139th victory. His run of 3.965 seconds is the quickest for funny cars in the era of 1,000-foot races. Image Credit: JFR PR

This excerpted and edited from Jacobs Media -

John Force powers to seventh Winternationals Funny Car win at Pomona 
By Pete McCole - AccessNorthGA.com

Defending NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion John Force set another new Nation Record en route to his record 139th-career NHRA victory in Sunday’s season-opening NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
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Force outdistanced Matt Hagan in the final round with a record-beating run of 3.965 seconds at 323.58 mph, topping the National Record of 3.966 he himself set in qualifying on Friday as well as setting a new national speed record.

Force came in to Sunday’s eliminations as the no. 1 qualifier and got a first-round bye after Paul Lee broke in staging, then bested Tommy Johnson, Jr. and Bob Tasca to reach his eighth-consecutive final round.

In the final, Hagan was into the tire shake right off the line and had to pedal it, giving Force an easy run to the finish, becoming just the third driver in Winternationals history to set a national record and take home the win, joining Don Prudhomme in 1976 and Kenny Bernstein 1987.

The new national record also earned Force a 20-point bonus, giving him a 50-point edge over Hagan in the Funny Car standings.

“We had a good race car. It's amazing,” said Force, of his 16th win at his home track and his seventh Winternationals trophy. “We're trying to build our sport and come out here and run good for you all and the fans, and it's hard sometimes. Jimmy Prock (crew chief) and that whole brain trust did a great job. We're back in the game. Everything's just going right. I don't get it. I ain't that good of a guy. I'm just excited. There’s a lot going on (with sponsors), and man, what a good time to flex your muscles.”
[Reference Here]

John Force, who won a record 16th funny car title last year, believes he has everything to prove. That's because the four-driver team he owns is losing two major sponsors after this season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

It was thought by most who follow the sport that the future for John Force Racing in 2014 was exclusively held in the prospects of the family members coming up through the ranks - Top Fuel racer Brittney Force and Funny Car racer Courtney Force. One might think that after setting nearly every record in NHRA funny car drag racing, 64-year-old John Force would have nothing left to prove.

John Force Racing's Robert Hight, Brittany Force, Courtney Force, John Force, Eric J De Bord announce a multi-year agreement with Peak Antifreeze and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid during opening day of qualifications at the 2014 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

After this weekend's new sponsorship alliance announcement as a major associate sponsor in a multi-year agreement with Peak Antifreeze and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid, Force is on a roll. He is working hard to impress new sponsors to replace the drop in income in 2015 when Castrol and Ford leave as the major sponsors of his enterprise. Further, after crew chief Austin Coil left John Force Racing, new crew chief Jimmy Prock is doing a good job as the #ProckRocket showed in its performance on the track in the #Winnats.

In the other racing category that features engines that develop 10,000 plus horsepower - Top Fuel, Al-Alabi Racing's owner and Quatar Sheik Kalid alBalooshi took down top qualifier Doug Kalitta in the final, running a 3.974 at 324.36 mph for his third-career NHRA victory after Kalitta went up in smoke right at the tree.

It was the third career victory for Kalid alBalooshi, 34, a Dubai native wholives in Los Angeles and is starting his third season in the NHRA's topranks driving for the Al-Anabi Racing team. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

This excerpted and edited from The National -

Al Balooshi opens NHRA season with a win for Qatar Al-Anabi
The National Staff

Emirati drag racer Khalid Al Balooshi of Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team won the first race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season in California on Sunday.

Al Balooshi entered the Cirlce K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California as the seventh-seeded driver. He beat seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Al-Anabi teammate Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence in the semi-finals and No 1 seed Doug Kalitta in the final to take home the title.

“I am so excited. There is nothing better than to leave the first race of the season with the first trophy,” Al Balooshi said in a press release.

The victory was the third of Al Balooshi’s Top Fuel career. The Al-Anabi Top Fuel team have won the last three races at Pomona’s Auto Club Raceway, where Langdon was victorious twice last season.

“The Al-Anabi car had a strong day today,” Al Balooshi said. “It’s a good win, especially when you have Tony Schumacher first round, Shawn Langdon second round, and ‘Steve-O’ (Steve Torrance), who’s been doing a good job. Doug’s (Kalitta) car was the best car all weekend, so it made it a very big day for us to take him down in the final and get the trophy.

“Last year, our car started to get better and better. I felt like our car was better down in Florida
(during testing), and I’ve been telling people, ‘I think we have a hot rod to start the season with.’ I feel like our car got better and better each round.”
[Reference Here]

Khalid said in another post event interview that once he beat Schumacher in first round that he had a good car for the day, he felt his was the best, and it was ... Alan Johnson (Al-Anabi crew chief) is tough to beat, too. He's sharp and knows tons about car setups. What surprises most in this early season showing is how Tony Schumacher had lost his dominance in Top Fuel that he had achieved in the last couple seasons.

Bob Tasca III on first qualifying run at the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Here, the left side gives up spewing fuel out of the pipes. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Pit access in one of the incredible things common at a NHRA event. Fans were in the Tasca Racing pits when they fired up the just rebuilt Funny Car engine. Look at the crew member's hands in photo right. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

To the casual observer - 16 time national champion Force came through as expected but Kalid alBalooshi of Al-Anabi was a big surprise - it can be said about the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series after round one in a 24 event series (to paraphrase the saying "nobody can be too pretty or too rich") ... it pays to be too old (64) or too rich (Dubai Sheik) in order to win at the #Winnats!

... notes from The EDJE