JFR QUICK AND CONFIDENT LEAVING ST. LOUIS

TEAM JFR RACE REPORT20th
of 24 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Series2nd
of 6 races in Countdown to the Championship  5th
annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest NationalsGateway
Motorsports ParkSt.
Louis, MOSeptember
25, 2016Photos courtesy of
Richard Shute/Auto Imagery (JForce, CForce, BForce) and Ron Lewis (Hight) for
media use only. * * * *Final round results from Sunday’s 5th
annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, twentieth race in the 2016 NHRA Mello
Yello Drag Racing Series:FUNNY CAR – Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif.,
Infinite Hero Dodge, 3.928, 324.51 mph def. Tommy Johnson Jr, Avon, Ind., Make-A-Wish
Dodge, 4.185, 231.40 mph.TOP FUEL – Shawn Langdon, Brownsburg,
Ind., Sandovik Cormant/Red Fuel dragster, 3.798, 323.66 mph def. Tony
Schumacher, Austin, Tex., US Army Dragster, 3.783, 317.49 mph.PRO STOCK – Alex Laughlin, Granbury,
Tex., Chevrolet Camaro SS, 6.611, 208.68 mph def. Bo Butner, Floyds Knob, Ind., Chevrolet
Camaro SS, 6.637, 209.26 mph.PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – Jerry Savoie, Cut
Off, La., Suzuki, 6.933, 189.36 mph def. Angelle Sampey, Mathews, La., Buell, red-light
DQ. * * * * JFR QUICK
AND CONFIDENT LEAVING ST. LOUISST
LOUIS --- Coming into race day at the 5th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest
Nationals the four John Force Racing race cars were confident they could make a
move up the Mello Yello point standings. Robert Hight driving the AAA Insurance
Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car was the No. 1 qualifier and raced to the
quarterfinals where he lost a close race by .007 seconds to eventual runner-up
Tommy Johnson Jr.Robert
Hight started the day with a confident win over John Hale in the first round.
The AAA Insurance Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car blasted down the right lane
with a winning elapsed time of 3.909 seconds at 327.66 mph. which was the quickest
run of the Funny Car session. The run gave the 2010 AAA Insurance Midwest
Nationals winner lane choice over Tommy Johnson Jr.In
second round it was a coin flip off the starting line with Hight getting a
miniscule reaction time advantage .061 to .062 seconds as both Funny Cars raced
down the track side by side. At the finish line Hight’s Chevrolet was literally
nosed out by his opponent by only .007 of a second with an impressive elapsed
time for 3.938 seconds for Hight coming up just short to the winning 3.930
seconds.“I
really thought we were going to win this race today. We definitely had a race
car that could have won. These Auto Club guys have done an awesome job since
Charlotte. We tested and switched a lot of things on this AAA Insurance Camaro
and we came in here and were the No. 1 qualifier,�?? said Hight. “That first run
was stout and we just lost a close race in the second round. Breaks are going
to start going our way. No one is hanging their heads in this Auto Club pit.�??Hight
and the Auto Club team will head to Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania just
114 points out of first place with four races remaining in the Countdown.Courtney
Force was pulling away from Ron Capps in second round when her Traxxas
Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car suffered a motor malfunction that robbed the O’Reilly
SpringNationals winner of power just before the finish line. Force’s Camaro
slowed and Capps drove around her just before the stripe. Force was on the top
of her game in the quarterfinal race jumping out to a strong starting line
advantage against the point leader.“Going
into that round I mean he is the Funny Car point leader If anybody wants a shot
at this championship everyone knows the points leader has to go out early. That
was my goal. I gave it everything I had on the starting line. I didn’t really
care about lane choice in the semifinals. I really just wanted those points for
that win.  I think we could have had it
but there are a lot of what ifs out here and we will just have to prove ourselves
at the next race,�?? said Force.“We
were on a good run and I was out ahead of him. I didn’t see him the whole way
down the track and I really thought we were going to get that win. I was
feeling good but right there at the end I had a mechanical issue and the car
slowed. I just watched him go by but I kept my foot in the throttle not giving
up. Unfortunately, he went around me for the win and we are going to have to
pack up and go home early,�?? summed up Force.This
was the first time in four Countdown races that Force has not prevailed over
Capps.“This
Traxxas team has really been fighting hard. This is the time that we need to
catch a break. I know our luck is going to turn around. We didn’t need a
mechanical issue on that run for sure. We hurt some parts on this Chevy and we’ll
get some things changed and get it ready for Reading,�?? added Force.Team
leader and JFR Funny Car point leader John Force was focused on making up
ground again on Capps after Force’s Charlotte victory last weekend. He was also
looking to put some distance between his PEAK team and the rest of the Funny
Car class. He had one of the toughest first round match-ups to start the day.
As the No. 10 qualifier Force had to face reigning Funny Car world champion Del
Worsham. The winningest driver in NHRA history was up to the task outrunning
Worsham 3.958 seconds to 3.989 seconds for the win.In
the second round Force lost the closest race of the day in any professional
category finishing .001 second behind eventual winner Jack Beckman. It was a
classic photo finish that unfortunately did not go in favor of the three-time
Midwest Nationals winner. In 2013 Force defeated Beckman in the final round but
today Force needed just a little bit more.“This
PEAK Chevy hot rod was really good today. We got a big win over (Del) Worsham
in the first round. We needed those points. Beckman just got us at the finish
line and I thought I won that race it was so close,�?? said Force. “We have some
sponsor appearances for PEAK and PPG between now and Reading but I’ll be ready
for these last four races. The fans have been great in St. Louis and we put on
a good show for all the AAA Missouri people. We are right up there at the top
of the points and it will be fight until the end of the season.�??Brittany
Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster made quick work of Clay Millican
in the first round. It was a close race that Force led from the starting line
to the finish line. The winning elapsed time of 3.756 seconds at 324.44 mph was
enough for lane choice in the second round over No. 1 qualifier Richie Crampton.“That
was a great way to start the day and we want to start every race with a first
round win. That was an awesome run and we’ll be ready for round two. This is the
second race of the Countdown so our plan is to go all the way today. We want to
catch back up to that No. 1 spot,�?? said Force from the top end.In
the second round the track was still hot but sporadic clouds floated over the track
causing the track temperature to fluctuate slightly. Pulling up beside Lucas
Oil teammate Richie Crampton Force, driving the Monster Energy dragster, was
looking for another strong run. Force lost traction right off the starting line
and pedaled it, but couldn't catch Crampton and was forced to click off her
dragster.“It
is a little tough because we could have made big strides today. We picked up
some points in qualifying and we made it to the second round. We will have to
focus on the positives and head to Reading,�?? said Force. “The key is to stay
positive. We run pretty well in the cooler weather and we just have to find our
groove. We just need to go out there and make four good runs in qualifying and
then have some success on race day. There are four races left and if you want a
shot at the championship you are going to have to get down the track every
single run.�??COUNTDOWN TO THE
CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGSFunny
Car - 1. Ron Capps, 2273; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr, 2225; 3. Jack Beckman, 2203; 4.
John Force, PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2199; 5. Del Worsham, 2189; 6.
Matt Hagan, 2177; 7. Robert Hight, AAA Insurance Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2159; 8. Courtney
Force, Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2149; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2144; 10.
Alexis DeJoria, 2068Top
Fuel - 1. Antron Brown, 2258; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2245; 3. Tony Schumacher, 2204; 4.
Shawn Langdon, 2181; 5. Brittany Force, Monster Energy
dragster, 2167; 6. Steve Torrence, 2161; 7. JR Todd, 2152; 8. Richie
Crampton, 2127; 9. Leah Pritchett, 2107; 10. Clay Millican, 2084                                                           Pro
Stock - 1. Jason Line, 2310; 2. Greg Anderson, 2247; 3. Bo Butner, 2223; 4. Vincent
Nobile, 2185; 5. Shane Gray, 2167; 6. Chris McGaha, 2135; 7. Allen Johnson, 2127;
8. Drew Skillman, 2126; 9. Jeg Coughlin Jr, 2084; 10. Erica Enders Stevens, 2052Pro
Stock Motorcycle - 1. Andrew Hines, 2260; 2. Angelle Sampey, 2258; 3. Chip
Ellis, 2243; 4. Jerry Savoie, 2218; 5. Eddie Krawiec, 2184; 6. LE Tonglet, 2138;
7. Hector Arana, 2107; 8. Matt Smith, 2096; 9. Hector Arana Jr, 2115; 10. Cory
Reed, 2105THE DRIVERSJOHN
FORCE,
67, PEAK Antifreeze 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SSFinal
Qualifying: 10th quickest at 3.958, 323.19 mph Bonus
Qualifying Points: +3 (Quickest of Q3)Race results: Beat Del Worsham; Lost to Jack BeckmanROBERT
HIGHT,
47, AAA Insurance 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Final Qualifying: 1st at 3.893, 328.38 mphBonus
Qualifying Points: +8 (Quickest of Q1 and Q2 and 2nd quickest of Q4)Race results: Beat John Hale; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.COURTNEY
FORCE,
28, Traxxas 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Final Qualifying: 6th at 3.918, 324.36 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q4)Race results: Beat Chad Head; Lost to Ron CappsBRITTANY
FORCE,
30, Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster
Final Qualifying: 8th at 3.778, 323.35 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +4 (Quickest of Q1 and 3rd quickest of Q3)Race results: Beat Clay Millican; Lost to Richie
Crampton, * * * *FOLLOW JOHN FORCE
RACING AT www.twitter.com/jfr_racing****NEXT EVENTS: Countdown to the
ChampionshipSept.
29-Oct 2    NHRA Keystone Nationals,
Reading, PAOct.
13-16            AAA Texas NHRA
FallNationals, Dallas, TXOct.
27-30            NHRA Toyota Nationals,
Las Vegas, NVNov.
10-13          Auto Club NHRA Finals,
Pomona, CA Contacts:Elon Werner                                                                     John Force Racing, Inc.                            
214-244-1184                                         Elon@johnforceracing.com                     ****-www.johnforceracing.com-