Force Shows No Signs of Slowing Down Entering Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif.- John Force is an enigma.  While the
careers of his peers in professional sports are in decline, drag
racing's most prolific winner shows no signs of diminished production.

 

In fact, the 118-time tour winner celebrated his 56th birthday by
winning back-to-back-to-back races last May, thereby extending to 15 the
number of consecutive seasons in which he has won three or more NHRA
tour events.  As a result, the 13-time series champion is solidly in
contention for yet another championship as the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series moves to Infineon Raceway for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals,
presented by Supercuts, July 29-31.

 

While he has enjoyed great success at Infineon, winning six times and
putting his Castrol GTX Start Up Ford in the final round 10 of the last
15 seasons, the 12-time Auto Racing All-American has some additional
motivation this year. 

 

 "I let one get away last year," Force said of his foul-start loss to
Tim Wilkerson in 2004 finals.  "We had a car that should have won, but
the driver went brain dead.  We can't afford a mistake (like that) this
time.  The points are too close.  You've got (Gary) Scelzi and (Ron)
Capps and Robert (teammate Robert Hight) right behind and then you've
got five or six more who could move up."

 

 Indeed, the current campaign is unfolding as the most competitive in
NHRA Funny Car history with nine drivers still realistically positioned
to make a stretch run for the $400,000 championship including 

 

 Last year when he arrived at Infineon Raceway, Force had a dominant
race car, one in which he already had lowered the NHRA national
quarter-mile record to 4.665 seconds, 333.58 miles per hour.  This year,
without an obvious performance edge, he has had to call on 30 years of
driving experience to keep him on track to a possible 14th individual
championship and 13th straight for his team.

 

 "I still love driving this race car," he said, "and as long as I can do
it without hurting the team, I'm going to do it."

 

 That could mean seven more years of bad luck for his rivals.  That's
the duration of his current contract with Castrol, one that keeps him in
the cockpit through the 2011 season.

 

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals,
presented by Supercuts

WHEN: July 29-31

WHERE: Infineon Raceway

2004 WINNERS: Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg
Anderson (Pro Stock); and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Bike)

TICKETS: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com
<http://www.infineonraceway.com/> , www.ticketmaster.com
<http://www.ticketmaster.com/>