HIGHT LOOKING TO GET EVEN AT WINTERNATIONALS

TEAM CASTROL/JFR25THANNIVERSARY SEASONROBERT HIGHTPre-Race Package for the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly WinternationalsFeb. 11-14, 2010Auto Club Raceway at PomonaPomona, Calif.First event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship * * * *Celebrate 25 years of JFR and Castrol at www.castrolforce.com * * * * Follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing * * * *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.                        * * * * HIGHT LOOKING TO GET EVEN AT WINTERNATIONALSPOMONA --- 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.�?? ****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.�?? ****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. * * * *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. * * * * TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):Qualifying – Saturday, Feb. 13, 11 pm-1 amNHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 amRace Highlights – Sunday, Feb. 14, 8-11 pm            * * * *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.* * * *CONTACTS:For John Force Racing, Inc.:Elon Werner                             Kelly Antonelli                             Chad Light214-244-1184                           317-858-8900                               714-921-8123elon@johnforceracing.com        kelly@johnforceracing.com           chad@johnforceracing.com For BP/Castrol:Dave Densmore                       Lori Anne Goladenswood@aol.com               lorianne.gola@bp.com214-244-0008                           973-633-2393For Ford Racing:Kevin Kennedykkennedy@pcgcampbell.com313-203-7108For the Auto Club of Southern California:Rick Lalorlalor.rick@aaa-calif.com714-885-2085 * * * *For additional information or photos, contact one of the representatives above or go to www.johnforceracing.com or www.nhra.com. * * * *