TEAM CASTROL/JOHN AND ASHLEY PRE-RACE FOR POMONA
TEAM CASTROL/JFR 25th ANNIVERSARY SEASON JOHN FORCE/ASHLEY FORCE HOOD Pre-Race Package for the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals Feb. 11-14, 2010 Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Pomona, Calif. First event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship * * * * celebrate 25 years of JFR and Castrol at _www.castrolforce.com_ (http://www.castrolforce.com/) * * * * follow John Force Racing at _www.twitter.com/jfr_racing_ (http://www.twitter.com/jfr_racing) * * * * 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.�?? * * * * 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. Driving a new 2010 version of the Auto Club Ford Mustang, Hight will start the new season as the Funny Car favorite in the 50th annual Kragen O’ Reilly Winternationals, the third element in NHRA’s 50th anniversary trifecta. John Force won the 50th Anniversary NHRA Nationals contested in 2001 on the same Auto Club track and former team member Gary Densham was victorious in the 50th Anniversary Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis in 2004. 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. * * * * 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 am NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 am Race 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 Anontelli Chad Light 214-244-1184 317-858-8900 714-921-8123 _elon@johnforceracing.com_ (mailto:elon@johnforceracing.com) _kelly@johnforceracing.com_ (mailto:kelly@johnforceracing.com) _chad@johnforceracing.com_ (mailto:chad@johnforceracing.com) For BP/Castrol: Dave Densmore Lori Anne Gola _denswood@aol.com_ (mailto:denswood@aol.com) _lorianne.gola@bp.com_ (mailto:lorianne.gola@bp.com) 214-244-0008 973-633-2393 For Ford Racing: Kevin Kennedy _kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com_ (mailto:kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com) 313-203-7108 For the Auto Club of Southern California: Rick Lalor _lalor.rick@aaa-calif.com_ (mailto:lalor.rick@aaa-calif.com) 714-885-2085 * * * * For additional information or photos, contact one of the representatives above or go to _www.johnforceracing.com_ (http://www.johnforceracing.com/) or _www.nhra.com_ (http://www.nhra.com/) . * * * * For Immediate Release FOR FORCE, ALL THAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN 14-Time Champion Determined to Recapture Past Form POMONA, Calif. – Declaring himself in the best physical condition of his career, John Force this week begins his 25th season with principal sponsor Castrol determined to prove to sponsors, fans and especially rivals that, at age 60, he still has what it takes to succeed at the top levels of his sport. “I’m feeling better than ever right now,�?? said the man who, little more than two years ago, was lying in a Dallas hospital recovering from injuries suffered in a 300 mile-an-hour crash, pondering the possibility of never again driving a race car. “I still go to the gym every night,�?? he said of a physical therapy program that addresses injuries incurred in the worst accident of his 33-year NHRA career. “I’m in the best shape of my life, I still love driving my hot rod and nobody’s been down more racetracks than me. That has to count for something.�?? The 14-time champion gets his first opportunity to make good on a pledge “ to prove to these young kids that I still have a lot of wins left in me�?? when he climbs behind the wheel of a special edition Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang for this week’s season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway. A four-time Winternationals champion, Force is coming off a 2009 season in which he was winless for the first time in 23 years. Not only did he not win, he was the only Top 10 Funny Car driver who didn’t appear in at least one final round last year, something that hadn’t happened since 1985. The upshot is that he will start the season cast in the unfamiliar role of underdog. It is a challenge he relishes. -more- John Force at the Winternationals 2222 In reality, Force’s driving skills weren’t the issue in a largely forgettable 2009 season during which his only meaningful accomplishment was earning a Top 10 finish for the 25th consecutive year. The problem was the car itself, a 310 mile-an-hour hybrid that never came close to achieving the dominant performance of its predecessors. As a result, virtually everything is new this year from the chassis (built in-house at JFR’s Brownsburg facility) to the motor (an 8,000 horsepower BOSS 500 built collaboratively with Ford) to the body (an aerodynamically superior 2010 Mustang) to the paint (special green-and-silver metallic recognizing Force’s 25 years with Castrol). Significantly, there also is a new crew chief dynamic. Austin Coil, winner of more races (133) and more championships (16) than anyone else in history and the architect of a JFR dynasty that has won 16 of the last 20 NHRA championships, has been paired with crew chief turned-driver-turned crew chief Mike Neff in an exciting new partnership that has re-energized Force and his team. Nevertheless, the challenge is a daunting one. Force has won just one race since his September, 2007, crash and he hasn’ t won at all since the NHRA shortened the course from a quarter mile to 1,000 feet in July of 2008 to address issues of speed and safety. Moreover, it’s been more than three years since the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection has started a race from the front of the pack. Still, it would be ludicrous to discount the man who in 1996 became the first drag racer ever named Driver of the Year for all of American motorsports. Drawing inspiration from Brett Favre, Mariano Rivera and other professional athletes who have defied the constraints of aging, the one-time truck driver believes he can become just the second driver in the sport’s history to win a tour event beyond the age of 60 and the first at that age to win a title. “In drag racing, 60 is the new 40,�?? Force said. “I know I can still drive. I still love it and I haven’t been this excited about a season in a long time. At age 40, Favre led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC title game while Rivera, the New York Yankees closer, at age 39 was named Pro Athlete of the Year by The Sporting News. * * * * Force at Pomona: �??Total of 16 wins at Auto Club Raceway but only four in the Kragen O’ Reilly Winternationals (1991, 1993, 1997, 2002). �??One of only two drivers (with former Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.) to have won three different events at Auto Club Raceway. �??Has won 102 racing rounds at Pomona, the only driver with more than 100 round wins at a single racetrack. Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals summary: 29 Starts, 7 Final Rounds, 4 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 42-25 Record Notable: Seeking first win at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona since 2006 Auto Club Finals. Quotable: “As a team, we’ve had pretty good luck at 50th annual NHRA events. Gary Densham won the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indy in the Auto Club Ford and I won the special 50th anniversary NHRA Nationals at Pomona in 2001. We want to keep it going at the Winternationals�?? – John Force. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US. John Force at the Winternationals 3333 FORCE’s Edge Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records) – Most career victories (126) – Most series championships (14) – Most career final rounds (202) – Most career rounds won (1038) – Most consecutive series championships (10, 1993-2002) – Most consecutive seasons with one or more victories (22, 1987-2008) – Most consecutive seasons with at least one final round appearance (24, 1985-2008) – Most consecutive seasons with multiple tour victories (18, 1990-2007) – Most consecutive national events without a DNQ (395, 1988-2007) – Most consecutive Top 10 seasons (25, 1985-present) – Highest winning percentage, one season (91.5%, 65-6) Other NHRA Funny Car division records – Most final rounds, one season (16, 1996) – Most victories, one season (13, 1996) – Most rounds won, one season (65, 1996) – Most career No. 1 starts (131) – Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996) – Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.) – Career starts (526) Awards – Driver of the Year (1996) – Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2008 inductee) – AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (14 times, 1990, 1993-2002, 2004-2006) – Jerry Titus Memorial Award (most AARWBA votes, 4 times, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002) – AARWBA Comeback Award (2008) – Speed TV Comeback Award (2008) – SAE Motorsports Achievement Award (2008) – AutoSport Magazine’s John Bolster Award for lifetime achievement (2005) John Force at the Winternationals 4444 Milestones – First round win, over Tom McEwen, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La. – First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La. – First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational Molson, Montreal, Canada – First Funny Car driver to break 4.90 second barrier, July 6, 1996, Topeka, Kan. – First drag racer to win Driver of the Year award for all of American motor sports (1996) – First Funny Car driver to break 4.80 second barrier, Oct. 24, 1998, Dallas, Texas – First (and only) drag racer to win 100 events, April 14, 2002, Houston, Texas – First Funny Car driver to break 4.70 second barrier, Oct. 2, 2004, Joliet, Ill. – No. 2 (behind Don Garlits) in balloting to determine Top 50 drivers in NHRA’s first 50 years (2001) – First (and only) drag racer to win 1,000 racing rounds, May 4, 2008, Madison, Ill. * * * * JOHN FORCE By the Numbers 1 win since returning from a 2007 crash at Dallas, Texas, in which he suffered life-threatening injuries. 2 DNQs at the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals (1980, 1982) 3 screws securing ankle bones from compound fracture suffered in a 2007 crash at Dallas, Texas. 4 time winner of Jerry Titus Memorial Award as driver receiving most votes in balloting for the AARWBA Auto Racing All-America Team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002). 5 seasons with 10 or more tour victories (1993-94, 1996, 1999-2000). 6 DNQs in last three seasons after enduring just one in 22 previous seasons with Austin Coil as his crew chief. 7 final round appearances at the Winternationals 8 years since last Winternationals’ victory (2002) 9 runner-up finishes before winning for the first time at Montreal, Canada in 1987. 10 straight Funny Car titles (1993-2002). 14 times named to AARWBA Auto Racing All-America First Team. 25 consecutive Top 10 finishes (1985-present) 102 rounds won at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona 126 tour events won 1038 competitive rounds won. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products, contact us at Castrol/US.com To celebrate 25 years of Castrol sponsorship, go to _www.castrolforce.com_ (http://www.castrolforce.com/) For Immediate Release STILL LEARNING, FORCE HOOD A RELUCTANT CONTENDER Castrol GTX Ford Driver Poised to Deliver at 50th Winternationals POMONA, Calif. – In her fourth season at the wheel of a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang that is one of the world’s most powerful race cars, Ashley Force Hood hasn’t yet warmed to the notion that she has been established as is one of the favorites to win the 2010 NHRA Funny Car Championship. Entering this week’s season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, her home track, the 27-year-old daughter of drag racing icon John Force refused even to acknowledge the obvious, that in just three pro seasons she has transformed herself from novelty to nobility in the Full Throttle Series. To hear Force Hood tell it, her goal for the new season is simply to try to continue to improve, accept the fact that mistakes will be made and try to learn from them. The thing is virtually any improvement in her 2009 performance likely would carry the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton to the next step in her wholly unlikely evolution from high school cheerleader to world racing champion. Second behind brother-in-law and teammate Robert Hight a year ago, she is poised this year to become the first woman ever to win an NHRA Funny Car title and the fourth different John Force Racing driver to do so in the last eight years. -more- Ashley at the Winternationals 2222 That’s pretty heady stuff for a one-time cheerleader who in high school was too shy to actually lead a cheer. The girl who took auto shop and hung at the back of the chorale so she wouldn’t have to sing an obligatory solo has found her niche in a 310 mile an hour Ford Funny Car. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes,�?? she said of three seasons punctuated by her victory last September in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, “but it’s been a big advantage that I’ve had a team that has supported me. ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and Ron (Douglas) and the team have given me such a good race car. It really shortened the learning curve for me, I think. “We’ve really taken baby steps,�?? she continued. “We’ve never gotten too far ahead of ourselves. If we can learn from our mistakes and keep building our foundation, I think we can continue to get better. “I’ve got the best bunch of guys,�?? said the 2007 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year. “Yes, we were in a position to win (last year’s championship), but things don’t always go like you want them to. Talent, skill, equipment, those things are so important, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck. That’s part of racing as well.�?? Ashley started from the front of the pack a category best six times last year, went to eight final rounds and won at Houston and Indy. Nevertheless, in the midst of her title run, the car that had been the most consistent on the tour inexplicably lost its magic, a brief, but costly stumble that eventually was traced to a bad batch of clutch discs the compromised the car’ s performance at key Countdown races in Richmond, Va., and Las Vegas. As a result, she had to settle for second place behind Hight, who finally got his first title by winning half the playoff races including the first two. But that’s ancient history according to Ashley. She is re-focused, but it’ s a very narrow focus, because that’s what has worked for her in the past. “We want to qualify and win the Winternationals,�?? she said. “That’s our only goal right now. If we’re in the points later in the year, there’ll be plenty of time to stress about it then. Right now we’re going to try to have fun and go rounds.�?? * * * * Ashley at Pomona: �??No. 1 qualifier and runner-up to teammate Mike Neff in most recent appearance at Auto Club Raceway (Auto Club Finals, Nov. 15, 2009). �??2004 Auto Club Finals Top Alcohol Dragster winner. �??Shared 2004 podium with her father, John, as the first father-daughter winners of the same event. �??Made First Funny Car Start at 2007 Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals. �??Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals summary: 3 Starts, No Final Rounds, No Wins, No No. 1 Qualiifiers, 3-3 Record �??Career summary: 65 Starts, 13 Final Rounds, 3 Wins, 9 No. 1 Qualifiers, 80-62 Record �??Notable: Reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion; NHRA national record h older for Funny Car speed (312.13 mph) �??Quotable: “You can’t get too ahead of yourself. First, we’ve got to go out there and qualify well and utilize every qualifying run to get that info we need for ‘Guido�?? and Ron to make their tuning decisions. I need to get my experience in the car and then go out there hopefully on Sunday and have a strong race.�?? – Ashley Force Hood. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US