TEAM CASTROL/JOHN AND ASHLEY PRE-RACE PACKAGE FOR HOUSTON
TEAM CASTROL/JFR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON JOHN FORCE/ASHLEY FORCE HOOD Pre-Race Package for the 23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals April 9-11, 2010 Houston Raceway Park Baytown, Texas (Houston) Fifth event in the Countdown to the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Championship * * * * follow John Force Racing at _www.twitter.com/jfr_racing_ (http://www.twitter.com/jfr_racing) To celebrate 25 years of Castrol sponsorship, go to _www.castrolforce.com_ (http://www.castrolforce.com/) * * * * Castrol/JFR 25th Anniversary Flashback: John Force described the forlorn feeling he had after driving his Castrol GTX Funny Car to a breakthrough first NHRA Championship in 1990 as similar to the postpartum depression endured by some women following childbirth. “I had worked for more than 10 years (to win the championship),�?? said the Hall of Fame driver, who clinched the title by qualifying No. 2 at the season-ending World Finals at Pomona, Calif., “and then when I won it (by a mere 34 points over Ed McCulloch), I didn’t know what to do. I thought my career was over.�?? Fortunately, Force regained his focus and claimed the title again in 1991, one of the two seasons in which he NEVER trailed in points. * * * * EVENT OVERVIEW: Coming off his second victory of the season, John Force returns this week to Houston Raceway Park as the Funny Car points leader for the first time since 2005. Nevertheless, if the sport’s biggest winner is to maintain momentum, he likely will have to survive a battle with daughter Ashley, whom he defeated in the final round of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, N.C. Ashley, the reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion and runner-up for last year’s Full Throttle Championship, is the defending Spring Nationals champion in the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in which she posted the fastest speed in 1,000 foot history at Charlotte when she crossed the finish line at 316.38 miles per hour. Not to be overshadowed by his teammates, Robert “Top Gun�?? Hight, the reigning Full Throttle Champ, also has a rich performance history at HRP, site of his first pro victory, a 2005 Spring Nationals title that came in just his fourth competitive event in the Automobile Club of Southern California Mustang. Nevertheless, it is upon Force that most of the attention has been focused if for no other reason than the fact that at age 60, he seems to have regained the form that made him almost unbeatable in the 1990s. A seven-time winner at HRP, six times in the Spring Nationals, Force has gone to three finals in four races this year at the wheel of a special edition Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford prepared by crew chiefs Mike Neff, Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. That easily is the most decorated “brain trust�?? in the sport. Each member has won at least one championship outside of John Force Racing, Inc., and Coil as been on board for all 14 of Force’s titles. * * * * JFR RACING HISTORY AT HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK: Wins – 13. Seven by John Force (1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 spring; 1999 fall); 4 by Tony Pedregon (1997, 1998, 2003 spring; 2000 fall); 1 each by Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley Force Hood (2009). Last year – Ashley Force drove her Castrol GTX Ford to a victory that ultimately propelled her to a second place finish in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car standings. Force Hood also set a track record at the 1000 foot distance at 308.78 miles per hour. Notable #1 – On April 14, 2002, John Force beat Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round of the Spring Nationals to become the first pro drag racer to win 100 NHRA tour events. Notable #2 – Robert Hight won the 2005 O’Reilly Spring Nationals in just his fourth pro race, driving the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang past the Chevrolet of then reigning series champion Cruz Pedregon in the final. Notable #3 – Tony Pedregon’s 1997 victory in the O’Reilly Spring Nationals was the first for JFR after converting its race car fleet to Ford Mustangs earlier in the year. * * * * PRO POINTS (Current 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings): FUNNY CAR – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 397; 2. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 308; 3. Jack Beckman, MTS Dodge Charger, 278; 4. Matt Hagan, Diehard Dodge Charger, 255; 5. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 247; 6. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 236; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 230; 8. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 223; 9. Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 212; 10. Del Worsham, Al Anabi Toyota Solara, 166. TOP FUEL – 1. Cory McClenathan, 379; 2. Tony Schumacher, 327; 3. Doug Kalitta, 326; 4. Larry Dixon, 302; 5. Antron Brown, 273; 6. Shawn Langdon, 221; 7. Steve Torrence, 193; 8. Morgan Lucas, 173; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 168; 10. David Grubnic, 154. PRO STOCK – 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 484; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 303; 3. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 285; 4. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 256; 5. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 233; 6. Bob Yonke, Pontiac GXP, 209; 7. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 198; 8. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Chevrolet Cobalt, 182; 9. Ron Krisher, Chevrolet Cobalt, 172; 10. Ronnie Humphrey, Pontiac GXP, 147. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 175; 2. Tie, Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson V-Rod, and Matt Smith, Suzuki, 160 each; 4. Shawn Gann, Buell, 129; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 127; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 115; 7. David Hope, Buell, 110; 8. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 108; 9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 104; 10. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 94. PRO MODIFIED – 1. Kenny Lang, 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, 95; 2. Michael Gullqvist, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 74; 3. Tie, Burton Auxier, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, and Khalid Balooshi, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 63 each; 5. Tie, Joe Baker, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; Roger Burgess, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; Jay Payne, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; and Melanie Troxel, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 52 each; 9. Tie, Troy Coughlin, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; Adam Flamholc, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; Ed Hoover, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; Chip King, 1969 Dodge Daytona; Mike Knowles, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette; Tony Pontieri, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro; Rickie Smith, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro; and Tim Tindle, 1967 Shelby Mustang GT, 41 each. * * * * TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight): Qualifying – Saturday, April 10, 10:30 pm -12:30 am. Repeat qualifying, Sunday, April 11, 12 noon-2 pm NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, April 11, 2 pm Race Highlights – Sunday, April 11, 8-11 pm Repeat race highlights – Friday, April 16, 1-3 am * * * * NEXT EVENTS (2009 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship): 11th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, April 16-18, Las Vegas, Nev. 14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, April 30-May 2, Madison, Ill. (St. Louis) 30th annual Summit Southern Nationals, May 14-16, Atlanta, Ga. 22nd annual NHRA O’Reilly Summer Nationals, May 21-23, Topeka, Kan. 13th annual U.S. Route 66 Nationals, June 3-6, Joliet, Ill. (Chicago) * * * * CONTACTS: For John Force Racing, Inc.: Elon Werner Kelly Antonelli 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 FORCE NARROWS FOCUS FOR HOUSTON TITLE BID 14-Time Champ Seeks Third Victory of Season HOUSTON, Texas – John Force already has won a two-wide race and a four-wide race this year. If the NHRA wanted to go eight-wide during this week’s 23rd annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, few doubt that Force and his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang would be able to master that, too. Nevertheless, after scoring two weeks ago in the controversial side-by-side-by-side-by-side format that marked the inaugural 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, N.C., drag racing’s biggest winner is glad to get back to what he knows best – and that is focusing on a single opponent in the lane immediately adjacent even if the driver occupying that position is his daughter, Ashley Force Hood. Force beat his progeny to the finish by just .021 of a second in a Charlotte final she actually thought she had won. Now she’s itching for a two-wide rematch this weekend on a track on which she was dominant a year ago when she won at the wheel of the Castrol GTX Mustang. “Racing my own daughter, that’s the hardest thing,�?? Force said. “I have to be honest, she told me that when she pulls up beside me, she doesn’t leave anything on the table. I had to get that attitude, (too) because when I look at her through that visor, all I see is the little girl who used to fall off her tricycle. On that track, though, I know she’s not a little girl anymore. She’s learning the game.�?? The difference, at least to this point, is that Force already knows the game and, after enduring two seasons of struggle and failing last year to win a race for the first time since 1987, he has put himself back into contention with a new race car, new crew and new mechanical “brain trust.�??. Compelled by economics to park one of the four Ford Mustangs his team campaigned in 2009, Force consolidated his resources. Significantly, he took Mike Neff, who last year drove the fourth Ford, and put him together with Hall of Fame crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly to form a crew chief consortium responsible for 18 NHRA championships. The results have been magic. In four races in this, his 25th season with primary sponsor BP/Castrol, Force has gone to three finals, won twice and ended three years of qualifying frustration by starting No. 1 at Phoenix, Ariz. -more- John Force at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals 2222 After surviving a spectacular 2007 crash at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas and enduring months of physical therapy, he suddenly is flashing the form that made him almost unbeatable in the 1990s. “I just kept staying after it,�?? said the 2008 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, �??and I’m excited that I can play the game again. I’m 60 years old and I intend to race until I’m 65 or better. It’s all about motivating yourself. I wanted Ashley to see me this way and Robert to see me this way; (to) prove that I could come back, so that if it ever happened to them they would know that if you want it bad enough you can (overcome almost anything).�?? Although he likely will remain undefeated in the experimental four-wide format of which a majority of pro drivers, owners and crew chiefs were critical, Force isn’t too bad in the traditional format, either. Since he began his NHRA career in 1978, the California pro has been in 1,448 two-car races and won 1,046 of them. That means he’s crossed the finish line ahead of his opponent, at either the quarter mile distance at which events were run for more than 50 years or at the 1,000 foot distance at which the have been contested since the death of two-time world champion Scott Kalitta in 2008, 72.2 per cent of the time. At HRP, the 14-time series champion has been even more prolific, winning 75.3 per cent of his two-car heats (56 of 74) en route to seven victories, six of them in the Spring Nationals. “ I like Texas,�?? Force said. “It’s fun to go there and you can really run good if the conditions are right (as they are supposed to be this week with 70 degree temperatures). We’ve been pretty consistent there over the years. We’re looking forward to getting back.�?? * * * * Force at Houston Raceway Park: �??John has won seven races at HRP including a short-lived fall event in 1999 �??John won his 100th tour event at HRP on April 14, 2002 when he beat Tommy Johnson Jr. In the final round. He hasn’t won since. �?? John withdrew his entire team from the Spring Nationals in 2007 following the death of rising star Eric Medlen in a Florida testing accident. Spring Nationals summary: 21 Starts, 8 Final Rounds, 6 Wins, 7 No. 1 Qualifiers, 45-15 Record Notable: Since 1989, John has been beaten in the first round at Houston just one time. He lost to journeyman Bob Gilbertson in the first round in 2000, opening the door for Gilbertson to earn his only tour victory. Quotable: “I just keep trying; doing what I do. That’s really what it’s all about – doing what you love. I motivate myself. I’ve always been the kind of guy when somebody tears me down it builds my strength.�?? – 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 O’Reilly Spring Nationals 3333 FORCE’s Edge Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records) – Most career victories (128) – Most series championships (14) – Most career final rounds (205) – Most career rounds won (1049) – 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 (132) – Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996) – Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.) – Career starts (530) 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 O’Reilly Spring Nationals 4444 Milestones – First start, Oct. 8, 1978, World Finals, Ontario, Calif., lost to Gordie Bonin – First round win, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La., over Tom McEwen – First final round, June 1, 1979, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La., versus Kenny Bernstein. – First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La. – First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational Molson, Montreal, Canada, over Ed McCulloch – 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 win at 1,000 foot distance, Feb. 14, 2010, Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, Pomona, Calif. – First (and only) drag racer to win 1,000 racing rounds, May 4, 2008, Madison, Ill. – First Funny Car driver to win in four-wide format, March 28, 2010, Charlotte, N.C. * * * * JOHN FORCE By the Numbers 1 Driver of the Year award for all American motor sports (1996) 2 victories since a career-threatening 2007 crash in Dallas, Texas 3 screws securing ankle bones from compound fracture suffered in 2007 crash 4 time winner of Jerry Titus Memorial Award for receiving most votes in balloting for the Auto Racing All-America Team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002). 5 seasons with 10 or more tour victories (1993-94, 1996, 1999-2000). 6 wins at O’Reilly Spring Nationals (1990-91, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002) 7 victories at Houston Raceway Park (includes 1999 win in no longer contested fall race) 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) 1278 tour events won 1049 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 FORCE HOOD OPENS DEFENSE OF SPRING NATIONALS TITLE U.S. Nationals Champ Trying to Build on Momentum HOUSTON, Texas – Ashley Force Hood inherited her dad’s competitiveness, his skill and his affinity for speed. What currently separates the two, at least on drag racing’s 1,000 foot race course, is John Force’s 33 years of experience. Consider that Force Hood, the defending Funny Car champion at the O’ Reilly Spring Nationals, contested this week for the 23rd time at Houston Raceway Park, has driven her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in a mere 73 NHRA pro tour events. Her dad, the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion and current Full Throttle points leader, has driven in 547 different races and appeared in 205 finals. Whereas Ashley has won 84 racing rounds, her father has won 1,049. Nevertheless, Ashley finally is beginning to understand some of things her dad has been trying to teach her since she turned pro and claimed Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2007. “I've finally gotten into a routine (as a driver),�?? said the 27-year-old after losing by a scant .021 of a second in the final round of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, N.C., just two weeks ago. “My dad has raced for over 30 years and he's not doing the mental checklist that I'm having to do. It's all natural for him." Although she was forced to develop her skills in a fish bowl, in just three seasons Force Hood has changed the entire complexion of a sport in which her father has been competing for four decades. In 2008, she became the first woman EVER to win an NHRA Funny Car race. Last year, in addition to her victory in the Spring Nationals, she won the NHRA’s biggest race, the Labor Day Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind., a win that laid the foundation for a second place finish in points behind brother-in-law Robert Hight. Ashley credits crew chiefs Dean “Guido�?? Antonelli and Ron Douglas and a very supportive crew for her rapid development as a driver and especially for helping her address issues relating to her starting line reaction times. -more- Ashley at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals 2222 “‘Guido’ told me to treat every round the same, whether it’s qualifying or racing,�?? Ashley said. “He told me that ‘the car doesn't know who you’ re running, so why change how you tune the car or drive it?’�?? It also has helped her to know that she isn’t the only driver to have struggled with the issue. The late Eric Medlen, one of the rising stars in the series until he lost his life in a 2007 testing accident in Florida, also had to deal with reaction time demons according to Antonelli, who was one of his closest friends. “‘Guido’ told me there were so many times when Eric really struggled with reaction times (that) it became mental for him,�?? Ashley said. “He told me that it wasn’t until Eric finally said, 'I'm sick of making myself sick about it and not having fun’ that his reaction times got better. I always try to remind myself of that. Every driver goes through that. “When you start (driving), your reaction times are good because you're not thinking about it; you're just trying to remember to deploy the parachute and go through your checklist,�?? explained the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton. “You’re distracted. It's when you get a hang of those things that you start to fine tune what you're doing. That’s when you put pressure on yourself and invariably screw yourself up. To teach yourself to NOT think about it is a big part of our sport and that’s where dad still has a big advantage.�?? Neverthless, Force Hood slowly is gaining ground on her famous father in a rivalry that could play out in this week’s final. “I only need 125 more wins to tie dad,�?? she laughed. “That may take awhile.�?? * * * * Ashley at Houston Raceway Park: �??Ashley is trying to put her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in the final round at HRP for the third straight year. Since moving up to Funny Car in 2007, she has never failed to reach the final round of the Spring Nationals. �??Like her other John Force Racing teammates, Ashley missed the 2007 Spring Nationals in the aftermath of the tragic death of rising star Eric Medlen. O’Reilly Spring Nationals summary: 2 starts, 2 final rounds, 1 win, no No. 1 qualifiers, 7-1 round record Career summary: 69 starts, 14 final rounds, 3 wins, 9 No. 1 qualifiers, 84-66 round record Notable: Ashley is the reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion and owner of the fastest Funny Car speed at the 1,000 foot distance – 316.38 miles per hour.. Quotable: “it was a very different race for everybody. The toughest part about it was that (I) didn’t know who had won, who was runner-up. That was really a bummer because I actually thought we had won because the light came on in my lane.�?? ASHLEY FORCE HOOD on losing to her father in the final round of the 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US