TEAM CASTROL/JOHN AND ASHLEY PRE-RACE PACKAGE FOR READING
TEAM CASTROL/JFR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON JOHN FORCE/ASHLEY FORCE HOOD Pre-Race Package for the 26th annual Toyo Tires Nationals Oct. 8-10, 2010 Maple Grove Raceway Reading, Pa. Fourth race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs for 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: In his 25th anniversary season with Castrol, John Force sets records almost every time he takes his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang down the track during an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Although an unprecedented 15th Funny Car championship is far from secure, Force has already added to his legacy during the playoffs by securing a Top 10 finish for the 26th consecutive season. Second on that list is Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon, who has finished in the Top 10 16 straight years. Significantly, Force NEVER has failed to execute a Top 10 finish as the leader of the Team Castrol effort. The last time he failed to finish in the Top 10 was 1984 when two DNQs in an 11-race season relegated him to No. 13. Last year’s ninth place finish was his worst in the Castrol era, one in which he has 14 No. 1s, one No. 2, three No. 3s, two No. 4s, a No. 6, two No. 7s and the aforementioned No. 9. In his 24-plus years with the Castrol GTX brand, Force has started 500 NHRA races. In those 500 events, he was the No. 1 qualifier 134 times, a finalist 206 times, the event winner 134 times. He also won 1,028 competitive rounds of racing in those 500 events and finished more than half of them (259) as the Funny Car points leader . EVENT OVERVIEW: Everything that went right for Robert “Top Gun�?? Hight in the 2009 Countdown to 1 playoffs has gone terribly wrong for the reigning Full Throttle Funny Car Champion in his title defense at the wheel of the Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang. A year ago, Hight started from tenth place and, entering the fourth of six playoff races, was just one point behind teammate and then-leader Ashley Force Hood. At the same point in the current campaign, Hight is in sixth place, 150 points back of boss, teammate and father-in-law John Force. “In the playoffs, it’s all about going rounds,�?? Hight said, “and we’ve gone out in the first round in all three (playoff) races. Some of it’s been bad luck. We broke a throttle cable at Charlotte. But, bottom line, we haven’t done what we needed to do and we’ve put ourselves in a bad position.�?? However, what is a bad situation for Hight and crew chief Jimmy Prock may prove fortuitous for Force and Force Hood, both of whom remain solidly in contention for what could be the 17th championship in 22 years for John Force Racing, Inc. With Hight in a “swing for the fences�?? mode with the Auto Club Mustang, both could benefit should he finally begin to “go rounds�?? in a car that has won four times this year. At age 61, Force leads the field into Maple Grove Raceway bidding for an unprecedented 15th individual championship in a Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang in which he has gone to the finals nine times this year with four wins. Trying to become the first Funny Car driver to win as the No. 1 seed in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, Force currently leads Dodge driver Matt Hagan by 25 points. Although he came into the season having last led the points in 2006, Force has had his Mustang in front for all but two races this year. His biggest margin was the 141 points by which he led Hagan after the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals at Madison, Ill., on May 2. Other than the two races that he trailed Hight, his smallest lead was one point, the margin by which he earned the No. 1 seed. Force Hood, who last month won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind., for the second straight year, becoming just the fourth Funny Car driver to earn back-to-back victories in the sport’s biggest event, is fourth in points but trails her dad by only 68, little more than three rounds. After becoming the first woman to reach a Funny Car final and the first to wi;n an NHRA Funny Car race, the driver of the Castrol GTX Mustang now is trying to become the first woman in the 43-year history of the class to win the championship. Thus far, she has followed Hight’s roadmap to championship success, following up a win at Indy with a second round exit at Charlotte and a semifinal loss two weeks ago at the Texas Motorplex. She has averaged two-plus round wins per event. Hight has said that if a driver could average a semifinal finish for the six playoff races, he – or she – would have an excellent chance of winning the title. * * * * JFR RACING HISTORY AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY: Wins – 7, six by John Force for Castrol GTX (1989-90, 1993-94, 1997, 2001); one by Tony Pedregon for Castrol SYNTEC (2002). Last year – John Force fouled away his chances in the semifinals in a one-race driver swap that aligned him with crew chief Jimmy Prock, who usually works with Robert Hight. Hight, meanwhile, drove for Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. Ultimately, Mike Neff lost one of the closest finals of the entire season to Bob Tasca III, 4.239-4.247. Notable #1 – Only at the Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta, Ga., has John Force appeared in more final rounds than he has in the Toyo Tires Nationals (13). Notable #2 – At the 1989 race, John Force salvaged his season with a final round hole shot victory over series champion Bruce Larson. It was his ONLY win of the campaign. Force won with a time of 5.339 seconds to Larson’s quicker, but losing 4.288 on his home track. Notable #3 – A year later (Sept. 16, 1990), Force repeated as Maple Grove Funny Car champion, again winning on a hole shot over Mark Oswald. Force was clocked in 5.331 seconds; Oswald in 5.309 seconds. * * * * PRO POINTS (Current 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings): Funny Car – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 2339; 2. Matt Hagan, Diehard Dodge Charger, 2314; 3. Jack Beckman, MTS Dodge Charger, 2294; 4. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 2271; 5. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 2215; 6. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 2189; 7. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 2157; 8. Del Worsham, Al Anabi Toyota Solara, 2149; 9. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 2147; 10. Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2116. Top Fuel – 1. Larry Dixon, 2422; 2. Cory McClenathan, 2353; 3. Tony Schumacher, 2328; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 2249; 5. Doug Kalitta, 2245; 6. Shawn Langdon, 2226; 7. Antron Brown, 2201; 8. Steve Torrence, 2168; 9. Morgan Lucas, 2135; 10. David Grubnic, 2098. Pro Stock – 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 2362; 2. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 2346; 3. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 2300; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 2228; 5. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 2223; 6. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Chevrolet Cobalt, 2211; 7. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 2180; 8. Ron Krisher, Chevrolet Cobalt, 2173; 9. Rodger Brogdon, Pontiac GXP, 2117; 10. Johnny Gray, Pontiac GXP, 2107. Pro Stock Motorcycle – 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson V-Rod, 2444; 2. L.E. Tonglet, Suzuki, 2400; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-David/son V-Rod, 2264; 4. Matt Smith, Buell, 2248; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 2217; 6. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 2209; 7. Hector Arana, Buell, 2204; 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 2137; 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 2117; 10. David Hope, Buell, 2114. * * * * TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight): Qualifying – Saturday, Oct. 9, 10:30 pm-12:30 pm NHRA RaceDay – Sunday, Oct. 10, 10-10:30 am Race Highlights – Sunday, Oct. 10, 9-11:30 pm Live Coverage on-line at ESPN3.com – 11 am-4:30 pm Repeat race highlights – Wednesday, Oct. 13, 4-6 am * * * * NEXT EVENTS (2010 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship): 10th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, Oct. 28-31, Las Vegas, Nev. 46th annual Automobile Club of Southern California Finals, Nov. 11-14, Pomona, Calif. * * * * 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 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 clings to points lead; eyes reading win READING, Pa. – Statistics, it’s said, are for suckers. Still, it’s hard to overlook the fact that John Force NEVER has lost the NHRA Funny Car championship when he has led the points for 12 or more events as he has done again this season at the wheel of a resurgent Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang. Yeah, but how many times has that happened, really? Well, let’s see: 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. All but one of Force’s record 14 Funny Car titles has come in seasons in which he led the points for more than half the races. And this year? Entering this week’s 26th annual Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, fourth race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, the 61-year-old drag racing icon has been the Full Throttle points leader after 18 of 20 races in his bid to secure a 17th championship in 21 years for Team Castrol and John Force Racing, Inc. Nevertheless, Force is disinclined to talk championship even at this late date – three races from the finish. “To be in the lead is good,�?? he admitted, “but really it’s not that much of a lead (25 points over third year pro Matt Hagan). We just have to stay focused and try to knock out rounds. Hagan’s a good kid and he’s going to fight us all the way to the end – just like Ashley (Force Hood) and Robert (Hight) and (Jack) Beckman and (Bob) Tasca. “We’re staying focused,�?? Force insisted. “Right now, I don’t want to think about anything but winning the race (and) winning the rounds. Robert’ s still got a shot. He got hurt last week when I beat him first round, but he’s got a shot and he’s coming in just like Ashley, with guns a blazing. I can’t wait to see what happens.�?? Force has won more Toyo Tires titles (six) than any other Funny Car driver, but he hasn’t won since 2001 which, ironically, was the year the race was postponed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and rescheduled to the weekend on which it is now being contested. In fact, one reason Force is anxious is because this weeks anticipated cool weather could change the entire dynamic of the championship race. -more- force/toyo tires nationals 2222 When the weather gets cool, the tuning window becomes broader for fuel crew chiefs. After trying to finesse their cars down 130 degree racetracks in the summer, crew chiefs, in Force’s vernacular, can “go gorilla�?? in the cool. That puts the national record bonus points in play, another factor of which Force is well aware even though his Castrol Ford has rung up the quickest 1,000 foot time of the year at 4.021 seconds. “The air is supposed to be great,�?? Force said of atmospheric conditions this week. “We aren’t guaranteeing that we’re going to win the race, but one of (these John Force Racing Fords is) going to do some damage. “The engineering and technology that we’ve got from Ford, not just the chassis and body designs, but the BOSS 500 motor, that really pays off is when you have the gorilla conditions of good air (and a good racetrack),�?? Force said. “(That’s) when you can hit it with all you’ve got.�?? Of course, it’s a “live by the sword; die by the sword�?? scenario for th 130-time tour winner who knows that his Mustang is just one of five or six cars capable of lowering the NHRA record at grabbing the 20 bonus points, the equivalent of winning a round. “It’s a struggle every day to race against these kids,�?? said the 2008 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, “(but) I really do want this championship. I’m 61 and don’t know how many more chances I’m gonna have.�?? * * * * Force at Maple Grove Raceway: �?? In one 10-year stretch from 1989 through 1998, John took a Castrol GTX Funny Car to the final round eight times with wins in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994 and 1997 �?? John’s last win came in 2001, which also was the last time he was the No. 1 qualifier at The Grove �?? John last reached the finals of the Toyo Tires Nationals in 2007 when he won a round on Sunday, a round on Monday and a round on Tuesday before fouling away his chances against Tony Pedregon on Wednesday. The Breakdown: At the Toyo Tires Nationals: 25 races, 25 starts, 13 final rounds, 6 wins, 7 No. 1 qualifiers, 53-19 round record (75.3%) 2010 Season 20 races, 9 final rounds, 4 wins, 3 No. 1 qualifiers, 36-16 round record (68.7%) Career 546 starts, 211 final rounds, 130 wins, 134 No. 1 qualifiers, 1074-416 round record (72.1%) Notable: John Force has led the points after all but two of the 20 races completed thus far this season. This is the 18th season in which John has reached No. 1 at least one time. That’s another Funny Car division record. In fact, no one else in the Funny Car class has reached No. 1 in more than seven different seasons. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US force/toyo tires nationals 3333 FORCE’s Edge Overall NHRA records (which also are Funny Car division records) – Most career victories (130) – Most series championships (14) – Most career final rounds (211) – Most career rounds won (1074) – 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 (26, 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 (134) – Most No. 1 starts, one season (11, 1996) – Most consecutive races atop Funny Car driver standings (40, 1996-97) – Most consecutive final round appearances, one event (nine, 1992-2000, Atlanta, Ga.) – Career starts (546) 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 Nat’ls, Baton Rouge, La., vs. Kenny Bernstein. – First No. 1 qualifier, May 25, 1986, Cajun Nationals, Baton Rouge, La. – First tour victory, June 28, 1987, Le Grandnational, Montreal, 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) among the Top 50 drivers in NHRA’s first 50 years (2001) – First win at 1,000 foot distance, Feb. 14, 2010, 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. -more- force/toyo tires nationals 4444 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 By the Numbers 1 position presently occupied in Countdown to 1 driver standings 2 events this season after which he DID NOT occupy the No. 1 position in points 3 pins securing the bones in his left ankle, the result of a 2007 crash in Texas 4 time winner of the Jerry Titus Memorial Award as the driver receiving the most votes in balloting for the AARWBA Auto Racing All-America team (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002) 6 victories in the Toyo Tires Nationals (1989-90, 1993-94, 1997, 2001) 7 No. 1 starts at Maple Grove Raceway (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 19998, 2000, 2001) 9 final rounds this season, most among Funny Car drivers 10 straight Funny Car titles (1993-2002), an NHRA record 26 consecutive Top 10 finishes (1985-present), another NHRA record 130 tour events won, an NHRA record 134 No. 1 qualifying performances, four short of the record 211 final round appearances, an NHRA record 1074 competitive rounds won, another NHRA record -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 ashley on target to become first female champ READING, Pa. – On a track on which she took an emotional rollercoaster ride during last year’s rain-plagued Toyo Tires Nationals, Ashley Force Hood tries to remain calm and focused this week in an ongoing bid to become the first woman in 43 years to win the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car championship. “If you can be the team that doesn’t have all the ups and downs, but consistently goes to the semis, then you are giving yourself a really good chance (to win the championship),�?? said the 27-year-old daughter of drag racing icon John Force. Force Hood, who finished second to teammate Robert Hight a year ago, returns to Maple Grove Raceway at the wheel of a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang that in just four seasons has become one of the most feared Funny Cars on the planet. It’s a race car that could benefit from cooler weather expected this week. “The cooler weather is a little better for our Mustang,�?? Force Hood said, “but it’s also nicer for the crew guys, the driver and the fans. Hopefully, we’ve seen the last of the really hot weather like we had in Charlotte. �?? Cool weather and a newly-resurfaced track could prove especially beneficial to Ashley and crew chiefs Dean “Guido�?? Antonelli and Ron Douglas insomuch as they bring the 4.022 second NHRA national record into play. If one of the contenders lower the record, it would mean an additional 20 points, as good as winning a round of racing. Ashley, who already owns the national speed record at the 1,000 foot distance at 316.38 miles per hour, is considered one of the drivers capable of going low this weekend along with her father, Hight, Matt Hagan (the current record-holder), Jack Beckman and Cruz Pedregon. “If the opportunity is there, I’m sure that ‘Guido’ and Ron would go for it,�?? said the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton, “but you don’t want to get caught up in chasing the record and forget to follow your game plan (for the championship). I’ve got the best bunch of guys out here and we’re just going to focus on doing what we’ve done all year, going A to B, getting as many bonus points as we can and not beating ourselves.�?? That means avoiding last year’s scenario, one that resulted in a first round disqualification when the Mustang couldn’t make minimum weight. -more- ashley/toyo tires nationals 2222 It all began positively enough when Ashley stopped the timers in 4.114 seconds at 301.47 miles per hour, a performance that ultimately earned her the No. 1 starting position. However, on Saturday at the end of the only qualifying session completed between rainstorms, the former high school cheerleader felt the car shudder near the finish line, the result of an engine malfunction that led to an explosion and flash fire. Although the team was able to affect repairs before eliminations, it didn’ t have time to check the weight. So, after an apparent first round win, Ashley was DQ’ed and first round opponent Jeff Arend re-instated. “It was disappointing after how hard the guys worked to put everything back together,�?? she said, “but at least we did something dad has never done. That car’s always heavy. I don’t think he’s ever been DQ-ed on weight.�?? Nevertheless, those are the kinds of problems the former Rookie of the Year (2007) hopes to avoid this week in an event in which she has yet to advance beyond the second round in eliminations. “Last year, Robert showed that if you can just make the Countdown, you can win the championship,�?? said the two-time reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals champion and first woman to win an NHRA Funny Car race. “We’ve struggled this year but we kept remembering that Robert went worst to first. That was our motivation.�?? * * * * Ashley at Maple Grove Raceway: �?? At last year’s race, after rebounding from a engine explosion and fire to qualify No. 1 and after apparently defeating Jeff Arend in the first round, Ashley was disqualified when it was determined that her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang was just under the minimum weight standard.�?? Although she has not advanced out of the second round in three appearances in the Funny Car division, Ashley qualified No. 1 and reached the finals in the Top Alcohol Dragster class in 2004, beating Bill Reichert in the semifinals before losing to current Top Fuel standout Morgan Lucas in the final. The Ashley Report: At the Toyo Tires Nationals 3 races, 3 starts, 0 final rounds, 0 wins, 1 No. 1 qualifier, 1-3 round record 2010 Season 20 races, 3 final rounds, 1 win, 3 No. 1 qualifiers, 22-19 round record Career 89 races, 85 starts, 16 final rounds, 4 wins, 12 No. 1 qualifiers, 102-81 round record Notable: Ashley is the NHRA national record holder for Funny Car speed at the 1,000 foot distance at 316.38 mph, a mark she established earlier this year at Charlotte, N.C. -www.johnforceracing.com- For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US