Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force goes into this weekend’s season opener as the defending winner of the Winternationals at Pomona. Photo courtesy NHRA Media
Off the track, legendary Funny Car driver John Force has stayed busy over the last several months, changing car manufacturers, shuffling his team roster and adding a flurry of new sponsors heading into the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series.
On the track, where Force really thrives, the 16-time world champion continues to be just as successful. He battled reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan down to the wire a season ago, finishing second in points after a thrilling duel at Pomona.
A chaotic off-season ended on a strong note with an impressive test session in Phoenix, leaving Force primed for another go at a world championship. That journey starts with this weekend’s Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, CA, and the reigning event winner Force promises to be ready in his 10,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS.
“Driving is what I really do,” Force said. “When I got to testing everybody said my personality changed, because you get back into what you really love, and that’s driving a race car on the NHRA circuit. I can’t wait to get to the Winternationals. I’m excited because driving that car is what I’m good at it. Retiring is not an option to me. I love what I do. The car is what I do, and I’m ready to drag race.”
Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) joined Force as winners of last year’s race.
Force is certainly no stranger to victories at Pomona, winning 16 times overall and eight times at the Winternationals. To keep that stellar mark going, Force will have to deal with a loaded Funny Car class that starts with Hagan, who showed extreme poise throughout the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
The duel and brewing rivalry between Force and Hagan seemed to bring out the best in both, as Hagan won three races and advanced to four final rounds in the Countdown to the Championship. Force advanced to three final rounds during the six-race playoffs, but lost to Hagan in two of those outings.
That matchup figures to be one to watch during 2015, but Force also knows he can’t concentrate on just one driver in a deep and talented Funny Car field.
“I’m ready, but Hagan will tell you, if he focused on me and I’m focused on him, well then Cruz Pedregon or Robert Hight or Courtney (Force) or Ron Capps is going to go around us,” Force said. “So what do we do? We take them a day at a time. Robert Hight wants a championship as much as I do, and he knows how to do it.
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Top competition seems to bring out the best in Force but so seemingly does a non-stop mindset off the track. Force and his John Force Racing team worked tirelessly to add new sponsors throughout the end of 2014 and into 2015, and that energy has had a strong effect on the entire team, which includes Hight, Courtney Force and Top Fuel driver Brittany Force.
All had strong showings at their test session in Phoenix and John Force hopes that carries over to memorable performances from his entire team in Pomona.
“We’ll have to see what we can do at Pomona,” Force said. “Testing was good. We’re a little overworked, but it’s starting to come together with a lot of good friends helping. Mike Neff heads our charge. He’s my new Austin Coil. He runs everything. But (crew chief) Jon Schaffer proved he could get the job done. (It’s a) young team, kind of an old guy over here, but it’s a balance and we work great together.”
That should continue to pay dividends as Force continues to adjust to the new Camaro. On the good side, it also gives Force reason to believe the car will run well when all of the kinks are ironed out.
“That (doesn’t) mean we’re going to run out and win a championship right off the bat, but we’ll be a contender, I’ll give you my word on that,” Force said.
The star-studded Top Fuel class is led by reigning world champion Tony Schumacher, who claimed his eighth world championship in 2014. Former world champions Antron Brown, Larry Dixon and Shawn Langdon as well as top challengers J.R. Todd, Spencer Massey, Doug Kalitta, class newcomer Dave Connolly and 2014 NHRA rookie of the year Richie Crampton will aim to prevent a ninth world title for Schumacher.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders-Stevens reigned supreme in one of the most exciting championship battles ever, defeating Jason Line in a winner-take-all final side-by-side race of the year to claim her first world championship. Enders-Stevens, who became the first female Pro Stock world champion, will be looking to add to her 12 career victories but will face stiff challenges from the likes of Line, Allen Johnson, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Jonathan Gray and Vincent Nobile.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Feb. 6, with sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8.
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