In 2013 when John Force won his 16th Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship he moved to the top spot from the No. 5 position. This season Force once again entered the Countdown to the Championship as the No. 5 driver in the points and he is already off to a better start in 2015. Two years ago Force lost in the second round of the first race of the Countdown but last weekend Force drove his Jeff Gordon Tribute Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car to a semi-final finish. This weekend at the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals Force will be behind the wheel of a new look Lucas Slick Mist Chevrolet Camaro.
For NHRA tickets and information, please visit www.gatewaymsp.com or call (855) 722-3845.“We are promoting Lucas Slick Mist this weekend and I have to thank the Lucas family for sponsoring me this race and growing our program. Forrest Lucas and his family have done so much for this sport and I could not be prouder to race this Chevy with his name on the side. This is race is sponsored by AAA Insurance which is another one of our sponsors and we will be battling for all our sponsors this weekend,” said Force, who has two wins in 2015.
So far this season Force has been racing with a brand new crew and new crew chief Jon Schaffer. The winningest driver in NHRA history has been very pleased with his young team’s performance and by his own admission the 16-time champion feeds off of the enthusiasm.
“These young guys keep me motivated. I have always been excited to get to the race track and when I get around these young guys it just puts a smile on my face. When I am in my firesuit I feel like a 20 year old and most of these crew guys are about that old so we are a perfect match. Jon Schaffer has been giving me a great race car all year. We had a race car that could have won last weekend in Charlotte. I will be ready to get back at it on Friday at Gateway Motorsports Park,” said Force, who lost to daughter Courtney Force last year in the semi-finals in St. Louis.
Force has a lot of confidence heading into the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals when you consider he won this race in 2013 on the way to his 16th championship. The last four times Force has raced at Gateway he has qualified No.1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 1. The track just across the river from downtown St. Louis has provided Force with great performance numbers and confidence.
“I was at a crossroads a long time ago in my career crossing the Mississippi. Now we have rebuilt this organization and we still have some work to do but we have a lot of energy at John Force Racing. I am chasing that championship and so is Robert Hight in the AAA Insurance Chevy Camaro. My daughter Courtney Force and the Traxxas Chevy will also make a big difference in the Countdown. She helped us out last race with a big win and all three of these Chevrolet Camaros will be ready to go this weekend,” said Force.
Force is looking for his 144th career Funny Car win and third of the season. He has raced to four final rounds this season and he will finish this season in the Top Ten for the 30th season in a row. That streak is something Force appreciates but it wasn’t the goal when the former truck driver first got behind the wheel.
“In the beginning winning rounds wasn’t just to prove I could beat somebody. It was to get that round money to pay for Goodyear tires to pay for a room or plane ticket or diesel fuel. Everything had a reason. Every step was an improvement. We had a one car team and we lived that life seven days a week. We went to a two car team then three and now four cars. I wouldn’t be thing big if it wasn’t for my family. Drivers like Robert Hight, Ashley, Brittany and Courtney and now looking at the future with my grandkids Autumn, Jacob and Noah,” concluded Force.
Courtesy of Elon Werner
Photos by Larry Vancil
St. Louis Motor Racing News
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