Fri, 25 Sep 2009, 10:56 PM Force Back at Crash Site In Bid for First 2009 Win

Courtesy of Dave Densmore

ENNIS, Tex. -- On a Texas Motorplex track on which he suffered the most serious injuries of his 32-year driving career, John Force hopes to regain his competitive health this week when the NHRA Full Throttle pro tour returns to the Lone Star state for the 24th renewal of the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals, second race in the Countdown to One playoffs

It's been just two years since drag racing's biggest winner left Billy Meyer's Texas track in a medical helicopter after suffering multiple injuries when his Castrol SYNTECR Ford Mustang blew a tire and crashed into Kenny Bernstein's Dodge Charger.

Two years of physical therapy and extra strength training have restored Force's physical health, but the Hall of Fame driver said he won't feel complete until he has regained the competitive edge that delivered a record 126 tour victories and 14 championships.

A 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection, Force scoffs at the suggestion that, at age 60, he has lost the skills that once made him almost unbeatable.

"I know I can still drive," he said, "and I know I can still win but, at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. We're down to the last five races (of the season) and time is running out."

At stake for Force is the survival of two remarkable streaks. The former truck driver has raced in at least one final round every year since 1985 and has won at least once in every season since 1987. That's 24 years and 22 years, respectively. Thus far this season, though, he's been unable to advance beyond the semifinals at the wheel of the Castrol GTXR High MileageT Ford Mustang.

He also is trying to win his 1,000th competitive round with Austin Coil as his crew chief. That's 1,000 rounds won in 25 seasons together.

Unfortunately, it's a statistic that means nothing in the NHRA playoffs, which resume this week with Force 78 points behind Tony Pedregon and 77 behind his daughter, Ashley Force Hood, the highest ranked of the four John Force Racing qualifiers.

"The only round that makes any difference," Coil has said, "is the last one. If you won the last one, then there's the chance you can win the next one and if you happen to be lucky enough to win four-in-a-row, well, you're back in the winners' circle."

Although it's been 35 races since Force last appeared in a final round, the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection doesn't think anyone has yet been eliminated from championship consideration.

"I think we've got as good a chance as anyone else," he said. "Just look at what Cruz (Pedregon) did last year. He got hot in the Countdown, won a couple of races in a row (three) and got the ring. He did the same thing in 92. We thought we had it won and he came out and won five-in-a-row and ran us down.

"This year, there's 10 good cars in the Countdown. Any one of them can win it. Our job is to make sure it's one of these Fords. Robert's (Robert Hight) race car is back. He's hot right now. But Ashley's had a great car all year and me and (Mike) Neff are both overdue. "

Did You Know?
- Last year, John was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Mich. He was joined this year by Texan Kenny Bernstein.
- This is the furthest John ever has gone into a season without at least reaching the final round. It's been 35 races since he last appeared in a final, winning his record126th tour title at the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Topeka, Kan., on June 1, 2008.
- Because he was upset in the first round of last week's Carolinas Nationals at Charlotte, N.C., John had the opportunity to be one of the four Funny Car participants in an exhibition that utilized all four of the all-concrete lanes at zMax Dragway.

For the Record:
- John is trying to extend to a record-setting 23 the number of consecutive seasons in which he has won at least one NHRA tour event and to 25 the number of successive years in which he's contested at least one final round.
- John hasn't qualified No. 1 since Sept. 1, 2006 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. That's a span of 69 races, the longest such streak of his pro career.
- By earning one of the 10 starting spots in the NHRA's Countdown to One playoffs, John secured his record 25th straight Top 10 finish.
- By reaching the semifinals at three of the last four events, John improved his season record to 19-19, putting himself in position to post a winning record for the 25th straight year.
- In 25 seasons together, John and crew chief Austin Coil have contested 491 NHRA tour events, DNQed at only seven and compiled a record of 999-358 en route to a record 126 victories.

http://www.johnforceracing.com For more information about Castrol-branded products and services, please visit us at Castrol.com/US

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