"We had a strong qualifying performance in Topeka on a hot, hot track. This weekend in Chicago the
weather should be cooler and we'll try and get a win as well as qualify strong. John Medlen and
this team have been great all season. We will get it done." - Mike Neff
The Driver
Mike Neff, 42, driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang, is entering his second season with high
expectations. He is currently in 11th place Full Throttle point standings. This season he has
reached one final (Phoenix). In his rookie year he reached three finals, was No. 1 qualifier twice
and qualified for the Countdown to 1 championship race. Neff took over the driving duties for the
late Eric Medlen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a testing accident in March of 2007.
2008 Rookie of the Year Mike Neff will make his second start at Rt. 66 Raceway as a driver this
weekend for the 12th annual United Association NHRA Rt. 66 Nationals in Joliet. He is still looking
for his first career win and after his overall performance at Heartland Park Topeka last weekend he
has high hopes for this weekend.
"We had a strong qualifying performance in Topeka on a hot, hot track. This weekend in Chicago the
weather should be cooler and we'll try and get a win as well as qualify strong. John Medlen and
this team have been great all season. We will get it done," said Mike Neff.
In Topeka Neff and his Ford Drive One Mustang team led by crew chief John Medlen qualified fourth
and made the most impressive run of the Saturday's Funny Car session when they covered the 1000
foot track in 4.19 seconds. Unfortunately, a dropped cylinder in the first round derailed their
chances to see if they could challenge for the win.
"That first round loss was a surprise. You never know what can happen when you are racing a guy
like Del Worsham but we were confident. Our run on Saturday was great and we were looking to go
some rounds in Sunday. The one thing about these Funny Cars is so many things have to go right to
get a win. I have a great team and I have a ton of confidence in John Medlen and my guys. I know we
can get this Mustang trucking and get right back into the Full Throttle Championship hunt," said a
confident Neff.
Heading into Topeka Neff's team had a ton of new information from a Bristol test session and that
information will continue to pay dividends for his team as they prepare for Chicago.
"(In Bristol) we were just trying to learn a few things. My Ford Drive One Mustang got better every
run. We were trying stuff to make it run quick and fast instead of just trying to lug it to the
finish line. We were really trying to make it haul down a hot track. With each run it went further
and then further so we feel like we are going in the right direction," said Neff.
Last year in Chicago Neff bounced back from his first career DNQ in Topeka by qualifying 11th and
dropping a first round race with former teammate Gary Scelzi. This year Neff is looking to race
back into the Top 10. If he would have picked up one round win in Topeka he would have moved into
the Top 10 around 2008 Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon. As they sit now Neff is only 16 points -
less than one round of racing - behind Pedregon. A strong performance could move the 2005 Funny Car
Champion crew chief into the Top 10 and position him to make a run up the leader board.
Did you know.
- When Neff does capture his first win for John Force Racing he will become the seventh
different drivers to have won Funny Car races on the NHRA tour - John Force, Tony Pedregon, Gary
Densham, Robert Hight Ashley Force and the late Eric Medlen.
- A strong 2008 rookie season for Neff allowed him to continue another John Force Racing
tradition becoming the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four years to win the Auto Club's
Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year following Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley
Force (2007).
Get team info here: http://www.johnforceracing.com
