For a guy who's won 126 tour events and 14 championships, who in 1996 won 13 of the 19 races comprising the NHRA series, that kind of production - or lack thereof - might indicate a deterioration of abilities.

However, it would be tough to find anyone inside the Funny Car family bold enough to make that statement.

Moreover, at age 60, Force still believes he can win races AND win the championship at the wheel of the aptly-named Castrol GTXR High MileageT Ford Mustang. The co-crew chiefs on that 300 mile-an-hour hybrid, Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly, also are sexagenarians, meaning they're sixty-somethings.

Force, who hasn't been to a final round in a career worst 29 straight races, rolls into the Bay Area in eighth place in Full Throttle points, still very much in the hunt for one of the 10 starting spots in the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

"We're not where we want to be right now," Force said, "but trust me, we're not far off. I'm still confident I can win the championship. I'm no miracle worker who can just make it happen on my own, but I think we can do it as a team, me and Coil and Bernie and my guys.

"To be honest, the car has been off a little and we have some new crew guys but, as a driver, I couldn't feel better physically. I go to the gym every day, have ever since I came back from my crash. I have no excuses. In fact, I've named this the No Excuses Tour.'"

Nevertheless, to lock up a berth in the Countdown and secure an opportunity to race for his 15th individual title, Force still has a little work to do.

He needs to win rounds to put distance between himself and the drivers immediately behind him in the point standings. Perhaps more importantly, he needs to win a race, if only for his mental well-being.

The 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection hasn't gone to the winners' circle since June 1, 2008 when he prevailed in the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Topeka, Kan. Thus far, that's his only victory since coming back from injuries suffered in a Sept., 2007, crash in Dallas, Texas.

"I wouldn't be out here if I didn't think I could win," said the seven-time FRAM/Autolite Nationals champion.

Did You Know?
- 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 has reached at least one final round. He currently shares the records (22 and 24, respectively) with Warren Johnson.
- John's Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford and all the other JFR Mustangs are carrying the logo of the Los Angeles-based Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program. John's outside general counsel, Michael Sheman, is on the Board of Directors. "That kind of cancer, the kind that attacks kids, really gets me," Force said. "If putting a decal on my Funny Car will help them get more attention and maybe some more donations, then that's the thing to do."
- John hasn't qualified No. 1 since Sept. 1, 2006 at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind. That's a span of 63 races, the longest he has gone without a No. 1 start in his entire pro career. John last qualified No. 1 at Infineon in 2004. Overall, he's qualified No. 1 seven times.
- Last year, John was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Mich.

At Infineon Raceway:
- When he won the 2007 FRAM/Autolite Nationals, it was only the second time in his career that John won a tour event from a double digit starting spot. The only other time was 1995 when he started 12th at Phoenix. John has won 92 of his record 126 events from either No. 1 (55), No. 2 (18) or No. 3 (19) start.
- John's first win at Sonoma was in 1990 and his last was in 2007. That's 17 years between the first and most recent. Only longer streak is Brainerd, 1988-2007.
- With two rounds wins, Sonoma would become the 10th different event in which John has won at least 50 rounds of racing.
- John has beaten a different opponent to win each of his seven titles in the FRAM/Autolite Nationals: Ed McCulloch, Ron Capps, Tony Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon, Chuck Etchells, Bruce Larson and Del Worsham.

Force and Coil:
- Over the 25 years they have been together, John Force and Austin Coil have gone to the final round in 198 of 479 NHRA events (41.6 per cent).
- Force and Coil were winless in their first 31 races together, finally earning a breakthrough win on June 28, 1987 at Montreal, Canada.
- En route to 14 NHRA championships and 126 tour victories, there have been three constants - Force, Coil and Castrol.

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

Courtesy of Dave Densmore