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Major Milestone Made Mar 24, 2017 // NHRA Event FC Results // editor16-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champion earned his record-extending 148th career victory and eighth in the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Driving his PEAK Motor Oil and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car Force defeated rookie Jonnie Lindberg (from Sweden) – competing in his first Funny Car race – in a solid final-round matchup, giving John Force Racing its first victory of 2017 and first since last year’s fall race at Las Vegas.
Force exited his PEAK Chevrolet after winning and broke into the popular tune “Singin’ in the Rain.” “I found the music,” he said.
“I’ve lived on music in my old Chevy,” Force said. “I can remember when I was 15 years old driving around without a driver’s license and the music carried me. Every day, the Beach Boys, Merle Haggard. I lived that life and you find yourself.
“I don’t go to a race without believing I can win,” continued Force, the day after recording his 155th No. 1 qualifying spot. “The day I don’t believe I can win, then it’s time for me to quit. It’s like a rollercoaster ride and I’m still a kid driving that ’54 Chevy listening to the Beach Boys, and I found the music. They are going to be sorry I found the music, trust me.”
The 67-year-old hadn’t won at the Gatornationals since 2001, breaking a 16-year drought, which set yet another NHRA record. But there are better ones he set as well including — Most Funny Car victories in the Gatornationals (eight), thirty seasons with at least one Funny Car victory, Forty seasons in which he beat a new competitor to the finish line and oldest driver ever to win in a Funny Car
“I’ve got a lot of experience that, believe it or not, things that I bring to a racetrack,” Force said when asked if he’d have an advantage lined up against a 40-year-old version of himself. “I read things, I listen, I study the other drivers, I’m nothing special. I’m just a guy that’s devoted my life to it.”
Force started the day with a convincing 3.881-second pass at 331.45 mph against Del Worsham in the opening round. Then, he squared off against Jack Beckman in the quarterfinals, whom he had only an 11-28 record against. That didn’t matter, as Force made another solid pass of 3.916 at 328.14 mph, while Beckman stuttered.
It was onto the semifinals and Tommy Johnson Jr., who slipped into round three despite problems with his car the previous round. Force drove straight down the track in 3.955 seconds at 324.05 seconds – while Johnson struggled again – and into the finals against Lindberg.
Force bested Lindberg’s reaction time – 0.071 seconds to 0.115 – and led the entire way, beating Lindberg’s time with a pass of 3.928 seconds at 328.14 mph to 3.971 at 314.83 mph. All that in a new car, and less than two weeks after switching crews with teammate Robert Hight’s team.
The victory over Lindberg also gave John Force Racing another milestone – 2,500 Funny Car victories. JFR has won more than 20 percent of all Funny Car rounds – more than 12,100 – ever contested.
Event Essentials: NHRA Amalie Oil Gatornationals (March 17-19th, 2017)
NAME ET MPH CAREER WIN Winner: John Force 3.928 328.14 148th R/UP: Jonnie Lindberg 3.971 314.83 Low ET: Robert Hight 3.828 Top Speed: Robert Hight 334.82 Bump Spot: 4.544 Event Entries: 16 Cars Posted with files by Lee Montgomery & Bruce Biegler
All photos by Bruce Biegler
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