It is fair to say John Force’s Funny Car racing program hit a few serious road bumps this year. First Ford announced that it was pulling out of the professinal levels of drag racing after the 2014 season, leaving Force without his longtime manufacturer’s sponsorship. Then, Castrol–which has been on Force’s cars for 29 years–announced that it too would be ending its relationship with the team at the conclusion of competition in 2014.
Many might take a double-whammy like that as a sign that it’s time to hang up the fireproof driving gloves. But Force is doing quite the opposite, and his first step is to reassert to anyone watching that he is still the king of the NHRA’s Funny Car class by winning his 16th championship.
Force did it by the slimmest of margins, besting his youngest daughter, Courtney, by making his run in 4.062 to 4.085 seconds. “This is probably the most stress I’ve ever had,” Force said after the run that gave him is 16th championship. “I just gave the worst top-end interview I ever did (because) I couldn’t believe that we got here. Racing my daughter in the final with the championship on the line. She wanted to win but, at the end of the day, the fans won.”
“Look at how these cars ran side by side,” he added. “If there is anything I have done right, it is putting together this team effort. We pulled together when it looked like we were falling apart. I have great companies with me and they allow me do this and today we won them a championship.
Force says he hopes to add to his record championship count with number 17 next year. Whether he achieves his goal or not, we’re sure the fireworks will be something to see.
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