To commemorate winning his seventh NHRA Funny Car World Championship in 1997, tying him with other motorsports icons like "The King" Richard Petty, and "The Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt, John Force, who's always had a flair for the theatrics would debut a shiny new gold seven-time champ body at the 1998 NHRA U.S. Nationals.

However, Force, who was having a down year to his standards in 98, having won only one race that year heading into the U.S. Nationals, would have a fight on his hands for his eighth world championship with Funny Car up-and-comer Ron Capps, who entered Indy with the points lead.

But like the true champion he is, Force, along with crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Federly, would rise to the occasion and capture his third win in the last six years at NHRA's most prestigious race behind this wheel of his beautiful new gold body, which ultimately would propel him to his eighth series title.