FORCE DEDICATES WIN TO FALLEN HERO
John Force dedicated his Funny Car triumph Sunday to Bryan Brewster, a U.S. Army
sergeant killed May 5 in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The young soldier is
the son of longtime motorsports writer Louis Brewster, sports editor of the
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario, California, and the San Bernardino Sun.
"I was even praying to your son, Louis," Force told Louis Brewster, his friend for years. "I have a trophy for him, and I think you deserve that.
John Force dedicated his Funny Car triumph Sunday to Bryan Brewster, a U.S. Army
sergeant killed May 5 in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The young soldier is
the son of longtime motorsports writer Louis Brewster, sports editor of the
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario, California, and the San Bernardino Sun.
"I was even praying to your son, Louis," Force told Louis Brewster, his
friend for years. "I have a trophy for him, and I think you deserve
that.
"The ups and downs of this sport are tough, and things that happen
sometimes make it tough to stay in the fight. But I do it for my guys, I think
just like a kid in the military does it for his guys," Force said. "I meant
that, Louie. I have your boy a trophy for this race here. I thought about it
when that took place that if there was anything I could do for you and him . . .
I'd like to honor this race to your son.
"Quite a kid. I knew him,"
Force said of Sgt. Brewster. "I didn't know him very well. But he come to the
races. Got him a shirt and hats. Then he got a bunch of shirts and hats and sent
me a picture on an Army tank with all his buddies, wearing John Force shirts
that said 'Go win.' And then we lost him.
"I've never felt that pain.
But it broke my heart," Force said, "because we love you so much. I sat here
tonight and thought if I can pull this out, I'd like to give you the trophy from
Pomona, because this old man ain't getting younger. I might not get another
one."
