This wasn’t the record-setting performance John Force wanted, but the legend settled for the alternative.

Thanks to his provisional world-record time of 4.021 seconds Friday, Force took the Funny Car’s No. 1 qualifying spot at the NHRA Springnationals in Houston, Texas.

“We have that Ford Boss 500 motor, that we would like to really prove, and there will be two shots to set that record tomorrow,” Force said. “First round, when it is the coolest and I have to get to the final to get two shots. I had two shots today and couldn’t make it.”

This wasn’t the record-setting performance John Force wanted, but the legend settled for the alternative.

Thanks to his provisional world-record time of 4.021 seconds Friday, Force took the Funny Car’s No. 1 qualifying spot at the NHRA Springnationals in Houston, Texas.

“We have that Ford Boss 500 motor, that we would like to really prove, and there will be two shots to set that record tomorrow,” Force said. “First round, when it is the coolest and I have to get to the final to get two shots. I had two shots today and couldn’t make it.”

This is the 133rd pole position for Force in his decorated career in which he has won 14 world championships. Force has had a revival this season and is presently atop the point standings.

Saturday, Force never could match his effort from Friday as he had 6.327 and 5.324-second times in his two qualifying runs. The final run was dashed when Force smoked the tires.

“The first run (Saturday) wasn’t there, and it got too warm it was 99, 100 degrees on the track,” Force said. “This one (his second run) had it and I thought I had it. We weren’t trying to run .02, we were trying to run .05 and I thought I made it and at 300 feet it blew them off.”

Up next for Force is eliminations at 11 am and he meets his former teammate Tony Pedregon, a two-time world champ.

“We have to focus on Tony because he knows how to race and I have to just run good,” Force said. “We will have to see how far we can push it, and if the conditions are right, we will go for the record first round.”

The cagey Force also knows to clock a coveted three second, 1,000-foot Funny Car pass everything must come together at that moment at Houston Raceway Park.

“That condition (Saturday night) was the best of the weekend and it’s out there,” Force said. “When we ran the .02, it was soft. Everything went right, but it wasn’t hopped up. There’s a three out there. We have a real good race car and the kids really prepare it good. If I can’t do it, all Robert (Hight) has to do is step it up and you could see Jimmy (Prock) definitely trying. This is Auto Club land for us and we’re trying as well. “

Force’s daughter Ashley Force Hood and Hight are second and third in the qualifying ladder at 4.042 and 4.051 seconds, respectively. Ashley’s superb time came just prior to her dad making his final run, but John’s crew chief, Mike Neff, didn’t change his plans.

“He (Neff) had already made up his mind where he was going and he knew right where he was at,” John said. “I really think, maybe when we get back, we will look at the wheelie bar. The front end got awful high and when it sat down, it hiked the front end up once and then it went out and hiked it again. I think I might of have had the wheels a little crooked. It sat and it turned and blew them off. You need to keep that front end on the ground. We will learn from it. I’ve never really had a car that carries the front end, and this car, she’s an animal. She’s a good ol’ race car and I’m proud to drive it.”

The elder Force said the cars driven by his daughter and Hight are identical to his.

“We build them the same, and that’s Ford’s plan,” John said. “They can’t afford to spend millions on engineering studies and data and give it to just one team. We’re going to sell our motor, our box, our heads, our supercharger, all that stuff to the people that want to buy. Right now, the focus is on the Ford teams and it started with (Bob) Tasca. He’s struggling with it right now, but he ran that .12, and he’s starting to come around and (Tim) Wilkerson if he wishes to go. We will just see what happens. We’re trying to really cut costs because I think the economy may not get better for a while, it may just level off.”

Tasca qualified 10th at 4.124 seconds and he clashes with No. 7 qualifier Del Worsham in the opening round.

“Tasca is a different race team, and a lot people question that he’s one of ours,” John said. “He has his own contract and he’s Motorcraft and I’m Castrol, two oil companies. We’re all Ford and we will race tomorrow if we run into each other. He (Tasca) is the one who introduced me to Ford, so if I ever felt an obligation or in my heart to do something for someone, Tasca would be my first pick and he was. They’re a plenty sharp team and he was ahead of me points last year, so maybe I will be buying from him.”

When asked if he had in changes in mind for Sunday Force had one of his ever clever answers.

“Just my underwear,” he quipped. “I told a dirty joke there.”