Drag-racing fans make heroes of certain personalities. Then often they love to cheer against them, favoring the underdog.
 
But few reveled in the performance dip of 14-time champion John Force, who rebounded from a devastating September 2007 injury but is just now starting to return to form on the track (leading the standings all season and winning three races). Off the track, he still regales anyone who will listen with his outrageous -- and outrageously funny -- stories.
 
And he was vintage Force Friday at Route 66 Raceway during a rain delay of qualifying for the United Association Route 66 Nationals. He took playful aim at teammate and son-in-law Robert Hight, his closest rival in the points chase, as well as rival team owner Don Schumacher, and even his own crew.

Drag-racing fans make heroes of certain personalities. Then often they love to cheer against them, favoring the underdog.
 
But few reveled in the performance dip of 14-time champion John Force, who rebounded from a devastating September 2007 injury but is just now starting to return to form on the track (leading the standings all season and winning three races). Off the track, he still regales anyone who will listen with his outrageous -- and outrageously funny -- stories.
 
And he was vintage Force Friday at Route 66 Raceway during a rain delay of qualifying for the United Association Route 66 Nationals. He took playful aim at teammate and son-in-law Robert Hight, his closest rival in the points chase, as well as rival team owner Don Schumacher, and even his own crew.
 
Force had teased Hight because he saw newspaper quotes of Hight's that read, "I've won three in a row. I'd like to win to four." and "What I'd really like to get back is the way John Force used to be."
 
Force took him aside and said, "The way I used to be? What exactly are you trying to say? I’ve won three races. I've won as many as you.'"
 
Hight replied, "No, that's not what I meant."
 
Force responded by referring to Hight's young daughter Autumn. Said Force, "Just like the grandbaby, we may have to put you in time-out.' And I'm only joking. But he's looking at me like I'm so serious."
 
Hight asked him, "What does that mean?" and Force told him, "That means in the first (qualifying) session, you may have to sit it out and make sure that I stay in that lead." Said Hight, "You're probably not kidding, are you?"
 
Don Schumacher, who owns Mount Prospect-based Schumacher Electric and seven NHRA teams, didn't escape Force's monologue.
 
"I want to flex my muscles here in this town because Don Schumacher is here," Force said. "He'll load his guns against me. But I've got some pretty good firepower."
 
He was referring to his own Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, as well as the Mustang teams of second-place Robert Hight (his son-in-law) and fourth-place Ashley Force Hood (his daughter and Hight's sister-in-law).
 
Force won three of the first six races this season, and Hight has won the past three.
 
"I was doing pretty good until Robert started stepping on my cape," Force wisecracked.
 
But he said he's eager to mix it up with Schumacher's three Funny Car teams, which feature No. 3 Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, and Matt Hagan. Beckman and Hagan have won a race apiece this year. Beckman qualified fifth and Capps sixth Saturday.
 
As for Schumacher's success, Force quipped, "I'm starting to worry -- I think he found Jesus."
 
Force said he and Schumacher understand the craziness that comes with fielding several cars. He said every once in awhile he and Schumacher try to sell each other a car. "Schumacher loves to spend money! But God bless Don Schumacher!"
 
He revealed a peek at the often-crazy dynamics within his own crew, as well.
 
Despite his declaration that "my bunch is a pretty rowdy bunch," Force said his team prays together before taking to the racetrack. Crew chief John Medlen traditionally has led those prayers, but Medlen left John Force Racing in March and joined rival Don Schumacher Racing.
 
Evidently that slipped Force's mind the other day, for when he gathered the crew for a moment of meditation, he said, "Medlen, lead the prayer." Someone broke the silence by telling him, "Force -- Medlen left us."
 
Said Force, "Another guy stepped up and said, 'I can do it.' And he started off with the Pledge of Allegiance. So we had to get somebody else."
 
 Crew member David Karcanes, nicknamed "Shafty," then took the lead.
 
"He does it, but he swears," Force said. "So we have to ask for forgiveness for swearing in the prayer: ' Sorry we swore at you, Lord, but we're in a heap of trouble here." "
 
Ron Douglas, co-crew chief with Dean Antonelli on Ashley Force Hood's team, finally inherited the job as prayer leader. So far, JFR headquarters has not been struck by lightning.