Over the last few weeks, with the word he will probably be losing his primary sponsors, 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force has not been himself.

The usually-jovial Californian, who always has time to mingle with the fans and be an ambassador for the sport of drag racing, has been more withdrawn and reserved than ever before…looking to secure his future in the sport he loves so dearly.

Over the last few weeks, with the word he will probably be losing his primary sponsors, 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force has not been himself.

The usually-jovial Californian, who always has time to mingle with the fans and be an ambassador for the sport of drag racing, has been more withdrawn and reserved than ever before…looking to secure his future in the sport he loves so dearly.

Things weren’t much better when long-time crew chief, Jimmy Prock, announced he was leaving John Force Racing. Prock ended up signing with Don Schumacher Racing, the team of current points leader Matt Hagan…who entered the Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas 36 points ahead of Force.

Though it has not been officially announced, Prock is expected to take over as crew chief on Jack Beckman’s car.

After driving to the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot after both Friday sessions, and with big sponsorship news set to be announced Saturday in Vegas, Force seemed to be his old self when meeting with the media Friday evening.

His 4.039 at 318.54 miles per hour came with Hagan in the other lane and knocked Beckman from the top qualifying spot.

After Prock announced he was leaving Force at the end of the year, Force asked him to leave immediately…meaning he would be racing the final two events of the NHRA Mello Yello race tour without a crew chief. Force put his trust in his team.

“Jimmy Prock’s a pretty smart cookie and he’ll fix up Beckman’s car,” Force said. “Jack’s a good guy and Jimmy Prock’s a good guy. We took our race car out there because it’s a braintrust. Jimmy Prock put that car together, but they all work on it so they know what that car’s all about.

“We got down there so we feel pretty good about it.”

Hagan picked up a bonus point during the afternoon session when he had the quickest pass of the session. Force knew he had to make a strong run in the evening.

“You’ve got to get every point you can,” Force said. “Hagan picked up a point, and when it gets down to the end the points do count. He picked up a point on me the last round and I don’t want him to get another round ahead of me.

“He’s up 38 points so I have to stay low. Tomorrow is supposed to be cool so I think they’ll all step up like that. An .03 is pretty stout.”

As for his future, Force said Saturday’s announcements will be the first in a group of announcements that will keep his entire team racing in the future. Getting these deals in place, Force said, will enable him to focus on the task at hand as he looks to capture career world championship No. 17.

“I’ve got my focus back and my head where it needs to be,” Force said. “My sponsor deals are starting to talk and I feel real good. I’m going to make some announcements tomorrow.

“Knowing I can stay in the game, my kids can stay in and Robert Hight with Auto Club and Courtney with Traxxas…I have no complaints. Now I can get back to racing.”

Off the track, Force said the last three weeks have been brutal. He wants to move past everything that has happened and get back to racing.

“It was a long road and it was tough,” he said. “And we aren’t all the way there yet. We’re not even close. I’ve been going to bed sick every night. It’s hard, it’s a gut-ache.

“Then my team is getting shuffled. That kind of added to it but the tough get tougher. People talk about knowing what bridges you want to cross and what bridges you want to burn. I don’t get in that game. I keep my mouth shut. I’m really happy just being here and getting to race.

“I’ve been sick for three weeks, since Reading. Flying back to Indy trying to fix things and looking for sponsors. Now I get to do what I really love, drive a Fuel Funny Car.”

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