FORCE EXITS DALLAS IN CONVENTIONAL TRANSPORTATION THIS TIME
Mon, 2008-09-22 09:00
Reaching the semi-finals at the Texas Motorplex brought forth a better 
experience this year for the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force.
Sure, his day ended premature of the NHRA Fallnationals final round.
At least this time he exited under his own power in a rental car as opposed to last season’s helicopter ride after his car broke apart just past the finish line and collided with Kenny Bernstein’s car.
“This year I’m leaving the track in a Ford Flex instead of the Air Evac helicopter,” Force said. “How is that for sneaking a sponsor in there? I guess it had to come back to here. My crew chief (Austin Coil) kept picking that left lane every run. (Now) it’s time to put it behind us. Reaching the semi-finals at the Texas Motorplex brought forth a betterexperience this year for the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force.
Sure, his day ended premature of the NHRA Fallnationals final round.
At least this time he exited under his own power in a rental car as opposed to last season’s helicopter ride after his car broke apart just past the finish line and collided with Kenny Bernstein’s car.
“This year I’m leaving the track in a Ford Flex instead of the Air Evac helicopter,” Force said. “How is that for sneaking a sponsor in there? I guess it had to come back to here. My crew chief (Austin Coil) kept picking that left lane every run. (Now) it’s time to put it behind us.
“I had a good race car this weekend,” said the 126-time tour winner, “(and) I think I showed that I can (still) drive. The competition is tough. I still have four cars in the Countdown. Beckman went out and Cruz went out. Tony is still out there and so is Wilkerson.
“I really do appreciate the fans. They’re happy to see me back in one piece. Yes, I can put (the crash) behind me. I need to,” said the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection. “I need to focus on racing and winning. I’ve spent a lot of time explaining and talking and I don’t mean just to the media, I mean to the sponsors answering whether I can race again.
“I’ve only won one race this year,” Force continued. “(I know) most guys would be happy to win a race (but) I’m used to winning four or five of them a year. It’s time to move on. We’ll tell the great state of Texas ‘thank you’ for the prayers and the people that came to the hospital. The people of Texas are worried about me and that is what’s so great about the people here.”
A qualifier for the first time in three races, Force beat Cruz Pedregon in the first round and daughter Ashley Force in the second before losing to Wilkerson for just the second time in their last 10 meetings.
Bolstered by a new clutch combination mastered by Jimmy Prock, crew chief on Robert Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Ford, Force won his first rounds in almost a month and moved from 10th to eighth in POWERade points.
experience this year for the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force.Sure, his day ended premature of the NHRA Fallnationals final round.
At least this time he exited under his own power in a rental car as opposed to last season’s helicopter ride after his car broke apart just past the finish line and collided with Kenny Bernstein’s car.
“This year I’m leaving the track in a Ford Flex instead of the Air Evac helicopter,” Force said. “How is that for sneaking a sponsor in there? I guess it had to come back to here. My crew chief (Austin Coil) kept picking that left lane every run. (Now) it’s time to put it behind us. Reaching the semi-finals at the Texas Motorplex brought forth a better
experience this year for the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force.Sure, his day ended premature of the NHRA Fallnationals final round.
At least this time he exited under his own power in a rental car as opposed to last season’s helicopter ride after his car broke apart just past the finish line and collided with Kenny Bernstein’s car.
“This year I’m leaving the track in a Ford Flex instead of the Air Evac helicopter,” Force said. “How is that for sneaking a sponsor in there? I guess it had to come back to here. My crew chief (Austin Coil) kept picking that left lane every run. (Now) it’s time to put it behind us.
“I had a good race car this weekend,” said the 126-time tour winner, “(and) I think I showed that I can (still) drive. The competition is tough. I still have four cars in the Countdown. Beckman went out and Cruz went out. Tony is still out there and so is Wilkerson.
“I really do appreciate the fans. They’re happy to see me back in one piece. Yes, I can put (the crash) behind me. I need to,” said the 14-time Auto Racing All-America selection. “I need to focus on racing and winning. I’ve spent a lot of time explaining and talking and I don’t mean just to the media, I mean to the sponsors answering whether I can race again.
“I’ve only won one race this year,” Force continued. “(I know) most guys would be happy to win a race (but) I’m used to winning four or five of them a year. It’s time to move on. We’ll tell the great state of Texas ‘thank you’ for the prayers and the people that came to the hospital. The people of Texas are worried about me and that is what’s so great about the people here.”
A qualifier for the first time in three races, Force beat Cruz Pedregon in the first round and daughter Ashley Force in the second before losing to Wilkerson for just the second time in their last 10 meetings.
Bolstered by a new clutch combination mastered by Jimmy Prock, crew chief on Robert Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Ford, Force won his first rounds in almost a month and moved from 10th to eighth in POWERade points.
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