John Force had worked himself into a bona fide tizzy. Those who know the 17-time Funny Car racing champion understand he's a master at the practice, but this time was different. Force wanted to be absolutely accurate before he spoke about his personal drag racing history. 

Force interrupted the interviewer to consult with his newly appointed minister of media, longtime journalist Jerry Bonkowski. Two minutes later, Force was armed with the facts and ready to proceed. 

What had the 74-year-old freak of drag racing nature all spun out?

Force didn't know how long he'd officially been a professional drag racer. In five decades of drag racing, when you started usually isn't one of those details that slips one's mind. 

"I had to call Phil Burgess over at National DRAGSTER to ask him, Force admitted. 

The ever-resourceful Burgess not only answered Force's question but also in detail. 

There are three Force professional launching points. 

In 1974, Force became a licensed NHRA Funny Car racer after finishing his runs in Australia with Gary Densham. Three years later, Force entered his first NHRA national event as a Funny Car driver. But for the sake of the reporter's inquiry, it was 1979 when Force made his first run at the NHRA championship points. So, if you guessed 50, 47, and 45, you are correct. 

Regardless of what launching point Force considered, they all came back to the conclusion that the drag racing icon couldn't have figured he'd have a career culminating in over 1,000 NHRA round wins, 17 series championships (including the forgotten ADRA title), and 155 NHRA national event victories.

"I always wanted to chase the points, but I had no money," Force said. "I had to find sponsors, but I was out there learning my trade, match racing, ran some stuff for other series, but wanted to be part of that dream. And to come this far, I don't know how I got here."

Those who watched his rise through the ranks understand the combination of the gift of gab, persistence, and elbow grease helped his cause. The fact he maintained a formidable approach for decades didn't hurt his efforts either. 

"I also have to look at my age," Force said. "I'm beat up. I'm tired, but I'm still loving it like I did 40 years ago, whatever. And people get mad at me. They want to say things about what I represent or who I am. That ain't why I came. I came to feed my children, take care of my wife. I came because of Orange County. I stood there and watched Don Prudhomme and McEwen doing side-by-side burnouts, and that was back in '69 or '70. 

"I said, 'That's what I want to do someday." 

But Force has lesser aspirations, like maybe just a burnout and not like the one where he flipped a fuel altered trying to impress his wife Laurie, long before the Australia trip. 

It all came full circle just days before the NHRA Gatornationals commenced last Friday. Force was side-by-side with Don Garlits at an autograph signing at Josh Hart's Burnyzz shop. 

Force struck up a conversation with Garlits, and the two drag racing legends had a chat for the ages. 

"I heard you're going to be 75," Garlits said. 

"I said, 'I will be in May." 

 

Garlits continued, offering, 'But you're still competitive. For 75, you're competitive. You're still in the battle. That's amazing." 

Then, in a moment, Force smiled ear-to-ear like a kid seeking validation from their hero, recalling Garlits' words. 

He said, "You're my hero." 

Garlits made sure Force didn't forget it. He signed those words on a hero card for Force. 

"He signed me a card. I've got it. It says, John Force, you're my hero."

Getting validation from Garlits is one thing, but its the fans that provide another kind of validation and those interactions can sometimes be quite interesting. It's one of those things he going to miss the most if he ever decides to retire. 

Force was at the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremonies when he was approached by a fan while on a trip to the restroom. Wearing a tuxedo, the fan only wanted to sing him a song. 

"This was some famous song made years ago, and I can't remember the name of it, and he sang it to me for a little while," Force recalled. He'd changed around the words to the song and was so proud he wanted to sing it to me. He asked me if he could, and before I could answer, he started singing right there in the hallway. 

The crooner got a few verses into the song when Force had no choice but to interrupt. 

"I got to get in there and pee," Force said, thinking the gentleman would be gone by the time he returned.

There he was, waiting. 

"He says, 'I only got four more paragraphs," or something, please let me do it."

"Before I could say no, he just started singing. He had his arm on my shoulder, and then it was all about the race car and then Jose, but then it was another day, and it all was perfect. You know what I mean? He did it, and he got to the end, and then he went, 'Ta-da, that's the end." 

Just another day in the life of Force... caniptions and crooners. 

Through it all, he couldn't help but think how much the sport has advanced in those 50, 47 and 45 years. In those years, Force learned no one person is above the sport, and the sport itself is invincible. 

"The sport has changed," Force said. "But you know what? I really believe no one will ever ruin the sport of drag racing. Nobody. Nobody, because it has its own life."