John Force was re-energized, even in defeat Sunday at the NHRA AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca.

“I have a future now. I didn’t know that six months ago, if I would get to race,” he said after stepping from his Castrol-branded Ford for the final time Sunday evening.

“I will build a championship team again. We only lost this thing by about one round. You want to go out with a win, but if you can’t do that, then be spectacular. I went out with a big ol’ fire,” Force said, referring to his tire-smoking, out-of-the-groove challenge to Hagan in the final.

John Force was re-energized, even in defeat Sunday at the NHRA AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca.

“I have a future now. I didn’t know that six months ago, if I would get to race,” he said after stepping from his Castrol-branded Ford for the final time Sunday evening.

“I will build a championship team again. We only lost this thing by about one round. You want to go out with a win, but if you can’t do that, then be spectacular. I went out with a big ol’ fire,” Force said, referring to his tire-smoking, out-of-the-groove challenge to Hagan in the final.

“It was just like my old days losing,” he said. “I was so excited at the other end – and I lost. I always say it isn’t over until I say it’s over. I am not quitting. The real truth is this isn’t the end of John Force, and it will never be the end of John Force Racing. My grandkids will be racing. This is only the beginning of me.”

Force, 65, said his heart is “the best it has ever felt. The overload of sponsorship and the fear of not being able to race is what has been tough. I had great sponsors in the past, and I will have great ones in the future.”

PEAK and Lucas Oil have stepped forward to help fill the gaps left by the departure of Castrol and Ford, joining Auto Club, Traxxas, Mac Tools, Brand Source and others.

He said of his team, “They are the best. They pulled together and did their jobs. It was still the Prock Rocket, with John Medlen and Mike Neff leading the charge together. These kids put this Castrol Funny Car together, and it was the best. I am really proud of everybody. After St. Louis and Reading and losing a dear friend and crew chief, Jimmy Prock, we rallied really well.”

He even complimented Hagan and his team: “Hagan and [crew chief] Dickie Venables did their jobs. That’s a good race team. They have a long ways to go to catch us at 16 championships, but that kid is going to try.”