The 64-year-old drag racer John Force has won an unprecedented 16th NHRA Funny Car championship at the 13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals.
Force and the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang defeated his daughter Courtney for the first time in a final round to clinch the Mello Yello Funny Car championship.
It was Force’s third win in a row and fourth final in a row. The last time Force won three in row was 2005 and it was the 15th time Force has achieved this feat.
“If there is anything I have done right is putting together this team effort,” said Force
“We pulled together when it looked like we were falling apart. I have great companies with me and they allow me do this. We won them a championship.
“We got a Mello Yello championship but next year I am going to try and win again. We are strong with Auto Club with Robert (Hight) and Traxxas with Courtney.
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“My luck just turned around in a year when I needed it to sell corporate America. I remember Dale Earnhardt used to say ‘I’ll do the winning and you marketing guys sell me.’
“I never had the nerve to say that but that guy was a winner so he could do it. I have had luck on my side the last three races.”
Force was led to victory by an outstanding team effort with crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro.
Prock became the third Funny Car crew chief to win NHRA Funny Car championships with two different drivers (Robert Hight and Force).
Courtney Force made her seventh final round appearance today at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but lost to her father in a heated side-by-side race.
“It’s pretty cool to say that the last time we were here in the spring we were No. 2 qualifier and got a runner-up finish as well,” said Force.
“We couldn’t get the job done in the final. It was definitely a tough race up against my dad.
“I was a little bummed at the top end. I really thought we had the win, but he just outran me. We had lane choice and I thought that would help us, but he had the better car and that’s all there is to it.”
Courtney and her father are now tied 4-4 in eliminations since the start of her Funny Car career in 2012.
“I’m happy for my dad and his Castrol GTX team. It’s huge for John Force Racing for him to get that win and clinch his 16th championship.”
“I’m looking forward to Pomona. I think we’re going to leave here and a really good note and that should help propel us into next weekend and get us into a good rhythm so we can go rounds and pick up more points.
“We moved up two spots this weekend, which is huge. We came close to moving up three spots which was our goal, but I’m happy and definitely proud of my Traxxas team because these guys have worked really hard,” said Force.
Courtney Force and teammate Robert Hight will be battling for the No. 2 and No. 3 spot in the Mello Yello standings with one race left.
