Championship Drag Racing

CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Chicago
(Sept. 25-28)

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Jeg's Allstars

John Force Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car

Reports: Pre-race

Chicago, pre-race: John Force has a question. If a record falls and there's no one from the media there to see it, does it still make a noise?

With the majority of media attention focused this week on the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, just 185 miles down the road, Force is concerned that if he or teammate Tony Pedregon or someone else becomes the first Funny Car driver to break the 4.70 second barrier, it'll be like a tree falling in the woods.

Who's to know?

The 12-time reigning NHRA Champion drove his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang to the quickest time in Funny Car drag racing history last May when he was clocked in 4.721 seconds at Route 66 Raceway.

This week, when the tour returns to the Chicago-area track for the third running of the CARQUEST Nationals, Force believes that his hybrid Ford is capable of going even quicker maybe even into the 4.60s.

Not that his 7,000 horsepower Ford is the only car capable of such a feat, it's just that it's the one with the most impressive pedigree.

After all, over the last 111/2 seasons, Force and Castrol GTX have maintained a virtual death grip on the record. They've been the listed record holders for all but 385 days during that span, one in which the only other drivers to own even brief possession of performance bragging rights were Cruz Pedregon (from March 6, 1998 until March 19, 1999) and current points leader Whit Bazemore.

Force first set the record on March 7, 1993 at Houston. He since has lowered the standard nine times, most recently in qualifying for last May's Lucas Oil Nationals at Route 66.

The winner of a record 108 tour events, including races this year at Denver and Seattle, Force expects weather conditions to determine if and when he is able to go again where no one has gone before.

"If it's cool, everybody'll be loading up on," he said. "I don't know if you could run in the (4.60s) – everything would have to be perfect: the track, the weather, the race car and the driver – but I think you could set the (NHRA national) record again."

The likelihood that a record, or even a milestone, could be achieved this weekend is enhanced by the fact that three of the last four times the national Funny Car record has fallen, it has been eclipsed at Route 66 Raceway where Force set the record at 4.763 seconds on June 1, 2001, Bazemore lowered it to 4.750 on Sept. 30, 2001, and Force further lowered it last May 30.

Furthermore, with the race for the 2003 POWERade Championship still very much an open issue with Bazemore leading Pedregon by just seven points and Force by less than 200, the 20 bonus points available to whomever sets the national record could actually change the balance of power.

"With just five races left, every point counts," Force said. "We know that and so does the Schumacher group. Bottom line, if the opportunity is there, we'll go for (the record) and I'm sure they will, too."