NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

When John Force started running Funny Cars in the early 1970s, there were a lot of people — including probably himself — who thought he’d be lucky to get one national event win. They were right, as it took him 10 years of national event competition and nine runner-ups before he scored his first in 1987. But he was only just getting started.

With a combination of guts, determination, the gift of gab, and crew chief Austin Coil, Force cut a swath through the Funny Car ranks in the late-1980s and 1990s. Although he only won four more times to end the 1980s, he won a staggering 76 times in the 1990s and won the championship in nine of the 10. Force entered the new millennium with 81 career wins, and it took him 51 races to get the next 19 to become the first to reach the 100-wins mark.

From his first win in the summer of 1987 in Montreal, it only took him 15 years to amass 100 victories, and the milestone win came at Houston Raceway Park in 2002 after he defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final.

Only three other drivers — Sportsman racers Frank Manzo (105), Dan Fletcher (105), and David Rampy (100) — also have reached the century mark, and Force’s closest active Pro-class rival, Greg Anderson, sits at 99 wins, unlikely to ever catch his career win total of 154 victories as both approach the twilights of their careers.

To purchase tickets to the final NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park, call 281-383-7223 or visit www.HoustonRaceway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.