Having just turned 65 two months ago, John Force shows no signs of slowing down.
The record-holding 16-time and reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion captured his 140th career victory in Sunday’s finals of the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
Also winning in their respective classes were Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Erica Enders-Stevens (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Force and fellow veteran racer Ron Capps gave fans a great show in a close final round. Force covered the 1,000-foot drag strip in 4.113 seconds at 317.27 mph, while Capps did so in 4.135 seconds at 305.56 mph.
It was Force’s second win in the first 13 races this season and his first win ever at the Norwalk track, located between Toledo and Cleveland.
“It was special to me,” Force said in a NHRA media release. “I’ve come to this track for decades. I’ve won here at the Night of Fire races. Robert [Hight] and my daughter Ashley [Force Hood] have won here. I keep coming back here.
“The Bader family (track owners) is P.T. Barnum doing this year-round, 90-some race a year. They light the fire under those fans. Look at the crowd on Friday night and that whole fireworks show. I’ve been real lucky in my career and you want to win them all, but I really wanted this win.”
Hight, who is Force’s son-in-law and also president of John Force Racing, remains atop the Mello Yello Funny Car points standings, but with Sunday’s win, Force continued his climb upward, now sitting in second place. Capps, meanwhile, is a close third.
“It’s a really great show, and I’m just excited to be a part of it,” Force said. “We raced some great kids: Capps, Cruz (Pedregon), (Tim) Wilkerson, Chad Head. We gave them some good racing. Hey, we got the win. I’m just glad to get that one out of the way. Now I’ll try to get my second win here.”
In Top Fuel, Brown (3.797 seconds at 318.84 mph) continued his red-hot ways. Having won last week at Joliet, Illinois, Brown revved through the field to win again Sunday, defeating No. 1 qualifier Shawn Langdon (4.982 seconds at 155.52 mph) in the final round.
“It’s been a true blessing to be out at this racetrack this weekend,” Brown said. “The Bader family really put on a great show. The racetrack was great all weekend long. We got some cloud cover today. When four cars can run 3.75 in the first round with other cars across the board at .76, .77, that shows you how competitive the Top Fuel class is right now. It’s crazy tough to win a round right now, let alone a race.”
Brown remains second in the Top Fuel standings, while Langdon moved into third. Doug Kalitta remains the points leader.
In Pro Stock, No. 1 qualifier Enders-Stevens (6.632 seconds at 210.14 mph) dominated throughout the weekend en route to her unprecedented fourth win of the season and 10th of her career, defeating her former crew chief-turned-driver Dave Connolly (6.665 seconds at 207.56 mph) in the final round.
“You can’t think about any of the negative things when you get into a 215-mph race car and I was able to do that today,” Enders-Stevens said. “At the end of the day we came out on top and that’s all that matters.”
With her 10th win, Enders-Stevens becomes only the third female racer in NHRA history to reach double digits in wins. Angelle Sampey is No. 1 (41 wins), followed by legendary racer Shirley Muldowney (18).
“Shirley [Muldowney] is a legend and a mentor and Angelle is also a friend who lives a few miles from me,” Enders-Stevens said. “Those are two extremely talented ladies who are passionate about our sport. They broke down barriers so we could all do what we enjoy doing out here. It’s great to have my name on that list.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hines (6.901 seconds at 193.96 mph) earned his third win of the season, defeating Hector Arana, who made his second straight final round appearance but is still seeking his first win since 2009.
“Today, we learned exactly what we need to do,” Hines said. “We started treating it differently than in years past. Instead of slowing on Sunday my bike actually picked up. Hopefully, that’s bad news for the competition and we could continue on a roll. There is no time to sit back and relax.”
Lastly in Pro Modified, Troy Coughlin (5.940 seconds at 250.92 mph) defeated Von Smith (5.920 seconds at 243.99 mph).
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series takes next week off before beginning its noted three-race “Western swing,” July 18-20 in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in suburban Denver, Colorado.
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FINAL RESULTS:
Top Fuel – Antron Brown, 3.797 seconds, 318.84 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 4.982 seconds, 155.52 mph.
Funny Car – John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.113, 317.27 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.135, 305.56.
Pro Stock – Erica Enders-Stevens, Chevy Camaro, 6.632, 210.14 def. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.665, 207.56.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.901, 193.96 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.924, 195.53.
Pro Modified – Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.940, 250.92 def. Von Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.920, 243.99.
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FINISHING ORDER (1-16):
TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Troy Buff; 5. Brittany Force; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Steve Torrence; 8. Pat Dakin; 9. Spencer Massey; 10. Richie Crampton; 11. Khalid alBalooshi; 12. Larry Dixon; 13. Terry McMillen; 14. Clay Millican; 15. Bob Vandergriff; 16. J.R. Todd.
FUNNY CAR: 1. John Force; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Cruz Pedregon; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Matt Hagan; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Chad Head; 9. Alexis DeJoria; 10. Bob Tasca III; 11. Tim Wilkerson; 12. Tony Pedregon; 13. Jeff Diehl; 14. Courtney Force; 15. Jeff Arend; 16. Robert Hight.
PRO STOCK: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens; 2. Dave Connolly; 3. Allen Johnson; 4. Chris McGaha; 5. Shane Gray; 6. Jeg Coughlin; 7. Jonathan Gray; 8. Vincent Nobile; 9. Jason Line; 10. Greg Anderson; 11. Rodger Brogdon; 12. Shane Tucker; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. John Gaydosh Jr; 15. Mark Hogan; 16. Travis Mazza.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines; 2. Hector Arana; 3. Adam Arana; 4. Steve Johnson; 5. Angie Smith; 6. Jim Underdahl; 7. Chaz Kennedy; 8. Eddie Krawiec; 9. Hector Arana Jr; 10. Matt Smith; 11. John Hall; 12. Shawn Gann; 13. Scotty Pollacheck; 14. Elvira Karlsson; 15. Michael Ray; 16. Jerry Savoie.
PRO MODIFIED: 1. Troy Coughlin; 2. Von Smith; 3. Rickie Smith; 4. Pete Farber; 5. Kevin Fiscus; 6. Danny Rowe; 7. Steve Matusek; 8. Mike Janis; 9. Eric Latino; 10. Gary Capano; 11. Bob Rahaim; 12. Clint Satterfield; 13. Bill Glidden; 14. Mike Castellana; 15. Kenny Lang; 16. Steven Whiteley.
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FINAL ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Tony Schumacher, 3.772, 328.06 def. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.786, 324.59; Steve Torrence, 3.780, 327.11 def. Larry Dixon, 3.801, 325.45; Pat Dakin, 3.829, 320.28 def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.159, 289.69; Shawn Langdon, 3.759, 324.44 def. Terry McMillen, 3.884, 325.22; Doug Kalitta, 3.752, 327.51 def. Richie Crampton, 3.779, 323.35; Antron Brown, 3.756, 324.67 def. Clay Millican, 4.038, 241.58; Troy Buff, 3.834, 312.50 def. J.R. Todd, 6.795, 96.38; Brittany Force, 3.753, 329.83 def. Spencer Massey, 3.778, 326.95;
QUARTERFINALS — Buff, 4.689, 190.27 def. Dakin, 11.648, 69.71; Brown, 3.824, 320.89 def. Torrence, 4.527, 186.67; Langdon, 3.786, 327.51 def. Force, 3.866, 305.56; Schumacher, 3.847, 317.42 def. Kalitta, 4.224, 236.26;
SEMIFINALS — Brown, 3.793, 320.89 def. Schumacher, 5.171, 144.41; Langdon, 9.866, 80.36 def. Buff, broke;
FINAL — Brown, 3.797, 318.84 def. Langdon, 4.982, 155.52.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.104, 315.19 def. Courtney Force, Ford Mustang, 4.439, 209.95; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.094, 311.77 def. Tony Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.258, 258.91; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.072, 317.64 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.295, 282.78; John Force, Mustang, 4.080, 317.72 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.199, 261.57; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.059, 316.90 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 11.685, 70.73; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.167, 304.25 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, DQ; Chad Head, Camry, 4.075, 316.30 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.090, 309.77; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.075, 315.49 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.145, 312.86;
QUARTERFINALS — C. Pedregon, 4.109, 307.58 def. Johnson Jr., 4.141, 312.06; Capps, 4.130, 309.42 def. Hagan, foul; Beckman, 4.181, 305.91 def. Worsham, 4.476, 226.01; J. Force, 4.217, 279.21 def. Head, 4.755, 181.76;
SEMIFINALS — Capps, 4.126, 311.34 def. Beckman, 4.169, 309.84; J. Force, 4.149, 290.88 def. C. Pedregon, 4.150, 306.53;
FINAL — J. Force, 4.113, 317.27 def. Capps, 4.135, 305.56.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Jonathan Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.619, 209.98 def. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.591, 210.83; Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.590, 210.08 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.595, 210.64; Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.587, 210.47 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.603, 209.75; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.590, 210.31 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.623, 209.82; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.615, 209.79 def. John Gaydosh Jr, Pontiac GXP, 6.684, 207.62; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.571, 211.10 def. Mark Hogan, GXP, 6.754, 205.88; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.570, 211.39 def. Travis Mazza, Ford Mustang, 12.297, 71.93; Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.589, 210.73 def. Larry Morgan, Mustang, 6.671, 209.30;
QUARTERFINALS — McGaha, 6.621, 209.52 def. Nobile, 7.026, 158.89; Johnson, 6.609, 209.92 def. Coughlin, 6.658, 209.17; Connolly, 6.607, 209.85 def. S. Gray, 6.597, 210.50; Enders-Stevens, 6.593, 211.06 def. J. Gray, 6.660, 209.33;
SEMIFINALS — Connolly, 6.883, 209.10 def. Johnson, 11.306, 81.45; Enders-Stevens, 6.601, 211.20 def. McGaha, 18.030, 46.32;
FINAL — Enders-Stevens, 6.632, 210.14 def. Connolly, 6.665, 207.56.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE – Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.985, 191.95 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 23.502, 24.78; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.896, 193.35 def. John Hall, Buell, 6.923, 191.46; Adam Arana, Buell, 6.913, 194.30 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.911, 193.96; Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.905, 192.14 def. Michael Ray, Buell, foul; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.958, 195.42 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.926, 194.13; Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.905, 195.34 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.873, 196.13; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.897, 195.68 def. Elvira Karlsson, Suzuki, foul; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.910, 194.66 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.979, 192.77;
QUARTERFINALS — Johnson, 6.988, 191.43 def. A. Smith, 6.986, 192.11; H. Arana, 6.970, 194.49 def. Kennedy, foul; A. Arana, 7.006, 183.94 def. Krawiec, 7.041, 179.06; Hines, 6.892, 193.35 def. Underdahl, 7.000, 192.91;
SEMIFINALS — H. Arana, 6.894, 196.10 def. A. Arana, 6.960, 194.91; Hines, 6.950, 193.13 def. Johnson, 6.991, 191.46;
FINAL — Hines, 6.901, 193.96 def. H. Arana, 6.924, 195.53.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Von Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.923, 241.37 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 5.972, 240.51; Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.974, 245.90 def. Bill Glidden, Ford Mustang, 6.042, 230.33; Kevin Fiscus, Mustang, 5.932, 250.09 def. Clint Satterfield, Pontiac Firebird, 6.022, 242.02; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.907, 246.62 def. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 6.224, 196.59; Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 5.909, 247.75 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.045, 215.51; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.983, 244.92 def. Gary Capano, Chevy Corvette, 5.966, 237.34; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.952, 249.16 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.933, 244.12; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.909, 246.57 def. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, 14.106, 76.42;
QUARTERFINALS — Coughlin, 5.950, 249.63 def. Janis, 6.599, 167.84; R. Smith, 5.918, 247.07 def. Fiscus, 5.916, 250.97; Farber, 5.974, 246.93 def. Matusek, 6.011, 244.16; V. Smith, 5.939, 241.24 def. Rowe, 5.929, 247.57;
SEMIFINALS — V. Smith, 5.911, 242.76 def. Farber, 8.541, 107.29; Coughlin, 5.940, 250.32 def. R. Smith, 5.946, 245.94;
FINAL — Coughlin, 5.940, 250.92 def. V. Smith, 5.920, 243.99.
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POINTS STANDINGS:
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 1,130; 2. Antron Brown, 1,082; 3. Shawn Langdon, 938; 4. Tony Schumacher, 785; 5. Spencer Massey, 780; 6. Steve Torrence, 747; 7. Brittany Force, 690; 8. Khalid alBalooshi, 652; 9. Richie Crampton, 626; 10. J.R. Todd, 593.
Funny Car: 1. Robert Hight, 1,067; 2. John Force, 889; 3. Ron Capps, 846; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 845; 5. Alexis DeJoria, 779; 6. Courtney Force, 764; 7. Del Worsham, 748; 8. Matt Hagan, 739; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 726; 10. Jack Beckman, 655.
Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, 1,166; 2. Allen Johnson, 925; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 900; 4. Dave Connolly, 875; 5. Jason Line, 863; 6. Vincent Nobile, 840; 7. Shane Gray, 833; 8. Chris McGaha, 600; 9. V. Gaines, 562; 10. Jonathan Gray, 484.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 650; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 581; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 515; 4. Hector Arana, 416; 5. John Hall, 407; 6. Matt Smith, 394; 7. Scotty Pollacheck, 375; 8. Angie Smith, 352; 9. Michael Ray, 333; 10. Steve Johnson, 320.
Pro Modified: 1. Rickie Smith, 414; 2. Mike Janis, 403; 3. Von Smith, 362; 4. Mike Castellana, 359; 5. Steve Matusek, 358; 6. Danny Rowe, 353; 7. Kevin Fiscus, 333; 8. Pete Farber, 319; 9. Troy Coughlin, 313; 10. Steven Whiteley, 238.
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Article source: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/07/ageless-john-force-powers-to-140th-career-nhra-funny-car-win-first-ever-at-norwalk/