NHRA Funny Car legend John Force has never let there be a hole in his trophy collection for very long.
If there's been a special 50th anniversary trophy? Force has won them all. A shootout, showdown or All-Star event? It's not taken the man long to put one of those pelts on his wall. He's even won a race against a Top Fuel car.
So when the spotlight of the inaugural and rain-delayed Traxxas Shootout shone on Texas Motorplex at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals on Saturday, there was little doubting that despite his struggles this year, Force would drive the Castrol High Mileage Ford Mustang into center stage.
"I won the 50th anniversary event. All the hitters were there," Force said. "Then I won Winston championships and PowerAde championships. Then I was like OK, now I have to win a Full Throttle championship. Then I win that. It is like destiny."
"Now they throw this on us. I won the first four-wide race. I was always there at the right time. I always joke that somebody up there likes me. It is like destiny and it just falls on me. I am struggling to win a championship. I won today and that was pretty awesome."
Force, who was severely injured in a crash at Texas Motorplex a few years back, beat Ron Capps' Napa Dodge Charger to win the heavy Traxxas trophy (just ask Force about the fresh knot on his head) and the $100,000 check. In the final Force ran a 4.218 second pass at 296.57 mph. Capps ran a 4.223 second pass at 296.50 mph.
"I don't get mad at Ron Capps or Jack Beckman," Force said. "I don't play the game that way. They are my friends. I just get inside and think you can't hurt my team like that. Then the fight comes. I was on my tree all day. I jumped all over him because Capps was outrunning me. It is a great day and we won."
The great day for Ford and the Force family didn't end there as John's daughter, Courtney was the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car for Sunday's eliminations in the Traxxas Mustang. Other top qualifiers were Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, Allen Johnson in Pro Stock and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Courtney had a best pass of 4.081 seconds at 308.21 mph and goes up against the Chevy Impala of Todd Lesenko, who ran a 4.385 at 277.49 to take the No. 16 spot.
"We're in the No. 1 spot and held it for three rounds," she said. "Going into race day tomorrow, I think we've got a good car. This Traxxas Ford Mustang is showing in the heat, it can run when the track cools down, and I think we're going to give everyone a run for their money."
Langdon, who won last weekend in Charlotte, and the Al-Anabi Racing dragster knocked Friday's No. 1 Tony Schumacher out of the box with a Saturday morning run of 3.827 seconds at 322.34 mph.
"I think the mojo is going good right now," Langdon said. "This is the third No. 1 in a row, and we had a good race when we won in Charlotte. We're looking to keep the car in the winner's circle; that's the main goal."
Langdon faces Scott Palmer, who ran a 4.297 at 207.34 mph to qualify No. 16, in the first round.
Johnson and the Mopar Dodge Avenger swept six more qualifying points by being No. 1 in both sessions on Friday.
"We're hitting on all cylinders," Johnson said. "We have a consistent strategy right now of trying to make good, clean, safe runs every time right now without pushing it."
His best lap as in 6.550 seconds at 211.99 mph, and he'll face the Pontiac driven by Warren Johnson (no relation) in the first round. Warren ran a 6.617 at 208.71 mph to qualify No. 16.
Arana Jr. passed his father, Hector Arana Sr., by on Saturday to claim his second No. 1 of the season aboard the Lucas Oil Buell. He's trying to become the first non-Harley rider to win a race this season.
"We've been very consistent on race day," Arana Jr. said. "Both my father and I have been able to go rounds. I've had decent, consistent lights, in the .020s. We've been on the negative side a couple times, but you can't be afraid of the Christmas Tree. It can be your friend; it can be your enemy. You can't be nervous. You've got to do your thing and go for it."
Arana's best lap was in 6.852 seconds at 195.96 mph and faces the Buell piloted by No. 16 qualifier Matt Guidera, who had a best lap of 7.063 seconds at 188.36 mph.
SUNDAY'S PAIRINGS
Top Fuel -- 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.827 seconds, 322.34 mph vs. 16. Scott Palmer, 4.297, 207.34; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.829, 320.13 vs. 15. Chris Karamesines, 3.994, 299.33; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.836, 322.34 vs. 14. Brandon Bernstein, 3.950, 291.07; 4. J.R. Todd, 3.839, 317.34 vs. 13. Bruce Litton, 3.940, 305.08; 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.846, 315.49 vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.914, 312.13; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.849, 321.65 vs. 11. Terry McMillen, 3.907, 307.37; 7. Steve Torrence, 3.850, 313.07 vs. 10. Spencer Massey, 3.886, 317.57; 8. Antron Brown, 3.862, 309.77 vs. 9. David Grubnic, 3.878, 314.83. Did Not Qualify: 17. Clay Millican, 4.619, 164.73; 18. Rob Passey, 5.530, 124.36.
Funny Car -- 1. Courtney Force, Ford Mustang, 4.081, 308.21 vs. 16. Todd Lesenko, Chevy Impala, 4.385, 277.49; 2. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.089, 302.75 vs. 15. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.257, 293.28; 3. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.109, 303.98 vs. 14. Jeff Arend, Toyota Camry, 4.253, 299.06; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.129, 291.38 vs. 13. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.193, 298.21; 5. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.132, 305.42 vs. 12. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.189, 298.87; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.134, 299.60 vs. 11. Blake Alexander, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.188, 298.34; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.151, 296.63 vs. 10. John Force, Mustang, 4.188, 301.27; 8. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.174, 299.40 vs. 9. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.187, 300.06. Did Not Qualify: 17. Todd Simpson, 4.437, 269.89; 18. Terry Haddock, 4.438, 269.83.
Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.550, 211.99 vs. 16. Warren Johnson, Pontiac GXP, 6.617, 209.43; 2. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, 6.557, 210.57 vs. 15. Chris McGaha, Avenger, 6.616, 208.75; 3. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.559, 210.64 vs. 14. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.616, 208.78; 4. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.564, 210.73 vs. 13. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.612, 208.65; 5. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.571, 211.06 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.611, 209.10; 6. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.576, 210.44 vs. 11. Richard Freeman, GXP, 6.606, 209.39; 7. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.578, 210.83 vs. 10. Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.601, 209.10; 8. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.585, 211.49 vs. 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.591, 210.60. Did Not Qualify: 17. Steve Kent, 6.637, 208.71; 18. Kurt Johnson, 6.656, 209.10; 19. Shane Gray, 8.708, 207.72.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.852, 195.96 vs. 16. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.063, 188.36; 2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.862, 196.24 vs. 15. Redell Harris, Buell, 7.044, 189.42; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.887, 194.49 vs. 14. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.008, 190.38; 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.892, 194.10 vs. 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.997, 190.22; 5. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.925, 192.11 vs. 12. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.979, 191.16; 6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.931, 192.82 vs. 11. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.970, 190.81; 7. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.939, 191.95 vs. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.958, 191.48; 8. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.940, 191.78 vs. 9. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.947, 189.98. Did Not Qualify: 17. John Hall, 7.159, 184.50; 18. Michael Phillips, 7.179, 187.39; 19. David Barron, 7.773, 180.45.
