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The Force behind John Force Racing

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The Force behind John Force Racing
(from the left) Dale Aldo, Mopar; John Force, Laurie Force, Don Garlits (Photo: JFR Racing)

The old saying ‘behind every great man is a even greater woman‘ rings true even in the male-dominated motorsports world.    These women are often the unsung heroines of the sport that silently dedicate just as much of their lives to racing as their successful husbands.     During the recent International Drag Racing Hall of Fame banquet, NHRA Drag Racing’s Laurie Force was recognized for her unsung contributions to the sport.   She was honored with the Pat Garlits Memorial Award presented by Mopar for being the Force behind John Force Racing.

Laurie Force, the wife of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and mother to NHRA nitro standouts Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force, has been a leading matriarch on the drag racing scene for over four decades.  The award recognized Laurie’s presence behind the John Force Racing drag racing dynasty.   Her dedication and passion embodies the spirit of Pat Garlits, and she was commended for remaining the ever-patient wife of 16-time champion John Force.    A special video tribute video produced by Ashley Force Hood was played during the ceremony that included interviews with Ashley, Brittany Force, Courtney Force and John Force on Laurie’s sacrifice and hard work over the last 40 years.

In the early days, Laurie wrote my first contracts, mixed fuel and backed the race car up. She was with me from the beginning and there is no doubt I would not be where I am today without the support and love of Laurie,” said a proud John Force during the ceremony.

History of the Pat Garlits Memorial Award

Named in honor of NHRA Top Fuel legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits’s late wife, the Pat Garlits Memorial Award was first presented in 2014 to Barbara Hamilton, the first woman licensed by NHRA to drive supercharged cars in 1964.   In 2015, Joan Gwynn was honored for her contributions to the drag racing community as a supportive wife of 57 years to drag racing legend Jerry Gwynn, mother to racer Darrell Gwynn, as well as her charitable work with the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, and especially her involved with the Drag Racing Association of Women (D.R.A.W.) which has helped injured drag racers and their families for more than 30 years.

Pat Garlits passed away in February of 2014. She was beside her husband Don Garlits as he amassed too many awards to count and set more records than any drag racer in history. The legendary racer and innovator claimed that no matter the awards and accolades he received over his career the best day of his life was when he saw Patricia Louise Bieger for the first time in 1952.  The couple was married for over 60 years and Garlits was faithfully by her side until the end of her life.

She loved her man with all her heart, body and soul and never thought of anyone else but him. She was at dad’s side through every win, loss, crash, you name it, she was there,” said daughter Donna in Pat’s moving obituary.

The Force Behind John Force Racing [Video]

Courtney Force is ready to start fresh in 2016

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Courtney Force is ready to start fresh

The off season was incredibly long and Courtney Force is ready to start fresh, putting a tough 2015 season behind her.    After wrapping up her toughest season since her 2012 Funny Car debut, her Traxxas team weathered a win-less season, with 15 first-round losses that left her outside the top 10 for the Countdown to the Championship.   Though they struggled, Force did qualify on the pole at two events (Pomona and Charlotte) and had a runner-up finish in Norwalk, Ohio. She posted a new career-best ET of 3.933 seconds in qualifying at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at the end of the year.   She was able to maintain a firm hold on the record for most Funny Car wins in a season by a female (four) and most Funny Car wins overall for a female Funny Car driver with seven career tour victories.

I think I’ve become mentally stronger as a driver going into my 5th year of racing and have learned through all the ups and downs. I think any mistake you make as a driver is only for the better and you can take some much away from that if you choose to look at it with a positive attitude, and that’s what I’m doing this season,” said Force.

Force is ready to start fresh with her Traxxas team for the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series tour,  and already is showing optimistic improvements.  During the Nitro Spring Training pre-season test sessions at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the team worked through some issues on the car in the first few days, leading Courtney to impressive full pulls which led to a career-best 3.890 seconds at 323.89 mph.

This season we are pushing hard to get our car back in that top 10 since we missed that opportunity last year. We are going to fight hard at every race with that as our primary focus. Obviously we have high hopes of having a race car to chase that championship, but we are going to take this one race at a time. We have a couple new guys on my team and have Dan Hood and Ronnie Thompson as co-crew Chiefs this year so I am eager to get started!”

The season opener will be the first event for new Traxxas Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car co-crew chiefs Dan Hood and Ronnie Thompson at the Force Family’s home track in Pomona. Both Hood and Thompson were assistant Crew Chiefs until this year.

I think our team made some huge progress this past week during testing in Phoenix. I think we have a better handle on this car than we did last year going into Pomona so that is giving us some confidence. When we ran my career best during testing and the car showed some consistency on the runs, it made me really excited for the upcoming season,” said Force.

Courtney Force and the Traxxas team hope to defend their 2015 pole with a strong start at the 56th Annual Circle K Winternationals in front of their home crowd and fans at Auto Club Raceway.  This year also marks the 50th Anniversary for the Funny Car class.     Qualifying will begin Thursday, February 11th, with sessions on Friday and Saturday.   Eliminations will begin Sunday, February 14th.

Event Information:
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
2780 Fairplex Drive
Pomona, CA 91768
NHRA.com
Elevation: 1,100 feet

Tickets: nhra.com/tickets; 800-884-NHRA (6472)
Radio Frequency: 105.3 FM

Ladies strong in Nitro Spring Training

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Brittany Force Nitro Spring Training Preseason testing Phoenix AZ
Photo: Ron Lewis

The ladies looked strong in NHRA Nitro Spring Training, a successful four days of NHRA pre-season testing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team led all Top Fuel dragsters on Saturday’s final day of Nitro Spring Training, with a 3.721 second pass at 319.07 mph.   Force posted the 5th and 6th quickest runs of the four day test session overall.

I am definitely glad we are here in Phoenix testing. We were here for four days and I needed every single run that we made to make me feel more comfortable. Teaming up with Alan Johnson and Brian Husen as my crew chief has been great,” said Force. “They have made a lot of changes to this Monster Energy dragster. They run a whole different system that what we used to run. It takes some time to adjust to that and I am learning the car. It is starting to feel like home. We ran a couple of 3.72s and I am ready to get to Pomona.”

Leah Pritchett in Nitro Spring Training, Phoenix AZ
Photo: NHRA.com

Leah Prichett and her new team at Bob Vandergriff Racing worked on getting comfortable together.  The team ran well, and Leah felt comfortable in the seat with new crew chiefs Mike Guger and Joe Barlam at the helm.

It’s going OK.  It was running low-.70 numbers on the early-shutoff runs we made this week. I’m extremely comfortable in the car. It drives smooth. Mike and Joe are phenomenal to work with. We have high expectations that we’ve placed on ourselves. We have something to prove this year,” said Pritchett (via NHRA.com).

Courtney Force Nitro Spring Training Preseason Testing
Photo: Ron Lewis

Courtney Force driving the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car ran her career best ET 3.890 at 323.89 mph. The first two days of testing were uneventful for Force who struggled to get her Funny Car down the track. The team began to hit their stride on Friday.

We struggled a little the first couple of passes but then we got it figured out. That is why you go to testing. I am really excited to be working with Ronnie Thompson and Danny Hood as my crew chiefs. This whole Traxxas Chevrolet Funny Car team did a great job here in Phoenix. We made my quickest run ever and I feel really comfortable heading to Pomona,” said Courtney Force.

Saturday NHRA Nitro Spring Training Leaderboard

TOP FUEL

  1.  Brittany Force– 3.721, 319.07
  2. Clay Millican – 3.739, 288.87
  3. Doug Kalitta – 3.745, 325.53
  4. Brittany Force – 3.747, 322.81 
  5. Richie Crampton – 3.748, 319.22
  6. Brittany Force – 3.758, 317.64
  7. Antron Brown – 3.768, 297.88
  8. Shawn Langdon – 3.770, 316.08
  9. Antron Brown – 3.791, 320.13
  10. J.R. Todd – 3.802, 325.69
  11. Leah Pritchett – 3.839, 272.72
  12. J.R. Todd – 3.882, 251.67
  13. Terry McMillen – 3.916, 256.75
  14. Troy Buff – 3.929, 255.00
  15. Terry McMillen – 3.935, 306.05
  16. Troy Buff – 4.123, 242.19

FUNNY CAR

  1. Tommy Johnson Jr. – 3.874, 318.47
  2. Robert Hight – 3.885, 329.34
  3. Courtney Force – 3.890, 323.89
  4. John Force – 3.914, 327.35
  5. Courtney Force – 3.915, 323.74
  6. Ron Capps – 3.919, 320.66
  7. John Force – 3.927, 323.66
  8. John Force – 3.930, 328.14
  9. Robert Hight – 3.931, 323.43
  10. Matt Hagan – 3.962, 326.79
  11. Alexis DeJoria – 3.972, 320.51
  12. Jack Beckman – 3.982, 289.57
  13. Del Worsham – 3.983, 320.81
  14. Ron Capps – 3.987, 319.29
  15. Alexis DeJoria – 3.993, 322.58
  16. Del Worsham – 3.999, 320.97
  17. Cruz Pedregon – 4.008, 273.94
  18. Brian Hough – 4.015, 316.01
  19. Del Worsham – 4.070, 273.39
  20. Jim Campbell – 4.153, 252.24
  21. Matt Hagan – 4.211, 225.60

Top 10 overall | Nitro Spring Training

TOP FUEL

  1. Tony Schumacher – 3.683, 325.37
  2. Dave Connolly – 3.714, 330.15
  3. Doug Kalitta – 3.716, 327.35
  4. Tony Schumacher – 3.718, 320.58
  5. Brittany Force – 3.721, 319.07 
  6. Brittany Force  – 3.721, 318.54
  7. Doug Kalitta  – 3.727, 322.88
  8. Steve Torrence – 3.729, 326.08
  9. Steve Torrence – 3.731, 326.48
  10. Shawn Langdon – 3.733, 315.49

FUNNY CAR

  1. Tommy Johnson Jr. – 3.874, 318.47
  2. Jack Beckman– 3.880, 325.77
  3. Robert Hight – 3.885, 329.34
  4. Courtney Force – 3.890, 323.89
  5. Jack Beckman – 3.894, 327.03
  6. Jack Beckman – 3.895, 325.06
  7. Courtney Force – 3.904, 318.54
  8. John Force – 3.912, 324.20
  9. Robert Hight – 3.913, 326.16
  10. John Force – 3.914, 327.35

Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal

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Over the weekend, Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal to become racing’s newest power couple.    The NHRA Funny Car driver and her new Indycar husband, tied the knot in a stunning beachfront ceremony at Rancho Dos Pueblos in Santa Barbara, CA.

Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal
Instagram: Graham Rahal/Courtney Force

Courtney Force Weds Graham Rahal at Rancho Dos Pueblos

Details of the Force-Rahal Wedding plans were kept tight-lipped, but many expected it to follow shortly after the conclusion of the NHRA racing season.    As expected, the nuptials took place just days after Courtney finished her 2015 Mello Yello NHRA Drag Racing season in 11th place for the Funny Car division.

Courtney Force's Bridesmaids
Sisters Ashley and Brittany and Adria were among Courtney’s bridesmaid court.

Graham proposed to Courtney Thanksgiving weekend in 2014 during a beautiful evening gondola ride in Venice, Italy.  The pair met in 2013 during the NHRA races outside Chicago, and a whirlwind romance ensued.   Rahal, who is based in Indianapolis, logged many frequent flier miles between his home and Courtney’s  California residence.    The pair would meet between their busy racing schedules, texting and skyping when they couldn’t be together.

The Reception location where Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal
The Reception location where Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal Photo: Soigne Productions
Courtney Force weds Graham Rahal in this beautiful beach ceremony location
The beachfront ceremony scene for the Force – Rahal Wedding.
Photo: Soigne Productions

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Graham Rahal!

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

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It’s the end of the season, and that means the annual 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Awards Ceremony has arrived!   All of our favorite stars of the NHRA series gathered Monday after the finals in Pomona to Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Vineland for a year-end banquet and the crowning of the 2015 champions.   This formal event is always a crowd favorite, because we get the rare chance to see our favorite personalities outside their fire suits and crew uniforms, dressed to the nine in formal attire.

For 2015, the ladies didn’t disappoint, hitting the NHRA Red Carpet all looking stunning.   Check out their red carpet fashion below!

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

Leah Pritchett and Angie Smith on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel’s Leah Pritchett and Pro Stock Bike’s Angie Smith
Erica Enders on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders
Courtney Force and Graham Rahal on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Courtney Force and fiance, open wheel driver Graham Rahal
Angie Smith Karen Stoffer on NHRA Red Carpet
Pro Stock Bike’s Karen Stoffer and Angie Smith
Brittany and Courtney Force on NHRA Red Carpet
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force with sister Courtney.
Alexis DeJoria Jesse James on NHRA Red Carpet
Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria, husband Jesse James, and sister.
Jenna Haddock at the NHRA Red Carpet year end banquet
Top Fuel driver Jenna Haddock and husband Terry

WHO WORE IT BEST? Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet – Vote in Comments below!

Video: Awards Ceremony    |  Last year’s Ladies of NHRA 2014 Red Carpet Album 

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice (Video)

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What happens when you open the floor at the Women of NHRA Breakfast to questions?   You get a rare moment on the mic when John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for advice on his daughter, Courtney Force’s love life.

 

John Force asks Shirley Muldowney for love life advice

Source:   @TerryBlountNHRA | Twitter

Courtney Force COPO Camaro

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Chevrolet unveils Courtney Force COPO Camaro concept at the SEMA

Courtney Force COPO Camaro 2After a major switch for John Force Racing to Chevrolet in 2015, decorated drag racing standout Courtney Force was thrilled to unveil the first ever sixth-gen COPO concept inspired by her NHRA Funny Car.

The ultra-modern styled machine infuses legendary COPO performance with the new, modern design of the 2016 Camaro.  The special SEMA edition concept was personalized by Courtney Force herself,  and will be auctioned off at Barrett Jackson to benefit the United Way.    Limited production of the COPO program returns in 2016, with only 69 available spots to purchase the COPO production units.

The fifth-generation COPO Camaro concept first debuted at SEMA in 2011, where an overwhelming demand spurned a limited, special-edition production run.  Its success continued in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.   2016 will see 69 additional sixth-gen COPO Camaros headed to the drag strip to carry on the COPO tradition.

To generate excitement for a 2016 COPO Program return, Chevrolet enlisted its newest partner in NHRA driver Courtney Force (a fifth-gen Camaro owner).

“We’re taking the equity that Courtney has in drag racing and bringing that into our COPO series. It’s a very fun and exciting project,” said Todd Parker, Director of Design.

The exterior of this COPO Camaro Concept highlights a Red Hot exterior color, with the familiar John Force Racing Next Gen styling on the rear quarter panel.   Red trim accents mirror her signature Traxxas Funny Car livery, a modified SS rear spoiler was redesigned with spill plates inspired by the Funny Car’s massive rear wing, and Goodyear tires were used likening to the slicks on Courtney’s racer.

“This car was a little bit challenging because we’re trying to show the first sixth-generation COPO, but at the same time flavor it with Courtney’s personal preferences,” said Parker. “There was a balance that we needed to achieve and we think that we found it.” It took Courtney several iterations and options before she finally landed on the exterior color. “Her Traxxas funny car has every color under the sun, so to get her flavor took some time,” said Parker. “Plus, the sixth-gen version of COPO looks so dramatic in just about every color.”

Sadly, the Courtney Force COPO Camaro concept is not available for any of the production COPO units.

COURTNEY FORCE COPO CAMARO SPECIFICATIONS

Courtney Force COPO Camaro1

Exterior:

  • Red Hot exterior with Switchblade Silver and Satin Black graphics

  • Courtney Force’s signature JFR Racing graphics

  • Red lower grille trim

  • High-rise carbon-fiber hood

  • Outside rear view mirror delete with painted closeout

  • Wheelie bars and drag parachute

  • Unique rear spoiler

  • Custom smoke-finished Weld drag wheels

  • GoodYear® Eagle drag tires

Interior:

  • NHRA-certified full chrome-moly roll cage

  • Lightweight bucket racing seats with custom embroidery

  • Floor-mounted shifter

  • Specific instrument panel-mounted analog racing gauges

  • Center stack mounted racing switch panel

  • Five-point safety harnesses (driver and front-passenger)

Performance:

  • LSX-based 350 cu. in. supercharged engine

  • Available engines: LS-based 427 cu. in. naturally aspirated; LT1-based 6.2L naturally aspirated

  • THM 400 3-speed automatic

  • Front suspension: lightweight adjustable front struts

  • Rear suspension: multilink

    • Adjustable coil-over shocks, panhard bar and anti-roll bar.

    • Rear axle with an aluminum center section, 35 spline spool and axles

  • Brakes: manual lightweight rotors and calipers

  • Integrated line lock

  • Manual rack-and-pinion steering

  • Fuel storage system with fuel cell and built-in high pressure fuel pump

  • Dedicated racing wire harness

Source:  ChevySema.com

Courtney Force breaking barriers in sports

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Funny Car driver Courtney Force will be honored by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever on Wednesday, Aug. 26 during their game with the Los Angeles Sparks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as part of the Fever’s Inspiring Women Night. This year’s theme for the annual event is “Breaking Barriers in Sports.”

Force, the winningest female racer in NHRA Funny Car history, will be recognized during the pre-game reception alongside Carlie Irsay-Gordon, vice chair and owner of the Indianapolis Colts, NBA referee Lauren Holtkamp and Hall of Fame basketball coach Lin Dunn. WISH TV sports director Anthony Calhoun will lead a panel discussion with the four women as part of the pre-game reception, which begins at 5:45 p.m. Individual tickets to attend Inspiring Women Night presented by Elements Financial are $60 and a table of 10 is $550.    The four women also will be recognized in front of the fans during half-time ceremonies at the Fever-Sparks game, which begins at 7 p.m.

Courtney Force Inspires Women in Racing

Courtney earned the milestone 100th victory for female racers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series last season. She set the national speed record in Funny Car this season by powering to a speed of 325.06 mph at the controls of her 10,000-horsepower Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS and has earned seven career victories and nine No. 1 qualifying positions in her career.   Force is the youngest daughter of 16-time NHRA world champion John Force, and shares the spotlight with her sisters, Ashley and Brittany, also women in racing competitors in NHRA’s Funny Car and Top Fuel classes.

Along with her appearance at Inspiring Women Night at the Fever game, Force will be in Indianapolis next week participating in pre-race testing for the 61st Annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race, which will be held Sept. 2-7, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in nearby Brownsburg.

Courtney Force 100th win
Courtney Force’s 100th Win   |  Photo: Gary Nastase, John Force Racing

The end of an era

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For the past several decades, the name Force has always been synonymous with Ford Racing.    Whether you are a drag racing fan or not, chances are you know John Force Racing as the longstanding ambassador of Ford Motor Company.

John Force Racing Chevrolet

Force and Chevy
Force Racing teams with Chevy

I’ve only been involved in the sport for 15 years, so a world without Force/Ford Racing is a foreign one to me.   I was saddened when Ford announced in 2013 that they would leave drag racing and JFR at the end of 2014.   Although I knew this day would come, it is still a tough pill to swallow to imagine the Force name pulling into Pomona in anything but a Blue Oval.

But all good things must come to an end, and where one legacy closes, another chapter begins.  Today, the much anticipated announcement was made:  John Force Racing will be running under the Chevrolet brand for 2015 and beyond.

I’m not sure what emotions this will stir come the start of the 2015 Mello Yellow NHRA Drag Racing season opener, but on the bright side, it speaks good things about the sport to see a sponsor with such a large involvement and presence come into the fray.

Force’s Ford and Castrol sponsorships spanned many decades, a testament to the work and value he delivered to his partners.   While many (including myself) were sad to see Ford depart, you have to give credit and thanks for the many years of memories that these partnerships provided to us, the fans.    It is truly a testament to the work of Force and the sport of drag racing that such an enduring relationship thrived.   Its also one that should be studied by us racers, as a good example of sponsor retention.

Now the question…. who will cut their Blue Oval ties to don a Bowtie in support of John Force Racing Chevrolet?