BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2021) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team lead the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Car points standings for the first time in 144 races. They enter the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend with one goal in mind, maintaining their position.
Force and his Daniel Hood and Tim Fabrisi led PEAK Antifreeze team put their name in as championship contenders early in the 2021 season. At the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the third race of the season, Force and his PEAK Chevy would make their 257th final round appearance. Force earned his 161st No. 1 qualifying position before continuing his dominance into race day at the NHRA Four Wide-Nationals at zMAX Dragway and coming out with his 152nd national event victory. Force then tallied his second win of the season, 153rd of his career, at the NHRA New England Nationals.
Following a semifinal finish at his hometown racetrack, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Force made history at the Menards NHRA Nationals when he shared the winner’s circle with daughter Brittany Force. It was the first time in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series history a father and child duo shared the winner’s circle. John and daughter Ashley Force-Hood, who married his now crew chief Danny Hood, doubled up at the Auto Club Finals in Pomona when she raced Top Alcohol in 2004. It is the fifth time John Force Racing has had a Funny Car / Top Fuel double-up. Brittany Force first did it with Robert Hight at the Gatornationals in 2016 for the first win of her career then Dallas 2017 and again in Houston 2019 before John Force and Austin Prock won together for John’s 150th in Seattle 2019.
“It’s important to me to remember that I’m where I am because of the support I have. Support from my sponsors, my team and the fans,” Force said. “The fans are important, the fans are why we do what we do, we couldn’t do this without them. I’m looking forward to Brainerd, looking forward to seeing the crowds, the grandstands full. We are here to compete, to win races but also to entertain. It’s the best part of the job, it is the job. This PEAK team, we’re putting on a show. Robert and Auto Club, Brittany with Monster Energy and Flav-R-Pac, we’re here along with all our competitors to put on a show and fight for a championship. The Countdown is right around the corner.”
Force has won a record 11 times at Brainerd International Raceway, most recently in 2007 but raced to runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014. Along with his 11 wins, Force also has eight No.1 qualifiers at the facility.
Qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals and Brainerd International Raceway begins with a session at 6 p.m. CT on Friday and continues Saturday with sessions at 2 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Eliminations are slated begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage will begin Friday with live qualifying on FOX Sports 1 (Fs1) at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. A second qualifying show will air on FS1 Sunday at Noon ET / 11 a.m. CT. Eliminations will be on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT.
