WHICH FORCE WILL MAKE HISTORY THIS WEEKEND?
Fri, 2008-04-11 04:31
John Force could make history Sunday afternoon at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway. Likewise for daughter Ashley Force. But if one
does, the other can’t.
John Force, a 14-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, is just four rounds short of reaching a milestone of 1,000 round wins. Coincidentally, eliminations for Sunday’s NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals consist of four rounds.
Ashley Force would like to become the first woman in the 40-year history of Funny Car racing to win an NHRA national event. Ashley came close, reaching the final round two weeks ago in Houston, Texas. She lost, and the NHRA Funny Car winner’s circle remained an all-male domain. John Force could make history Sunday afternoon at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Likewise for daughter Ashley Force. But if one does, the other can’t.
John Force, a 14-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, is just four rounds short of reaching a milestone of 1,000 round wins. Coincidentally, eliminations for Sunday’s NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals consist of four rounds.
Ashley Force would like to become the first woman in the 40-year history of Funny Car racing to win an NHRA national event. Ashley came close, reaching the final round two weeks ago in Houston, Texas. She lost, and the NHRA Funny Car winner’s circle remained an all-male domain.
Both need to reach – and win – the final round of eliminations Sunday to have an opportunity to make history.
If John wins all four rounds of eliminations, he will reach the 1,000-round victory mark, something no other drag racer has done in the history of the sport. But if he wins, Ashley’s plans to break the all-boy Funny Car barrier will be placed on hold.
Ashley earned her Funny Car license at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2006. John has won once in Las Vegas, defeating Tony Pedregon in October, 2002.
Las Vegas oddsmaker Micah Roberts of Station Casinos favors John over Ashley, 7-to-1 to 12-to-1, respectively.
“I have a lot of experience at Las Vegas,” Ashley said. “It’s a real nice track and a nice stadium. I feel very comfortable there. I’m pumped and ready to go.”
John Force, who has 125 final-round wins to his credit, is taking the father-daughter battle in stride.
“I’m not thinking records, especially not at Vegas where we’ve struggled,” said John. “If it happens, it happens. I’m just trying to stay on my rehab program (Force was critically injured last September in a crash at the Texas Motorplex) and hold up my end of the deal. I’m getting better, but I’m not there yet.”
John Force, a 14-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, is just four rounds short of reaching a milestone of 1,000 round wins. Coincidentally, eliminations for Sunday’s NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals consist of four rounds.
Ashley Force would like to become the first woman in the 40-year history of Funny Car racing to win an NHRA national event. Ashley came close, reaching the final round two weeks ago in Houston, Texas. She lost, and the NHRA Funny Car winner’s circle remained an all-male domain. John Force could make history Sunday afternoon at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Likewise for daughter Ashley Force. But if one does, the other can’t.
John Force, a 14-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, is just four rounds short of reaching a milestone of 1,000 round wins. Coincidentally, eliminations for Sunday’s NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals consist of four rounds.
Ashley Force would like to become the first woman in the 40-year history of Funny Car racing to win an NHRA national event. Ashley came close, reaching the final round two weeks ago in Houston, Texas. She lost, and the NHRA Funny Car winner’s circle remained an all-male domain.
Both need to reach – and win – the final round of eliminations Sunday to have an opportunity to make history.
If John wins all four rounds of eliminations, he will reach the 1,000-round victory mark, something no other drag racer has done in the history of the sport. But if he wins, Ashley’s plans to break the all-boy Funny Car barrier will be placed on hold.
Ashley earned her Funny Car license at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2006. John has won once in Las Vegas, defeating Tony Pedregon in October, 2002.
Las Vegas oddsmaker Micah Roberts of Station Casinos favors John over Ashley, 7-to-1 to 12-to-1, respectively.
“I have a lot of experience at Las Vegas,” Ashley said. “It’s a real nice track and a nice stadium. I feel very comfortable there. I’m pumped and ready to go.”
John Force, who has 125 final-round wins to his credit, is taking the father-daughter battle in stride.
“I’m not thinking records, especially not at Vegas where we’ve struggled,” said John. “If it happens, it happens. I’m just trying to stay on my rehab program (Force was critically injured last September in a crash at the Texas Motorplex) and hold up my end of the deal. I’m getting better, but I’m not there yet.”
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