FORCE SAID GOODBYE TO ATLANTA DRAGWAY IN HIS OWN WAY

by Bobby Bennett    Fri, 2021-05-07 07:15

Gary Nastase, Auto Imagery

If John Force was asked once about the final NHRA national event at Atlanta Dragway, he was asked a million times.

"I was at the last drag race at Lions [Drag Strip], and life moves on, and it'll move on from here," Force, the 16-time champion, said. "But when they talk about how bad I feel, I don't like it. I don't want to see it closed, but I also have 35 years of memories of fans, people, wins. Ashley won her first race here, and to me, it's not dead. We're just moving on, but the memories move on with us. That's how I feel about it."

Force admits he wasn't as sentimental early in his career when tracks closed down, although he understood the magnitude of the situations at the time.

"Never really thought about it because in those days it was closing for a reason; the railroad was coming through or a piping company needed room, and they were right in the middle of the city and housing," Force said. "But now housing's closing us down. You drive out of here, you see a bunch of housing up the street, and I'm seeing that they may be building a big battery company here."

Force was there as well when another track vital to his career closed down. Orange County International Raceway closed down in 1983.

"I still got the sign in my museum in Yorba Linda," Force said. "Somebody come in and thought I stole it. They sold it to me, but it's just memories. But you know, you got to move on. You can't live in that world. World changes. So, I'm having another birthday here next week. I'm still loving it. Still want to drive these cars. But I know one day I'll have to step out of the seat, but I got all those memories. And then I'm going to go on racing, and John Force will go on racing, whether he drives or not. I'll go on racing, whether Atlanta's here or not. That just the fact."

Force, who won the race seven times in his storied career, said he wouldn't go as far as saying that watching the track go away is like saying goodbye to an old friend.

"Whoa, maybe the track's gone, but now, if you die, that's permanent," Force said in deep thought. "I don't look at it like I do the death of an individual. I just don't. A lot of people are trying to say that. It ain't like a friend of mine died, and he's gone, but this track's going to be gone. I love it. I have so much respect for it, but time to move on. They're going to move on. We're going to move on, and we're in survival mode. Survival mode is what's in my head right now."

Force lost in the final round to Bob Tasca, leaving him second in all-time professional wins at Atlanta to the late Dave Schultz.

 

 

 

 
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