John Force will admit that at the outset he wasn't one of the most
enthusiastic backers of the Countdown to the Championship, the new format that this season will crown NHRA POWERade Champions in the Funny Car, Top Fuel, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories.
However, circumstances change and, with them, so do opinions.
As a result, when the NHRA tour moves this week to Heartland Park-Topeka for the 19th O'Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals, it would be difficult to find a bigger supporter of the "Countdown" than Force.
That's because the 58-year-old drag racing icon, winner of a record 122 tour events, is mired deeper in the Funny Car driver standings this year than he has been in the last 25 seasons.