The ageless champion has rolled into easier title defenses.

John Force, drag racing's most prolific drag racer, enters this weekend on the heels of consecutive race weekends where he's blown his Funny Car body to smithereens and visited the hospital as many times. 

“I am ready to get back to the race track," Force said. "We have had some struggles at the first two races but we are figuring it out. My team has been going over my PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car and we’ll be ready. The good news is Robert stayed and tested after the last race and Courtney won in Phoenix. 

"We all share information. I am ready to get back to the fans. It was good to have some time off but now the season is really going to get started.

Three weeks ago, Force not only destroyed his race car but the concussion of the blast forced him over into Jonnie Lindberg's lane, where the two drivers became entangled in a crash where the 16-time champion lost conciousness in addition to control of his race car. 

“Everything went good for me that day. (Jonnie Lindberg) is a good kid," Force said. "He’s a Swedish kid and the fans love him. I like him personally. I was trying to hire him a while back but Jim Head got him."

Gainesville Raceway is significant to Force for more reasons than just wins. In 2007, John Force Racing’s Eric Medlen was involved in a catastrophic wreck during a test session and sustained injuries that would later take the young phenom’s life. The loss of Medlen was not in vain. Both Force and Medlen’s father, John Medlen, worked to make race cars safer. The results of which Force has benefited from both personally and as a team owner. 

“I have a lot of wins there, eight Wallys, but Eric (Medlen) crashed there, we loved the kid. His dad, John Medlen, worked to build a better race car to save lives. We learn from our wrecks,” Force said. “That is why I am still in the sport at 68. I ain’t no hero all I am trying to do is build better race cars and take my knowledge that I have learned and make it better for these kids coming up. That is what it is all about, especially with my girls.”

Force will race a fan designed PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Camaro SS. PEAK reached out to fans across the nation for creative designs. William Codianni, 22 from San Diego, was selected from a group of finalists to have his “American Made” themed design adorn Force’s hot rod.