John Force said the No. 10 position for Sunday’s AAA Texas FallNationals at Texas Motorplex isn’t where he wanted to qualify, but he remains optimistic in going rounds on race day.
The 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion set the quickest time of Saturday’s early afternoon session – and the third of four qualifying sessions over two days – with a pass of 3.957 seconds at 327.90 mph in his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS. That netted him three bonus points.
Force nearly showed improvement in the final round. He had a strong launch but lost a cylinder by 300 feet. Still, he turned in a time of 3.962 seconds at 316.15 mph.
“We ran that .95 and thought we’d be OK, but dropped a cylinder in the last run and went .96,” said Force, who has seven victories and 71 elimination-round wins at Texas Motorplex. “Not where I want to be, but PEAK pays me to win, so I’m going after it.”
Force’s No. 10 position pits him against fellow Countdown to the Championship contestant Tommy Johnson Jr., the No. 7 qualifier. Johnson – whose pass was 3.930 seconds at 327.59 – is only eight points behind Force, sixth in the points standings.
Force, who made it to the semifinals in the most recent race at Gateway Motorsports Park earlier this month, said he wants to add another semis appearance this weekend – and for good reason.
“One thing I do like is that if I make it to the second round, we’ll likely get (points leader Ron) Capps, and he’s the guy we need to take out,” Force said.
A second-round appearance will would also give him his 100th elimination-round at Texas Motorplex.
Eliminations for the 32nd annual AAA Texas FallNationals begins at 11 a.m. Central. Three hours of live television coverage begins at 1 p.m. Central on Fox Sports 1.
4-Second Reads:
- Qualifying Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.856 seconds/162.12 mph; smoked tires about 400 feet down (No. 7 of session and No. 7 overall; no bonus points in session)
- Qualifying Round 2 (Right Lane): 4.215 seconds/221.31 mph; got to mid-track before car started sliding around (No. 9 of session and No. 11 overall; no bonus points in session and no bonus points overall)
- Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 3.957 seconds/327.90 mph; quickest run of his weekend with straight, solid run (No. 1 of session and No. 9 overall; three bonus points in session and three bonus points overall)
- Qualifying Round 4 (Left Lane): 3.962 seconds/316.15 mph; lost a cylinder at about 300 feet down but still made a decent run (No. 4 of session and No.10 overall; no bonus points in session and three bonus points overall)
- This is the first time this season and 20th time in his career Force has qualified No. 10 for a race. He is looking for his second victory and third finals from No. 10.
- This is the second time Force has qualified No. 10 at Dallas. He was also No. 10 in 2012.
- Force’s only victory from the No. 10 position came in 2007 at Sonoma Raceway in California.
- Force’s first-round matchup against Tommy Johnson Jr. marks the 48th time the two will compete against each other. Force owns a 33-14 advantage all-time, with a 2-2 mark this season and 2-1 record at Dallas.
John Force Racing PR/Photo Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
