John Force raced to victory in Funny Car on Monday at the rain-delayed finals of the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Force’s second victory of the season came in the first four-lane—instead of the traditional two—event in NHRA history.
He powered his Ford Mustang to a 4.036 second run at a top speed of 316.23 mph to finish ahead of his daughter, Ashley Force Hood, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan. It was Force’s 128th career victory.
Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners in an event that was postponed Sunday because of rain. ESPN
“This is a little taste of history,” said Force. “This was special, like beating the dragsters at Bristol [at the 1999 Showdown between Funny Cars and Top Fuelers]. Thanks to Bruton and Marcus Smith. They took the money and spent it to make this happen. The hardest part was racing Ron Capps. He is always tough, and Hagan, now that he has John Medlen there, will put the fear into you. My own daughter also leaves nothing on the table. I’m proud of Ashley. She’s learned the game.
“This track is go good that we took wing off of it. I don’t usually run big speed but did this weekend. That says something because my car is not light like Ashley’s. “
“It feels good to finally get our car back,” said Force Hood. “We had a couple of ups and downs this year, and that does get your confidence down. To come to this race, with all the challenges that everyone faces, I am excited to be able to maneuver through all that and race Dad and the Schumacher teams in the final. The final could easily have gone the other way. This [Monday] was a new day; it brought new challenges for everyone, but Dad and I made two really good runs. That was one of our best since we went to 1,000 feet. To me, the biggest thing is that we have our car back, and now we can focus on the championship.”
McClenathan’s win – his second this season (he also won in Phoenix) and 33rd of his Top Fuel career—completed a dominating performance and a show of resiliency. The Fram team had to work hard in the pits after winning its first-round bout with Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Morgan Lucas, and Brandon Bernstein with a 3.799 that was punctuated by a blown left-rear slick just past the finish line. The team repaired damage to the chassis and body panels to get McClenathan to round two, where he finished second to Kalitta after both ran 3.809.
Edwards, who for the first time in 12 races was not the No. 1 qualifier, powered his Penhall Pontiac to the final by winning both of his rounds, racing to the stripe ahead of John Nobile, Warren Johnson, and Vinnie Deceglie in round one and beating Line, Nobile, and Allen Johnson in the second round.
“We stayed and tested in Gainesville on Monday and got our stuff right,” said Smith. “As a three-bike team [with Angie Smith and Doug Horne] we all did our jobs down there and that helped. We still have some problems with the other two bikes and I’ll get to that but this was a big win.
“I love this four wide deal. I’m glad that NHRA and Bruton [Smith] did this. It was fun, just like NASCAR having road races. It was a different atmosphere.” NHRA.com
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