TEAM EFFORT

After the U.S. Nationals, HOT ROD spoke with John Force Racing about championships and how to win them.

- ARVID SVENDSEN

John Force is the owner and driver of the Peak Performance Blue DEF Chevrolet Camaro SS NHRA Funny Car. Force began his drag racing career in 1977, and enthusiasm, perseverance, and love for the sport mark the charismatic leader and CEO of John Force Racing (JFR). The JFR team includes three other NHRA drag racing teams. Robert Hight drives the Automobile Club Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS NHRA Funny Car. Robert is also the president of JFR. John’s daughter, Brittany Force, is the driver of the Monster Energy Flav-R-Pac NHRA Top Fuel Dragster. The newest addition to the JFR team is Austin Prock, who assumed the driving duties of the Montana Brand RMT NHRA Top Fuel dragster in 2019.

A recent visit to the JFR headquarters in Brownsburg, Indiana, gave guests the opportunity to meet with JFR team members. Included in the visit was a guided tour of the race shop and the inner workings of JFR.

In his 45 years of drag racing, John Force has earned 16 NHRA Funny Car World Championships. Career statistics include 155 NHRA national event wins, 264 final round appearances, and 164 No. 1 qualifying spots.

HR: Thanks for allowing us to tour your incredible race shop.

JF: Great to have you here. I have read HOT ROD magazine all my life, and I love it. When I was driving a truck, I would get Dragster News and HOT ROD magazine. Now, in the airports, I grab HOT ROD magazine—that’s all I want to read.

HR: Is Indy your favorite race?

JF: I love every racetrack, and everything about NHRA drag racing. It might sound strange to some, but racing is my home. When I came to Indy 45 years ago, I came to race … but I really came to see Don Garlits. Indy is the grandaddy, it’s the one that everybody wants to win.