NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series

Photos and story © 2005 Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

King of Wins
© 2005 Dwight Drum

Driver, Castrol Ford Mustang Funny Car

“You have to sleep in your car.”

“You have to be one with your car.”

Time: Early season 2005
Event: Gatornationals
Place: Gainesville Raceway

Specific Place: John Force pit compound

KING OF WINS
© 2005 Dwight Drum

John Force: Watched while waiting.

Racing turnarounds in the NHRA POWERade drag racing pits are always strained moments. We’ve never experienced less than that in the open areas at the ropes available to fans. The roped area behind the fans is small but reserved turf and it’s exclusive to team members, those technicians that twist metal and turn their bodies furiously to get a hot rod ready. It’s high drag racing turf. For many teams that area is usually smaller than the average house.

Zoomster.com arrived on schedule just after a practice run at the John Force Racing ropes. Credentials and prearranged access provided entry.

Waiting in the John Force hospitality area attached to his coach in a six-hauler complex is like waiting back stage, like waiting for your star. But here you get to watch your star coordinate, meet with key crew folks, and also watch your interview moment melt because Force got a call to do a radio spot and a TV spot.

Force had just ripped another high qualifying elapsed time on the track and it seemed that he is busier now than his quick thrust that allowed his advance to the big show.

Force departed.

You waited. Knowing that there is no better place on the planet to ask John Force a few questions than in his racing sanctuary, you were comfortable. Still you waited. You know time is limited. Technicians twisted with silent energy to prepare engines for the next round.

Force returned.

Force stepped quickly from conferencing with team members and other urgencies. Force moved by you and asked if you’re OK.

You smiled and said sure. You waited. And you watched.

You watched Force stop everything and go to his fans at the ropes. He autographed and posed for photographs and he mixed with fans like motor oil on a precision piston. You watched this three times as Force judged the crowd size and fed the dedicated with his swift Sharpie autographs. All while you waited.

You’re a reporter you know reporting is always about the right moment.

And then like silent thunder, Force approached you and invited you into his coach. You felt lightning within. He sat at his table. You sat across from him again.

Another top speed media event happened mostly because – you waited.

We proudly bring you the “King of Wins” and all you have to do is take a seat beside me while Force pleased his fans with energetic words.

John Force. Unplugged again. The wait is over.

“Do it because you love the dream.”

Time: Early Season 2005
Place: Gainesville Raceway
Event: Gatornationals

Dwight asked John Force:

“A good team ticks, bottom line with organization, camaraderie. You’ve got to have the money to make it work that’s why all the sponsors like Castro, Ford and AAA and Syntec and all these people. But you’ve got to have the people. I have a brain trust, Austin Coil, Bernie Federly, John Medlen and Jimmy Proch. These guys make it happen. It’s really camaraderie amongst them like any good team whether it’s football, basketball, NASCAR, the team’s gotta jell with the right equipment and make it win.”

“I tried frowning and that didn’t help. Just like the country western song, live every day like it’s your last day. Enjoy it. That’s the mistake that we make in life. Like I got a new grandbaby and it’s just brought a sparkle to me that you wouldn’t believe, Autumn Danielle. My oldest daughter Adrian and my son-in-law Robert Hight who drives the AAA Mustang. It’s just a new feeling.”

“Watching Eric drive the Funny Car, and Robert and watching my daughter Ashley out there it’s just a great feeling. It’s whole new spark and why wouldn’t a man smile.

“POWERade! POWERade! And good old Starbucks coffee. I think energy comes from just a love of life. A love that I’m able to do what I love to do and that’s drive these fuel Funny Cars – race on the NHRA POWERade circuit. For my kids, I left them behind for so many years. This is my 30th year racing. Now my kids are out here racing. Courtney and Brittany will be out later in the year in Supercomp. My energy has just begun to happen. I want to stay healthy. I try to keep myself healthy. I’ve cut my weight down. I’m down 25 pounds and have been for two years. I’m going to try to not ever put it back on if I can help it.

“It means a lot. I just did an interview talking about NHRA POWERade drag racing on a radio show live and NASCAR, the issue came up. I love those guys, Kyle Petty, Earnhardt Jr, Rusty Wallace, Gordon, Jarrett and all of them. I knew Earnhardt senior.

“My daughter was just with Ford back east for a golf tournament. Ashley said, ‘I met Dale Jarrett and it was totally cool. Like he talked to me.’ I said why wouldn’t he? We’re all racers doing the same job. It’s really exciting to a kid to meet someone that won a NASCAR championship. Just the fact that they recognize me, I’m excited.

“They do what we do. I’ve never done that or tried that and don’t know how to do it. And maybe they’ve never done what I’ve done. I think it’s just respect. They can go home and watch us on ESPN and we can go home and watch them. They have great coverage. NASCAR is huge and we’re proud of them. We bow down to our big brothers, but we’re chasing you big brother. We love ya. We just want to be just like ya.”

“A kid starting out you really need to look depending on what category, but No.1 if your starting at the bottom of the ranks or any ranks. Wear your helmet. Make sure your car and your equipment is safe and that you have good health. Always put on a seatbelt. If you’re out here never take your seatbelts off at the end of the run. I lost a friend like that years ago. He ended up crashing. The seat belt would have done the job, but he thought the run was over. And then something went bad.”

“Mainly if you’re starting out, stay in school. Get an education. The computer age is taking over the technology as it is worldwide. Austin Coil and my own people went back and studied computers to stay up on the technology. Get an education because whether you want to drive or crew chief, whatever, or be on the marketing side. An education can help you get there. Everyone is looking for the best talent in all directions in all facets. You need to have that talent. A college and a high school education will help you get there.

“Then naturally if you’re going to do it, love it, focus it. Don’t do it about money. Don’t do it about just chasing a championship. Do it because you love the dream, and you’ll make it. I’ve proved that. It took me 15 years. I was terrible. I just wanted to chase Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein and Tom McCune all over the country. Getting whipped every week. And now I’m winning a few races so I’m pretty excited.”