"YOU OK?"

As told to Zoomster
© 2002 Dwight Drum

Photo by Gary Larsen. (Use by the NHRA, SME & Winston, and John Force Racing granted.)

Photos by Gary Larsen and Dwight Drum
Story by Dwight Drum

We've been fortunate to interview John Force three times and although that doesn't make us champions, it does make us three-time winners. When catching Force for an interview, patience and waiting are absolutes. It has benefits. Watching Force and his team prepare three Funny Cars for the next round outside his coach within his racing compound is more treat than tedium.

At a recent NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event Force swept by us in a rush between the trailers of his drivers Tony Pedregon and Gary Densham, then halted briefly by me. "I've got to work," Force said. "You okay?" Through a big smile I said, "Yes, John. We could wait all day."

We couldn't be more comfortable any where. Seated behind Force's ropes under a canopy with ceiling fans and many amenities is the realization of our greatest goal. A while later John returned and stepped up to the door of his bus, smiling.
"You still want to do this?"
(Like we would say no, right?)
"Sure!" I said.

Inside Force's luxurious coach, we prepared for the interview and Force mentioned that he is now trying to give shorter answers to the media. Whatever his tack, we love all his words: many or few. Join us for swift answers from one of the fastest humans on the planet.

"Knowing that the run before you ran right on the national record, and your crew chief stepped it up and you know (the car) is going. That couple of seconds when you try to reach the win light without it nosing over. When you know it made it and pretty much you steal it."

"It bothers my doctor, but you have to be up for the fight."

"I have been trained to do this. If there's any nervousness it's right before the first round, because once you are in the battle it's just like a guy in a military. Once you jump in the fight, you're in the fight."

"One of my biggest fears is not being able to do what I love to do, and that's race. My No.1 fear always is my children. Their safety is always most important. Also, that my health stays good so I can continue to drive."

"When my crew chiefs tell me that I fixed the car at half track; like getting through a "peddle". It was a driver's race and that's a real compliment that you, the driver, saved it."

"The patience of Bernie Fedderly. The genius of Austin Coil, and Rockefeller's gift to raise cash. I was speaking of Kenny Bernstein and corporate America."

"I've never really been a good boss, so authority is not my gig. Freedom is what all Americans fight for and freedom of speech is really my way of life. Does that answer the question?" (A most affirmative response from the interviewer)

"I had to mature as a driver and drive with a great coach Austin Coil. Learning to work under pressure is important. We've always been under pressure, but learning how to cope with it takes time. Growing as a champion with win numbers on the big board includes learning how to never totally believe what the media writes about you. Know your place. Your record is only good for that day. Everything starts all over again the next day. Does not make sense? Don't believe your own bull. Half the stuff the media writes, you told them."

"I like the camaraderie: from the fans, to the teammates, to the business."

"As your team is growing it gets tougher to keep the peace. You have to keep a balance. Sometimes what one person thinks doesn't balance with the other five. Some days you get it right. Some days you don't."

"I ask them to have a work ethic. Don't work here because I pay you, work because you love it and you give me an eight hour day. They give me 16, 24 sometimes. All I ask of an employee is do it because you love it. Put your heart in it. If you don't love it any more, don't do it. Don't do it for a paycheck. The hours they work out here, it's not worth a paycheck."

"Ninety-nine (laughs). I sat in the car before the race with Coil and they joked that I was sick. We are motivated to fight the fight. You have to go in with butterflies. You always feel sick going to a final. It's kind of the way we have learned to race. My daughter told me she was so nervous for her first big race in Las Vegas that she couldn't hold on to the brake handle. I told her it was normal, that if you have that fear, then you have the respect and that means you want it so bad that it frightens you. If you can learn to control that fear then you will be good. Always carry that fear with you. I believe every fighter that goes into the ring has those butterflies. If you don't go into a fight confident but with the fear of losing, that is the adrenaline that God gives us to fight the fight. If a saber-tooth tiger is chasing me, the body can run a lot faster than if it wasn't chasing me. You have to learn to control that and that will give you the energy to win. That's how we fought it for years. Coil always says, control the fear, blank it out of your mind and go in there and beat your opponent."

"I want to thank all the fans and for all their support. We race not just for the money but for the heart. We love doing it for them, and we'll continue to work, pushing these Castrol, Syntec, AAA Ford Mustangs. On behalf of Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, John Medlen, Jimmy Prock, Gary Densham and Tony Pedregon: God bless you and see you in the winner's circle."

As we were leaving the Force compound, John Force was watching the preparation on his Funny Car when I briefly thanked him for his hospitality and time. I also shook his hand.

"Your drivers are great," I said. "Your team is great. But you're the greatest."

Force smiled.