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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Drag racing legend John Force sat down with TopSports.news for an extended interview Saturday before going on to win the Funny Car title Sunday in the Menards NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. Force notched the 154th national event win of his career en route to taking over the Funny Car points lead.
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Even though he knows it was the right decision, drag racing's GOAT, John Force, said that sitting out all but two races of the 2020 NHRA season due to COVID-19 was one of the toughest things he's ever done.
But the 16-time Funny Car world champion and 21-time championship owner, is back in his happy place, racing and winning in the Camping World Drag Racing Series.
"I had to park it for a number of reasons and it hurt me more or as much as anybody not being able to race, because that's what makes me go,'' Force told TopSports.news. "I'm so happy just to come in to Topeka and people go, "Wow, your personality changes.' ''
At 72 years old, 16-time world champion Funny Car driver John Force is still one of racing's best. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Force's return to Topeka for the first time since 2019 was delayed by inclement weather that forced him to spend a nearly-sleepless Thursday night in Tulsa, Okla., but compared to what the world has gone through while fighting through the COVID-19 pandemic, Force said that was just a minor inconvenience.
"I spent the night in Tulsa, we all got stuck there, but that's where my mom was born so I got to see a little bit of the town,'' said Force, who arrived at HMP Friday in plenty of time for the first round of qualifying. "As tired as I was Friday night, two hours sleep, when I got in that car I was young again. I came alive.''
The 72-year-old Force admits that part of his life was missing when he was out of racing a year ago.
"I do it because I love it and it was gut-wrenching,'' Force said. "There were nights I stayed up and I sat in front of the TV and I cried. I just sat there and said, "They're out there and doing it. How can they do it and I can't?' Now they only ran 10 races, but if I would have kept all my people on I would have went under.
"At the end of the day it was hard on me and I don't want to get in to being corny, but I had to sit down and have mental talks. I had to go to the church. I had to go sit down and say, 'This ain't working here, somebody talk to me.' It's just a matter of you've got to find yourself in any kind of a crisis and that's what I had to do.''
Normally Force is wrapped up in racing 24/7, but took advantage of the time off to spend more time with his family, including his four grandchildren.
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Troy Coughlin Jr. was the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier for Sunday's eliminations in the Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by NHRA]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The name Coughlin and Pro Stock are almost synonymous, with the family carving out a long legacy of success in the NHRA division.
Jeg Coughlin Sr. began competing in the class shortly after Pro Stock became an NHRA class followed by sons Troy Coughlin Sr. and Jeg Coughlin Jr., who five world titles and 65 races.
Now Troy Coughlin Jr.is well on his way to creating his own identity in the sport in his first full season, including earning the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifying spot Saturday in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"It's an absolute honor to be here and to have this name,'' Coughlin Jr. said. "It's just normal to be in Pro Stock. My dad won this race when I was in the sixth grade in 2002 and I remember how exciting that was and how excited I was, so it's really cool to say that we've got this feather in our cap.''
Troy Coughlin Jr. [NHRA]
Coughlin finished off a banner day with a run of 6.600 seconds at 205.07 miles per hour in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro.
"It's a big testament to the Elite (Motorsports) guys and the JEGS guys,'' Coughlin said. "They're working hard and they're making great choices and giving me a great car to drive.''
Coughlin had claimed the top spot in Saturday's first qualifying session, but then had to take it back from four-time champion and current points leader Greg Anderson on the final run of the final session.
Coughlin will take on Cristian Cuadra to open eliminations (11 a.m. start) as Coughlin tries to follow up his No. 1 qualifier with his first Pro Stock win.
“The guys in the yellow and black, and the Elite group are excellent in what they do,” Coughlin said. “They know the cars, the track and the conditions we’re up against, and it’s going to be an excellent Sunday, so let’s go racing.”
Anderson just missed out on qualifying No. 1 for the ninth time in 10 Pro Stock races this season, finishing second with a 6.606 at 206.67 m.p.h.
Defending world champ Erica Enders made a pair of good runs on Saturday, qualifying third with a 6.612 at 207.18.
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kalitta Racing has enjoyed a remarkable run of success at Heartland Motorsports Park, dating back to the late Scott Kalitta's six Topeka wins.
J.R. Todd continued that dominance Saturday, wrapping up the No. 1 qualifying spot in Funny Car for Sunday's elminations in the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.
"It's definitely Scott Kalitta country, so hopefully we can work some of that magic in his car tomorrow,'' Todd said. "I feel like Scott doesn't get enough credit for everything he did. They dominated this place back in the '90s. He was one of my heroes as a kid and I'm pretty lucky to be driving his hot rod now.
"Looking at the track history from year's past, pretty much all the (Kalitta) cars have won here or really been successful, so hopefully I can add my name to that list. That would be pretty cool.''
J.R. Todd (right) drove his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car to the No. 1 qualifying spot in the Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Todd, a former Funny Car world champ, earned his second No. 1 of the season with his Friday night run of 3.884 seconds at 332.67 miles per hour in his DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car and will receive a bye in the first round of Sunday's eliminations (11 a.m.).
“You want to get every point you can, but the bigger picture is coming out of here with a trophy tomorrow,” Todd said after his qualifying effort. “We were the No. 1 qualifier and that’s nice and all, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot if you don’t finish the deal. Hats off to this team for digging deep and putting us on the pole and giving us those added points going into tomorrow.
"We’re going to have to work for it if we want it, and we definitely want it. We want to be in the hunt and I think we’ll be right there.”
Alexis DeJoria remained in the second position on the strength of her 3.894 from Friday, while Bob Tasca III also had his run from Friday hold up. He qualified third with a run of 3.905 at 328.86.
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being parked the bulk of the 2020 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series due to COVID-19, former Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force has returned with a very solid '21 campaign.
On Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park Force will be looking to take the next step and parlay Saturday's No. 1 qualifying effort, her fourth straight, into her first victory of the year in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"We've come close a few times,'' Force said. "We have a number of No. 1 qualifiers (six on the season), but the ultimate goal is wins and championships so we're hoping to do it here this weekend at Topeka and I'm just really proud of this Montster Energy team. We've put a lot of hard work in so we're looking to get to that next step and into the winner's circle.''
"I've never won here. Courtney (Force) won here and I've had two No. 1 qualifiers, not a win though, so we're looking to do it this year.''
Top Fuel star Brittany Force took over the No. 1 qualifying spot for Sunday's eliminations in the Menards NHRA Nationals in Saturday's final qualifying session. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Force was sitting in the No. 2 spot after the first two rounds of Top Fuel qualifying behind Billy Torrence and moved into the No. 1 spot in the final round of qualifying when she clicked off a run of 3.716 seconds at 329.02 miles per hour.
Force will face veteran Scott Palmer in the first round of Sunday's eliminations (11 a.m.)
Billy Torrence ended up No. 2 in qualifying while Mike Salinas, Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley rounded out the top five.
Brittany Force, the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel, signs autographs for fans Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Force is happy with the way her Monster Energy car has performed all season and is now looking to use the next couple of races to get ready for the Countdown to the Championship.
"I think we're off to a great start right now,'' Force said. "We're currently sitting three in points, which is a great spot to be. Our plan going into the Countdown was we wanted to be top three and right now that's where we're at.
"We still want to move up, we're looking for our first win of the season, but overall, especially after taking a step back last year, we came back stronger than ever. We've had a few mishaps here and there which is the reason we didn't advance to the next round and we're making sure we clean up those mishaps, those mistakes before getting into the Countdown when it really matters -- every point, every point, everything matters. We're definitely inching our way closer.''
Force said she making sure to savor every moment this season after being forced to live without drag racing in '20.
"It made realize just how much I love my job,'' Force said. "I knew I already loved it, but taking a year away from it made me realize how much I missed it, how much I wanted to be back with my team, at a dragstrip, doing what I love.''
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
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Four-time champion Greg Anderson is a win away from tying Warren Johnson for the most national event wins in NHRA Pro Stock history. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
You don't have to remind 60-year-old NHRA Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson how old he is or that many of his racing contemporaries stepped out of the driver's seat long ago.
But the bottom line is that Anderson, one win away from trying the record for the most Pro Stock victories in NHRA history, will continue to race as long as he's competitive.
"It's funny because once in a while I realize how old I am, but most of the time I forget about it because I'm out here doing what I love to do and I'm having fun at it and I'm still able to race and win, so I don't feel like my age,'' said Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock champ and a winner of 96 national events. "If I didn't have this racing occupation right now and be able to be out here, then I'd probably feel my age, but I don't because I'm out here and I'm out here competing. I'm lucky.
"I've said it a million times, but I'm going to get out of this game when I can't win anymore. When I get to the point where I just physically can't win anymore, I'm getting out. I'll get out of the seat and I'll do something else. I'll still work on them and I'll still be around it and build engines and cars and things, but I won't drive them anymore.
"I won't stay past my time, but the cool thing is I don't think I'm past my time yet. I think I'm still able to win, I'm still able to hang with these young cats out here so as long as I can do that I'm going to stay out here. I don't know if that's six days or six years, I honestly don't know. I'm just going to ride the train as long as I can.''
NHRA Pro Stock star Greg Anderson visits with fans Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Anderson, driver of the Hendrick Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro for KB Racing, entered this weekend as the Pro Stock points leader by 126 points, but said that nothing has come easy.
"It's kind of cool to look around and see all these young whipper-snappers,'' Anderson said. "They come out here and they race and they have zero fear. They could care less who I am or how many races I've won or whatever. They could actually care less.
"They just want to go kick my ass, and it's as simple as that. It's cool to see and it definitely makes it harder to win, but that's what's making the class better right now. It's what is making the sport great, so I'm happy to still be a part of it.''
While Anderson is chasing his fifth world title, he's also chasing drag racing history, with his next victory tying him with his former boss and mentor, Warren Johnson (97 victories), for the No. 1 spot on Pro Stock's all-time win list.
Anderson said he's tried to concentrate on what he needs to do in his car to win and not on what that win would mean.
"The main reason I come to these races is to win a race,'' Anderson said. "That's me, that's what I love to do, that's what I get the enjoyment out of, regardless of what number it is and how many it is. I'm all about the immediate and the immediate is to win the next race. That's why I come.
"Obviously to win that many races means you have had a long, successful career. You weren't just a flash in the pan. You just didn't have a good year or two. I've had a lot of great years in a row, so I'm very proud of that, but I'd rather not think about that number until I'm retired. If it's 97 or if it's 120, then I'll think about what that number means I guess.''
But Anderson also can't ignore the fact that the driver he's chasing is someone he helped win three Pro Stock championships as a crew chief before switching to the driver's seat in 1998.
"Does it mean more that it's WJ? Absolutely,'' Anderson said. "I spent 12 years with him and I learned so much from him. I went through his college for 12 years. It was great years and I would not be where I'm at if it wasn't for that.
"That was a great learning experience for me. It was a great college, it's as simple as that. It was WJ University and I think learned a ton and I would not have anything I have right now, all these wins and this Pro Stock race team, if it wasn't for that experience and if it wasn't for things he did for me. My hat's off to him and that would make it more special to break his record.''
