Funny Car racer John Force was feeling spry Saturday afternoon in Sonoma, Ca.
The 16-time NHRA champion drove his way into a winner's circle at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals which included J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Force, 67, and the NHRA's winningest professional drag racer, captured career win No. 145 by stopping Ron Capps in the final round at Sonoma Raceway, the second of three stops for the grueling NHRA Western Swing.
“The love of beating the competition, and the cheer of the crowd motivates me when I don’t feel so young,” said Force, who won last weekend in Denver. “It might sound corny, but it is what is it is. To be able to stand up tall and proud when they have whipped me the last few years … I’m used to winning 10 straight and being in the hunt every year.
“Not only do I have to fight my own cars but I have to fight the likes of the Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Tommy Johnson and Matt Hagan. That’s a lot of big money over there [at DSR]. Del Worsham is running unbelievable. Tim Wilkerson, on a budget, and can still run with the best. Cruz [Pedregon] is off a little, but he will be back there.
“I know every time I have to turn on that switch and go after these kids. There’s a lot of work to do just to stay in the game. I can run with them now.”
Todd, who lost the closest drag race in NHRA history two months ago in Atlanta, captured his first 2016 win by ending Richie Crampton's undefeated final round streak.
Todd, who won Sonoma in his 2006 rookie season, moved into sixth place with the victory.
“It has been a long time coming for these SealMaster boys,” said Todd. “We have been to a few finals and haven’t been able to close the deal. I had all the faith and confidence in Connie Kalitta and Rob Flynn and they made the right calls all day.”
Anderson, who opened the day by getting hit in the head with a rock thrown off a tire from another car's burnout, stood in the Pro Stock winner's circle with a knot on his forehead. The Summit-sponsored driver continued an unenviable streak of winning races when he gets injured on race day.
“It hit me in the best place, my head which is like a rock,” Anderson said with a smile. “The crazy thing is anytime I’ve ever suffered an injury, I’ve gone on to win. My wife laughed as she was dabbing the blood, and reminded me, ‘every time you get hurt you win. Just saying.’”
Anderson won his seventh race of the season by beating teammate Bo Butner. He took over the Pro Stock point lead.
A former NHRA champion, Tonglet stood tall aboard his Suzuki with a large contingent of Pro Stock Motorcycle racers standing behind him as he beat Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Andrew Hines in the final round.
Hines and teammate Krawiec have accounted for six wins of the first seven races this season.
“It has been five years since we have won and to bring home the Wally after beating Andrew and Eddie back to back is just huge for our team,” said Tonglet. “We just come out here to have fun, and it wasn’t getting fun. We had to change some things up and started getting round wins, and it is just great.”
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Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
