POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2022) – Starting his 47th year on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour, John Force, the 16-time champion and 154 event-winner, has nothing left to prove, except that he still loves it. Force and his PEAK / BlueDEF PLATINUM Chevrolet Camaro SS team enter the season opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals after surging to three wins and a fifth-place finish in 2021, a position they intend to improve on in 2022.
At pre-season testing outside of Phoenix, Force led his four-car team with a series of four back-to-back runs in the 3.8s over the final two days of testing. The Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi tuned PEAK BlueDEF team laid down a 3.889-second pass at 321.88 mph on Friday followed by a 3.888 at 327.51. The momentum continued into Saturday with an impressive 3.836 at 335.4 Saturday morning and, in the heat of the day, a 3.890 at 326.16 to close out their test session.
“It was great being back out at testing. Back with that PEAK BlueDEF team and Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisis. It has me excited for this season,” said Force. ‘We ran really well, consistent and that’s what we’re looking for with this Chevy hotrod. I’m feeling like everything is getting figured. Great to have Austin Prock back with Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist, Brittany looks good with Monster and Flav-R-Pac, Robert with Auto Club and bringing on Powers Solar. I just can’t wait to race. It’s why I’m here. I just love it.”
Coming to a racetrack where no one has won more races than him, Force has every reason to be excited. Force has raised the trophy 16 times overall on the track he calls home, seven times in the Winternationals (1991, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2010, 2012 and 2014), eight times in the Auto Club Finals and once in a special event, the NHRA’s 50th Anniversary race contested in 2001. His record at the Winternationals also includes four runner-up finishes, the most recent in 2020, and 10 No. 1 qualifiers. The only event in which he has more No. 1 starts is the U.S. Nationals (12).
“This place is home. It’s my history. I grew up here,” Force said. “I love racing at Auto Club Raceway. We get things started here and then we wrap them up here. We haven’t had a chance to do that the last couple years so this feels good, feels normal. I’m excited. I’m looking to get this PEAK BlueDEF Chevrolet in the winners circle, get the season started off right.”
Qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona begin Friday with a session at 4:30 p.m. before continuing Saturday with sessions at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated to start Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the season opening event will be aired on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and begin with two qualifying shows, Friday at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday at 7 a.m. ET, while eliminations will be on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
