POMONA, CA – John Force was playing for keeps today as he fired the opening salvo during day one of qualifying at the 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals from the hallowed grounds of Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. The 16-time NHRA Mello Yello World Champion is racing for another title and knows every point is critical if he’s going to get around his rival Matt Hagan. The winningest driver in NHRA history ended the day qualified in the number four spot and claimed two valuable NHRA Mello Yello Bonus Points, cutting his deficit to 19 points unofficially or one round of racing.

It was in the opening session the Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang blasted right down the groove at Auto Club Raceway and turned in a 4.015 second run at 316.60 mph. This put Force in the number two spot and he picked up two additional bonus points after the run. Force knew Hagan would step it up and therefore he rallied his team as they went to work with crew chiefs Mike Neff and John Medlen as they reviewed the run data and went to work on extracting more power from the already potent 8000 horsepower BOSS 500 engine.

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YORBA LINDA, CA  – The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello season is ready to cross the finish line as the teams roll into Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for this weekend’s 50th Annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. For John Force, it’s all or nothing, as he will be going full steam ahead in pursuing his 17th NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Championship title. When Force gets strapped into this 8000 horsepower Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang, he’ll be focused on rewriting the NHRA record books and claiming what could be his 142nd career victory, and another world title when the smoke and clutch dust clears after final eliminations this Sunday.

Force left last weekend’s NHRA Toyota Nationals in Vegas just 21 points behind current leader Matt Hagan, after suffering a final round defeat against Del Worsham.

“I want to win this championship for my partner of 29 years, Castrol, and the Ford Motor Company, who’s been with me for 11 years. They’re moving on and I’d like to bring that title home like the others. Auto Club has been with us a long time and with Traxxas, Brand Source, Mac Tools, Freightliner, and my other wonderful sponsors, I just want to win,” said John Force.

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LAS VEGAS – Two drivers from John Force Racing along with other stars of the NHRA were featured on a segment with Today Show hosts Willie Geist and Tamron Hall today. John Force and his daughter Courtney Force talked with Geist about the excitement and power of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The duo also explained to the Today Show audience how they balanced their competitive impulses with a very healthy family support network.

The segment can be seen here: http://www.today.com/video/today/56353759

The segment was filmed prior to the NHRA national event in Reading, Pennsylvania. John Force and the Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang Funny Car are currently No. 2 in the Funny Car point standing only 21 points away from first place while Courtney Force and the Traxxas backed Ford Mustang is solidly in third place.

LAS VEGAS, NV – John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, was hoping to claim his 142nd career win today at the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas but the 16-time NHRA Mello Yello champ was denied that victory in the final round against vetran Del Worsham. However, Force’s bid for an unprecedented 17th NHRA Funny Car title will not be deterred as he more determined than ever to make history. To get that title, he’ll need to make up ground in two weeks when the Castrol GTX High Mileage team rolls into Pomona, California. Force will need to go rounds and drive around current leader, Matt Hagan, who’s currently 21 points ahead of Force.

“I want to win this championship for my partner of 29 years, Castrol, and the Ford Motor Company, who’s been with me for 11 years. They’re moving on and I’d like to bring that title home like the others. Auto Club has been with a long time and with Traxxas, Brand Source, Mac Tools, Freightliner, and my other wonderful sponsors including new sponsor Peak. I just want to win,” said Force.

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LAS VEGAS, NV – Elon Werner, who directs the publicity and communications for drag racing’s biggest  star John Force and Force’s championship team, today was announced as winner of the 2014 Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.

The Chapman Award is considered by many in the industry as the highest honor in racing public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth and was named Indy Car racing’s “most influential man” of the 1980s. Chapman died in 1996 at age 80.

The announcement and presentation were made at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before Sunday’s NHRA national event by Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee, and one of Chapman’s closest friends. The award is determined by a vote of national media members, most of who knew Chapman, and is authorized by the Chapman family. PR representatives from all forms of motorsports are eligible for consideration.

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LAS VEGAS, NV – John Force may have been bumped from the No. 1 to the No. 2 position today but for the 16-time NHRA Mello Yello champ, his Castrol GTX High Mileage Funny Car ran strong and consistent and that’s what wins races and championships. Force knows he has the performance to reclaim his points lead during Sunday’s final eliminations he’s racing to what’s gearing up to be another exciting season finale. With his brain trust of experienced tuners, Force is going full throttle and chasing another world title and is giving his rival a run for the money as the 2014 NHRA Countdown to the Championship is shaping up to be a dog fight.

It was during this evening’s final qualifying session that he blasted down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a ground pounding 4.022 second run at 320.66 mph. The header flames from his 8000 horsepower BOSS 500 engine looked like roman candles while they shot up over eight fight in the Vegas night sky as his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang stampeded right down the groove. For the winningest driver in NHRA history, it was just another day at the office but for this legendary driver, his office in not a boardroom but rather, the cockpit of his Funny Car. Force was also rewarded with two NHRA Mello Yello Bonus points during the final session.

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Las Vegas, NV – John Force Racing and PEAK announce today a new agreement with its PEAK Antifreeze + Coolant and BlueDEF brands serving as a primary sponsor for John Force during the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and beyond. Under the agreement, PEAK Antifreeze + Coolant and BlueDEF will be the primary sponsor of John Force’s Funny Car for a majority in the 2015 season as well as continuing as a major associate sponsor on Robert Hight, Courtney Force, and Brittany Force’s cars.

“I’m committed to continuing to lead a championship team and PEAK has proven a similar commitment to the NHRA. Thanks to PEAK Antifreeze + Coolant, I won’t be hanging up my hat from this sport anytime soon,” said John Force, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and CEO of John Force Racing, Inc. “Not only does PEAK provide high quality automotive products for American families like mine, but they’ve proved to be a valued partner on and off the track. I’m so grateful that they’re supporting me, my team and all the fans out there who love drag racing.”

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LAS VEGAS, NV – On Halloween evening, John Force showed the race fans, and the competition, that when he’s not afraid of the competition that might impede his quest for another NHRA Mello Yello world championship. He also proved to his rival drivers that when he’s backed into a corner, he’ll come out swinging – and that’s exactly what he did today during qualifying at the NHRA Toyota Nationals. The 16-time NHRA Mello Yello champion raced the No. 1 spot with a stout 4.039 second run at 318.54 mph in his Castrol GTX High Mileage American In Made Mustang during the second session. Force blazed The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and dispelled any rumors that he may be distracted and not have his head in the game.

It was during that second qualifying run that Force was lined up with arch rival Matt Hagan and as both machines blasted off the starting line, it was Force’s Mustang outrunning Hagan (4.03 to 4.04). Force also picked up three NHRA Mello Yello Bonus points. It was an intense run that looked more like a final round battle of a championship on the line.

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LAS VEGAS, NV – Brittany Force winner of the 2013 Auto Club Road to the Future Award will race a commemorative Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie Of The Year Castrol Edge Top Fuel dragster the final two races of the season. The Top Fuel dragster was designed by Force and the in-house JFR graphic design team.

Force won the 2013 award on the strength of her season long improvement capped by a semi-final finish at the Auto Club NHRA World Finals as well as winning the fan vote earlier in the season for the 2nd annual Traxxas Shootout.

“This rookie car is as much my crews as it is mine which is why I decided to dedicate it to the entire team. I wanted something completely different but something that has meaning to me and relates to my experience as a rookie driving a Top Fuel dragster. In the beginning of my season JFR put a canopy on my car and the first time I jumped in it I immediately felt like I was in a fighter jet. That feeling is exactly where my idea was inspired from. Working with JFR graphic designer Brandon Baker we created a military jet theme for my car. The car is silver with a weathered look to it and has the entire teams names listed on the car. It definitely is bad ass and I can’t wait to race in Las Vegas!” said Force.

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