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100 DAYS OUT: A LOOK AT MEMORABLE CHICAGO MOMENTS AS NHRA RETURNS TO ROUTE 66 RACEWAY

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since 2019, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will be racing at Route 66 Raceway, with the 23rd annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance set to take place May 19-21.

With 100 days remaining before the NHRA stars return to deliver non-stop, 330-mph excitement at the fan-favorite facility, here’s a look at some of the record-breaking runs, historical performances and memorable moments that have taken place at Route 66 Raceway since the track opened in 1998.

FORCE MAKES HISTORY: It was 2000 and John Force was on the cusp of history. He rolled into Chicago tied with Bob Glidden for career victories (85) and in the midst of his dominant Funny Car championship run. He thrilled the Chicago fans that day, knocking off Jerry Toliver in a great side-by-side race in the final round, giving the legendary Force his 86th win. He’s now at 155 victories and 16 world titles and when the iconic driver returns to Chicago in 2023, he’ll be seeking his fourth victory at his sponsor’s race.

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PEAK PERFORMANCE NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS, OLD WORLD INDUSTRIES EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH NHRA

INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA officials announced today that Old World Industries (OWI), the parent company of PEAK and BlueDEF and one of the largest privately held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket, has been named the presenting sponsor of the Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance, which takes place May 19-21 at Chicago’s Route 66 Raceway.

OWI and NHRA have also entered into a multiyear agreement to extend its decade-long partnership with PEAK continuing as the Official Antifreeze of the NHRA and BlueDEF as the Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid of the NHRA.

After a three-year hiatus, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will make its highly-anticipated return to Chicago for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance. The fan-favorite event has seen countless historic NHRA moments over the years and the 2023 race promises to once again deliver action-packed, 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph excitement in NHRA’s return to Chicago and Route 66 Raceway.

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JOHN FORCE EAGER FOR VICTORY AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

CONCORD, NC — John Force and the PEAK Coolant Motor Oil BlueDef Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car team are gearing up for the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the sixth event on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Season schedule, motivated to keep up their performance.

Force and the PEAK Chevy Camaro team came out of the recent event in Houston with one thing on their mind, win 150. After a weekend of high-performance they’ve shown they’re well on their way. It was an eventful weekend for the racing veteran. The 16-time Funny Car world champion laid a series of consistent passes including his quickest of the season, 3.858-seconds, and qualified in the top spot alongside daughter Brittany Force to make history as the first parent-child duo to secure No. 1s in their respective categories.

Although he fell short in the semifinals once again to Robert Hight, whom he’s ended race day against four out of the five events this season, he was able to celebrate as a team owner with both Hight and Brittany in the winner’s circle. Sitting fourth in the points standings after three semifinal appearances, two second round finishes and a No. 1 qualifier, Force is confident his team will get the historic 150th victory.

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BRITTANY FORCE MAINTAINS NO. 3 SPOT HEADING INTO ELIMINATIONS AT THE DENSO SPARK PLUGS FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

LAS VEGAS — Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts team held onto the No. 3 qualifying position Saturday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Her teammates, Robert Hight who is No. 9, John Force who is No. 6 and Austin Prock now No. 12 all made steady performance improvements through two days at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts team are qualified No. 3 off the efforts of their first qualifying pass of 3.733-seconds at 322.88 mph from Friday afternoon. Starting off Saturday qualifying, the Advance Auto Parts team ran into trouble on the burnout and weren’t able to reverse back to the starting line and had to coast to the finish. The run would have only been half-track after the team found and fixed a problem from Friday. For her final qualifying try, Force shut off early but crossed the line for a 3.742-second pass 297.29 mph.

“We’re the No. 3 qualifier but we had a few ups and downs. Its better that things happen during qualifying and not on race day. We lost that third round because of a reverser cable. That was unfortunate but we all learned from it and we’re all moving on going into race day,” said Force. “I’m excited to be out here at the DENSO Four-Wide. This Advance Auto Parts team, we’re looking for our first win together so hoping to get the job done tomorrow.”

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JOHN FORCE WITH PEAK AND BLUEDEF EAGER TO GET TO THE DENSO SPARK PLUGS NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

LAS VEGAS — Funny Car legend John Force and his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil team are gearing up and looking to continue their progress when they get to the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, the first four-wide race of the 2019 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Force is in pursuit of a historic 150th NHRA victory and it seems only one thing is standing in his way, John Force Racing President, Robert Hight. Force has made two semifinal appearances, first at the Winternationals and most recently at the 50th anniversary Gatornationals, and had a quarterfinal exit thus far in 2019. Each of his round losses have been handed to him by Hight and the Auto Club team. The solid performances have Force confident in his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car team as they head to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway fourth in the points standings.

“Each race we’re getting this thing closer and closer to where it needs to be. Its moving fast so now we just need to go more rounds and get to the final,” said Force. “The PEAK guys have been putting in a lot of hard work and I know it will pay off soon, maybe at The Strip. Win 150 is around the corner for us.”

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ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CHEVY KEEP POINTS LEAD COMING OUT OF NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS

CHANDLER, AZ — Robert Hight and the Auto Club of Southern California team maintain the points lead with a semifinal finish Sunday at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park outside of Phoenix. Hight defeated John Force in the second round and in Top Fuel, Austin Prock had a second-round finish and Brittany Force had an early Sunday with a first round exit.

In round one, Hight ran a 3.863-second pass at 329.67 mph uncontested after his would-be opponent, Jeff Diehl, had to push back from the starting line. The win set Hight up to race against team owner John Force in the second round.

The Auto Club Camaro crossed the finish line first with a 3.879-second pass at 327.82 mph to defeat Force’s 3.988 at 325.92. Hight and Force also met each other in the semifinals of the NHRA Winternationals where Hight went on to win the event. Hight has now beaten Force four straight times, equaling the longest winning streak by either driver during their rivalry.

In the semifinals, Hight lined up with reigning Funny Car world champion J.R. Todd whom he battled with for the championship until the last day of the 2018 season. Hight ran a 3.922-second pass at 326.24 mph but was outrun by Todd’s 3.919 at 327.19.

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JOHN FORCE EYES 150th CAREER VICTORY IN EVENT HE HAS WON MORE THAN ANY OTHER

BRAINERD, MN — If John Force is to win his 150th NHRA event before the end of his 42nd pro season, his best opportunity may come this weekend when he drives the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS in pursuit of the Funny Car championship at the 37th annual Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

At no other venue has the Hall of Fame owner/driver been more successful than at BIR where he has won 11 times in 32 career appearances, where he never has failed to make the starting field and where he has won 78.3 percent of the elimination rounds in which he has been involved (76 of 97).

Coming off a final round triumph over teammate Robert Hight in last week’s independently-produced Night Under Fire at Norwalk, Ohio, the 69-year-old’s confidence is steadily growing as he battles to secure one of the 10 Funny Car starting spots in the upcoming Countdown to the Championship.

Despite early season issues that included a rare DNQ (only his 22nd such misstep in 751 career races), Force rolls into Minnesota in eighth place in points with only the Labor Day Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals remaining before the NHRA confirms those who are championship eligible and adjusts the points accordingly.

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COURTNEY FORCE TAKES ADVANCE AUTO PARTS TO FINAL ROUND AT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, WA — Courtney Force and the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS team raced to their career best sixth final round of the season Sunday at the CatSpot NHRA Northwest Nationals ending the day with their second runner-up finish. Robert Hight made a quarterfinal finish and John Force and Brittany Force ended their racing early in the first round at Pacific Raceways outside of Seattle.

Entering race day as the No. 3 qualifier, Courtney Force powered her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro past familiar foe Jim Campbell in the first round of eliminations. Both Force and Campbell left the starting line early but Force’s light of -.015 compared to Campbell’s -.296 allowed her to move on to the second round while he earned the red-light.

The second-round match-up of Force and Shawn Langdon was one of the closest of the day. Force came from behind to run 4.023-seconds at 322.11 mph, chasing down Langdon’s 4.036 at 318.02.

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ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB LAND NO. 2 POSITION AT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, WA — Two-time and reigning world champion Robert Hight maintained his No. 2 qualifying position at the 31st annual CatSpot NHRA Northwest Nationals Saturday at Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle. Courtney Force held onto her No. 3 position and John Force muscled his way into the No. 10 spot. In Top Fuel, Brittany Force will start race day from the No. 8 position.

Robert Hight will begin his NHRA Northwest Nationals championship defense from the No. 2 position after racing to a 3.919-second pass at 327.82 mph on Friday evening. Saturday, Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car had a solid 4.010-second pass and smoked the tires to run 6.346-seconds but with good early numbers, a good sign as they head into similar weather conditions on race day.

“You know, we pushed it pretty hard tonight. We were trying to run 3.95 this evening and it probably just wasn’t going to happen under those conditions. The numbers looked good early on but we had one good run today and, after tonight, we also know where our limits are for tomorrow,” Hight explained. “I’m excited. We have a tough competitor with Gary Densham. He’s one of the guys that taught me how to do this back when he was at JFR. Always have to be ready for him, but I really like our chances of repeating at this race.”

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