JOHN FORCE WINS TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT LOTTERY

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – John Force won the support of 63% of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout fans that voted in the NHRA sponsored Facebook contest. Today at Monument Circle lady luck smiled on the two-time Traxxas Shootout winner by popping his blue-colored ping pong ball out in front of fellow fan vote competitors Jack Beckman, Del Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, John Hale and Chad Head. Force and his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car will slide into the No. 8 position in this weekend’s Traxxas Nitro Shootout against No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps.

“These drivers I was in the lottery with are some of the baddest hot rods in the land. Cruz (Pedregon), (Jack) Beckman, (Del) Worsham and (John) Hale are all great drivers from great teams. I want to thank all the fans that voted for me but I am embarrassed. I love Traxxas, love what you do, but this isn’t how I wanted to get into the Nitro Shootout. I never gambled in my life and I don’t like to leave things to luck. I play strategy and I have to get my stuff together. I will be ready to race Capps on Sunday,” said Force immediately after the lottery.

This will be the 30th specialty race for Force who has eight previous wins including the inaugural Traxxas Shootout in 2012 and the 2014 edition of the $100,000 to win race within a race contested as part of the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

The winningest driver in NHRA history will be joined by teammate and No. 2 qualifier Courtney Force, driver of the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, as well as No. 4 qualifier Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout scheduled to be contested on Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway.

TRAXXAS NITRO FUNNY CAR SHOOTOUT

Sunday, September 4th

FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS (12:30 p.m.)

No. 1 Ron Capps vs. No. 8 John Force (fan vote)

No. 2 Courtney Force vs. No. 7 Alexis DeJoria

No. 3 Matt Hagan vs. No. 6 Tim Wilkerson

No. 4 Robert Hight vs. No. 5 Tommy Johnson Jr.

SEMIFINAL (3 p.m.)

FINAL (3:45 p.m.)

John Force’s Career History at NHRA Specialty Races

Traxxas Nitro Shootout

2015 Lost to Ron Capps

2014 Beat Tim Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria and Robert Hight

2013 Lost to Cruz Pedregon

2012 Beat Jack Beckman, Jeff Arend and Ron Capps (contested in Dallas)

US Smokeless Showdown

2008 Beat Ashley Force; lost to Tim Wilkerson

Skoal Showdown

2007 Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.

2006 Beat Tony Pedregon, Eric Medlen and Tommy Johnson Jr.

2005 Lost to Robert Hight

Big Bud Shootout

2004 Beat Phil Burkart Jr., Tony Pedregon; lost to Gary Densham

2003 Beat Ron Capps, Whit Bazemore; lost to Tony Pedregon

2002 Lost to Dean Skuza

2001 Beat Del Worsham; lost to Whit Bazemore

2000 Beat Del Worsham, Tony Pedregon and Jim Epler

1999 Lost to Del Worsham

1998 Beat Al Hofmann; lost to Cruz Pedregon

1997 Beat Del Worsham; lost to Kenji Okazaki

1996 Beat Gary Bolger, Tony Pedregon and Cruz Pedregon

1995 Beat Jim Epler; lost to Cruz Pedregon

1994 Lost to Kenji Okazak

1993 Beat Whit Bazemore, Tom Hoover and Cruz Pedregon

1992 Beat Whit Bazemore, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Al Hofmann

1991 Beat Al Hofmann, Richard Hartman; Lost to Jim White

1990 Beat K.C. Spurlock, Ed McCulloch and Bruce Larson

1989 Beat Kenny Bernstein, Mark Oswald; Lost to Don Prudhomme

1988 Lost to Ed McCulloch

1987 Beat Don Prudhomme, Billy Meyer and Mark Oswald

1986 Beat Tom McEwen, Billy Meyer; Lost to Mark Oswald

1985 Lost to Kenny Bernstein

1983 Beat Ken Veney; lost to Al Segrini