NHRA Northwest | John Force confident he can win at 60

KENT — The face of drag racing has a few more miles on it, but make no mistake he is still an indomitable Force.

John Force turned 60 in May, but his energy is still unrelenting and infectious. Forget his eighth-place standing in the Funny Car points race heading into today's NHRA Northwest at Pacific Raceways in Kent. Force still believes he can, and undoubtedly will, win again.

And Force isn't only talking about extending his streak of winning at least one event in 22 consecutive seasons; he still thinks he can add to his 14 world titles.

"We're not where we want to be right now, but trust me, we're not far off," Force said. "I'm still confident I can win the championship. I'm not that far behind."

Force still speaks as fast as he drives, with the many detours in sharp contrast to the straight line he prefers to take down the racetrack. Wade through it all and Force believes he will turn the longest slump of his career into a winning streak.

Force is qualified fifth among the 16 Funny Cars in today's elimination finals and will race Del Worsham in today's opening round.

It has been 28 races since Force has won an event or even made it to the final. Last year, he didn't even qualify here on a track where he has won seven times, the last in 2004.

"I'm going to win again because my car and I and my guys can win as a team," Force said. "I'm no miracle worker that I can just make it happen. We're going to make it happen as a team."

Force would like to do it for crew chief Austin Coil, who has been with him for 25 years.

After a serious accident in Dallas in 2007, Force works out at least six times a week and the beer in his refrigerator is there only for his crew. His right knee routinely swells and he has seven pins holding his left leg together. "I couldn't feel better, I have no excuses," Force said. "I've named this the No Excuse Tour."

Force is especially busy this weekend with four Force Funny Cars in competition (with drivers Ashley Force Hood, his oldest daughter, Robert Hight and Mike Neff) and daughters Brittany Force, 23, and Courtney Force, 21, competing in alcohol dragsters.

Pedregon tops

Funny Car qualifier

Tony Pedregon was the fastest Funny Car qualifier on both Friday and Saturday.

"We were great in qualifying and now we need to be great on Sunday," Pedregon said. "My goal is to get to the final and then readjust after that. I would be disappointed with anything less than winning the race."

Ron Capps leads Force Hood in the season's points race 999-998.

Capps will meet Cruz Pedregon in the first round, while Force Hood goes against Gary Densham.

Schumacher puts streak on the line

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein will meet for the fourth straight year.

The last three years, Schumacher won the race by beating Bernstein in the final. In 2005, Bernstein won the title by beating Schumacher in the final.

This year they will meet in the opening round.

Larry Dixon was the fastest Top Fuel qualifier with an elapsed time of 3.891 and top speed of 302.21 mph. He will race against Joe Hartley of Portland, who made the field only because there are only 16 Top Fuel cars here. Hartley's top speed in qualifying was 39.11 mph.

"It's not a bye run," Dixon said. "I've lost to Joe Hartley this year."

Notes

• Allen Johnson leads the Pro Stock qualifiers with track records for elapsed time (6.571) and speed (210.21 mph). Johnson has been to the last three finals at Pacific Raceways and won in 2006.

"Our entire team feels as good as we have ever felt in our racing career," Johnson said.

• Today's final elimination runs for the three pro categories begins at 11 a.m.