JOHN FORCE TAKES WIN IN SONOMA, GETS BACK IN NHRA POINTS RACE

Source: John Cardinale
Date: 07/29/2007

SONOMA, California -- Legendary driver John Force officially jumped back into the championship hunt on Sunday at Infineon Raceway, winning the Funny Car title at the 20th annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.

Force (Castrol GTX Mustang), who has won an NHRA-record 14 Funny Car championships, edged Del Worsham (Checker Schuck's Kragen) in the finals with a run of 4.831 seconds (320.58 mph). Worsham clocked a 4.851 (314.68). It was Force's seventh career Funny Car win in Sonoma, also a track record.

Other winners on Sunday included Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Six track records were broken over the weekend, including elapsed time for Pro Stock Motorcycle on Sunday.

It was also an emotional win for Force, who defeated his daughter, Ashley, in the first round of eliminations. Moreover, the late Eric Medlen, who drove for John Force Racing, was the 2006 Funny Car winner at Infineon Raceway. Medlen, a native of nearby Oakdale in Stanislaus County, succumbed in March to injuries sustained from an accident during a test session at Gainesville (Fla.). He was 33.

"Eric Medlen was like my kid, my son. This was a race he won (last year) and I remember him eating ice cream and being so happy to be here," said Force, who posted the second win of the year and 124th of his career. "At the driver's meeting this morning I said to Robert (Hight) and Ashley (Force) that one of us has to go out and win this for Eric. I got a win for John (Medlen, Eric's father) at Bristol and today this win was for his mom, Mimi, and the whole town of Oakdale. The support we had this weekend from his family and fans was unbelievable."

Just four weeks ago, Force was 15th in points. He now finds himself seventh as the NHRA nears its Countdown for the Championship, which begins in Indianapolis, Aug. 29-Sept. 3. Force has won two of the last four events.

Schumacher (U.S. Army) posted his first-career win in the Sonoma Valley in four tries with a pass of 4.534 (329.42) in the finals to defeat Bob Vandergriff (UPS) at 4.597 (305.84). Vandergriff is now winless in 10 finals appearances for his career.

For Schumacher, it was his fourth win of the year and the 39th of his career. It culminated a strong weekend as he also qualified first. His elapsed time and speed in the finals were both the best of the weekend.

"Once (crew chief Alan Johnson) has a handle on it, he's tough to beat," Schumacher said. "The car was making power all day long. Bob gave us a great race and this was the 10th final of his career so I knew he wouldn't lay over. His car ran fantastic. … we just had to be prepared. It was a great day."

Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac) won in Pro Stock with a pass of 6.657 (207.72) over teammate Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac), who ran a 6.688 (204.08). It was Anderson's 50th career victory and the seventh of the season. He is 7-0 in his final-round appearances this year. Anderson maintained his perch atop the Pro Stock points standings with the win.

Smith will leave the Sonoma Valley still atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings after notching his third win of the year with a pass of 6.992 (189.10) to defeat Ed Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson). Krawiec clocked a 7.090 (190.16).

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