"I feel about Tony like he was one of my kids," Force said. "We've had eight years together and I've seen him grow up. I have a lot of mixed emotions about seeing him go. I would have liked for him to stay, and the door's still open for him. But at the same time, I'm proud that we were able to put him in a position, in a really tough economy, where he could go out and find his own deal."

Dickie Venables, co-crew chief with Medlen, reportedly will join Pedregon in his new operation. Medlen will continue with Force Racing for a Castrol SYNTEC team that ended the season by recording two of the three quickest quarter-mile times in Funny Car history at 4.721 and 4.722 seconds.

So that leaves more than a gigantic opportunity for some young hot shoe to inherit. It also leaves Force to make a decision who's worthy of it.

Who will be in the driver's seat next year?

Gene Wilson, the 2002 Road to the Future winner who wasn't expected back with his Mopar Pro Stock team in 2004, downplayed news that Force was interested in giving him a look. "I'm up in the air right now, and we'll see where I fall," the soon-to-be 31-year-old said.

If Castrol -- if any sponsor -- is looking for a young and promising driver, who is available? A quick look at the "young guns of the sport" comes up with Brandon Bernstein, Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, Darrell Russell. Never mind that they already are established with secure rides -- they're 31, 37, 34 and 35, respectively. Who are the up-and-coming stars?

Even the frontrunners in Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Bucky Austin, Cy Chesterman, Jay Payne et al -- are beyond the peach-fuzz stage. Would he look at hardworking, sincere strugglers such as Bob Bode, Terry Haddock or John Lawson? Would he pluck someone from Top Alcohol Dragster, such as Alan Bradshaw? It's something Force will have to figure out, both for Pedregon's vacancy and for the third Mustang in his stable. (Evidently, in the case of Gary Densham, performance and winning aren't everything -- age discrimination continues, framed in terms of "what the sponsor is looking for.")

"We haven't made any decisions yet," Force said. "We've talked to a lot of people, but we really were not in a position to do anything until Tony's situation was settled. Now we can move forward.

"Our primary goal always is to win the championship for Castrol, Ford, Mac Tools, All-Pro/Bumper-to-Bumper, Auto Value, all the rest of our sponsors, and, of course, John Force Racing," he said. "But if we can develop some young drivers and young mechanics in the process, well, that's pretty good, too."

Pedregon is leaving drag racing's most successful team, which has won 142 events and 13 championships in the last 14 seasons. With 27 victories as a Force protege, he ranks fourth on the all-time Funny Car list behind only Force (109), Don Prudhomme (35) and Kenny Bernstein (30). Will he find the instruction, structure, and resources to compete at the same level? Time will tell.

Force was much more mellow about passing the Funny Car baton this time, but if both Tony and Cruz Pedregon are determined to earn more championships as they prove that blood is thicker than nitromethane, they'll have a fiercer Force to outfox.

Force experienced his worst season since 1989, faling in an early-season hole too deep to climb from as he adjusted to the new Christmas Tree lights and a new chassis. Especially with Pedregon leaving the nest, Force has a renewed vigor in reclaiming his championship.

"As soon as my hands heal, I'm going to get on a program, lose some weight and go after the championship. We'll be ready for the new season. We've got a year of running this new combination behind us and we'll do plenty of testing before (the season-opening Winternationals in February)."

Force ignored his battered and bandaged hands (injured in an accident in early November) and, against the advice of many, competed at the NHRA Finals at Pomona. When he was No. 1 qualifier with a 4.771-second pass, he said, "I've got to keep going. I can't let Tony have low e.t. also. He already has everything else."

He was just joking. Or was he? Force owns the sport's overall records for victories, victories in a single season (13 in 1996), series championships and consecutive championships (10). He has won three or more events for 14 consecutive seasons, also a record.

And he's not about to lose his shirt.

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