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(previous page)The upshot is that the Auto Club has opted to expand its existing alliance with JFR and support a program that, with the acquisition of a major sponsor, will allow Densham to compete in the remaining 22 events in the NHRA Winston Series

Densham, the Auto Club's chief spokesperson for its youth and education programs, and Pedregon, who has served for three years as the organization's Hispanic spokesperson, together made more than 60 presentations to more than 6,000 students during the 2000 season. This year, at selected career fairs and special events, they will be joined by Force, the 10-time reigning Winston Funny Car Champion.

"Combining our efforts with those of John Force Racing presents the Auto Club with an outstanding opportunity to both increase our brand awareness and enhance our youth and education programs," said Thomas V. McKernan Jr., President and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. "Gary Densham has served us well in this capacity, as has Tony Pedregon, who has done a wonderful job complementing Gary's efforts to broaden our program so successfully.

"This is a win-win situation," McKernan said. "Putting John Force in the mix adds greater depth and excitement to our outreach programs. At the same time, Force Racing adds an outstanding driver and sportsman to the team and Gary receives the best opportunity in his career to achieve his dream of winning an NHRA national event. We're looking forward to a great partnership."

The Force-Densham relationship dates to 1974 when both were in Australia on tour. Densham already was a seasoned veteran but Force, in competition for the first time, was completely new to the intricacies of racing a car professionally.

"Densham took me under his wing and got me through it," Force recalled. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here because I probably wouldn't have made it back from Australia. But that's not why I hired him. I hired him because he's a good driver and because he can help Prock teach these new guys how to race."

Indeed, the primary reason Force cited for the third team was to train new crew members, both to work on JFR's existing Funny Cars and on the coming Top Fuel dragster.

"The dragster's coming," Force said. "Our original plan was to run for the (Winston Top Fuel) championship in 2002. That's still our plan. We were going to test the dragster this season to get ready for next year. And that's still what we're planning to do. The only thing that's changed is that the dragster won't be ready as quick as we thought."

Densham, who has three Winston Top 10 finishes to his credit (9th in 1995, 10th in 1996 and 1997), still is seeking his first tour victory. He's been runner-up six times in his career - three times to Force (1994 and 1995 at Brainerd, Minn., 1996 at Englishtown, N.J.) and once to Pedregon, to whom he lost in the final round of the 1999 AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona, Calif.