Of course, despite Bazemore's recent success (he's been the No. 1 qualifier at five of the last six races and won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind., over Labor Day), it would be ludicrous to suggest that Force's reign is over.

"They've challenged us," Force said of Bazemore and his Schumacher Racing team, "and we usually respond pretty well to challenge."

Still, Force's confidence is tempered by memories of a 1992 season in which he not only saw Elvis but also saw Cruz Pedregon come from behind to pass him and become the only driver in 11 seasons to wrestle the Winston championship from his grasp.

"John losing the championship to Cruz was probably the worst thing that happened to everybody else (in the Funny Car division)," suggested Tony Pedregon, Force's Castrol teammate for the last six seasons. "That's been his motivation now for nine years. He remembers that and he uses it to keep everybody focused."

Since that stumble in 1992, Force's race team, anchored by co-Crew Chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly, has emerged as perhaps the greatest dynasty not just in auto racing history but sports history. Not only has it won eight straight series championships, it's won almost half of all the Funny Car races contested the last nine years.

Team Castrol has won 89 of the 180 races contested since that dismal '92 season in which Cruz Pedregon won five of the last six events on the way to the title. That's 76 victories for Force and 13 for Tony Pedregon.

That's reason enough, in a close race, to continue to bet on the champion.

FUN FORCE FACTS

Of the NHRA national events in which he has appeared 10 times or more, the AutoZone Nationals has been the most perplexing for Force. In 13 previous appearances, he's reached the finals only three times....Force has qualified for 271 consecutive NHRA tour events, a Funny Car division record.

The last time he failed to qualify was at the 1987 World Finals at Pomona....Force is the official NHRA national record holder for quarter-mile time and speed at 4.763 seconds, 324.05 mph ....Force is the only drag racer ever named Driver of the Year for all of American motor racing (1996)....Force has appeared in 31.7 per cent of all the Funny Car finals contested in NHRA's 50-year history (149 of 470).

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