NHRA World Finals
By Darr Hawthorne
Photos by Zak Hawthorne
11/16/04
A
truly subdued John Force proudly sat with his daughter Ashley
and as the 13-time funny car champ says, "It's an emotional
weekend to look at the future, for John Force Racing you're
seeing the changing of the guard."
He and Ashley became the first father and daughter to share
the winners' circle at an NHRA national event, as both won
at the 40th annual Automobile Club of Southern California
Finals at Pomona Dragstrip, Dad driving his Castrol/AAA-sponsored
Mustang Funny Car and she in her Mattel Toy Store-sponsored
A/Fuel Dragster owned and tuned by Jerry Darien.
Force's demeanor is a stark contrast to his jubilant post-qualifying
words and laughter the previous night after grabbing Del
Worsham¹s place at the top of qualifiers running a
stout 4.698 e.t. "I don't think I could be any prouder
and she's doing a job, when I take pressure it's hard on
me, the pressure doesn't seem to affect her. I'm proud of
her."
Force stopped the timers with a 4.734 pass at 328.28 mph
to defeat Del Worsham in the final, earning his fifth Wally
of the season and nailing his 11th Pomona. On the way to
the victory Force defeated Tony Bartone, teammate Eric Medlen
and Gary Scelzi.
"I'll
be back," vows Jerry Toliver as he reminds the crew,
"I told them Saturday night that the bleeding is over
and nobody died." Toliver and his team won the Winternationals
and a runner-up at Houston, but they also failed to qualify
at the Finals and DNQ'd at six other events in 2005. Toliver
is still in negotiations with his current sponsors for next
season.
Tony Schumacher continued his dominance of the Top Fuel
class with the tremendous talents of crew chief Alan Johnson,
running 4.494, 4.488 and 4.477 in eliminations. Schumacher
defeated rising star Morgan Lucas in the final running—
a slowing 4.550 at 313.07 to hold off the Top Fuel rookie,
who posted a 4.807 at 228.50 driving Joe Amato¹s dragster.
Lucas was in his second straight final round appearance,
having lost to Doug Kalitta in Vegas. On his way to the
Pomona victory the "Sarge" also defeated John
Smith, David Grubnic and David Baca.
There may be a meeting of the minds between the teams of
Joe Amato and Doug Herbert, although DougZilla is not sure
how it will finally shake out.
