| In Part 1, we got the John Force museum
tour. Now, with his ever-present cup of coffee in hand, John heads for
his office, writer and photographer in tow.
Force is allowing Coil (photo below), the greatest crew chief in the
sport's history, and Fedderly gear for war. And make no mistake about
it, 2001 on the NHRA drag strips across the country will be a war. Force
is the one they all want to beat.
Even Top Fuel champion Gary Scelzi has given thought to changing classes
in an effort to beat Force. Prudhomme, whom Force holds in very high
regard, is adding a second Funny Car in a bid to unseat Force.
"I win an event and the sponsors immediately say, `Did
you beat John Force?' " Prudhomme said during the 2000 season-finale
at Fairplex. "That's what he means to the sport."
Prudhomme has a special meaning to Force. Upon the mention of his name
earlier in the tour, Force wanted to know if the visitors had seen the
poster in the main showroom. Among the autographed pictures of Elvis
and his gold records is a print showing Prudhomme between Marilyn Monroe
and James Dean on a lunch counter in a big city. Across the street,
in the dark, pushing a grocery cart is John Force.
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