John Force Racing sweeps funny car qualifying at Bandimere, looking to improve on race day
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Top dragster racer Brad Basgall's burnout at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
NHRA haul racing fans witness early activity at the commence line on the 2nd day of the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Local car possessor Chris Barth guides Steve Johnson, top dragster, into the decent grove before Johnson's run on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A-Nostalgic division haul racer John Marottek during his burnout at the embark line on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Crews unload John Force's NHRA funny car out of the hauler on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Youthful haul racing fans from Aurora Colorado Abby Jalbert, 7, and her brother Bryce, 11, see a pair of super gas dragsters take off the begin line on day two of the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
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MORRISON — For the 2nd consecutive year at Bandimere Speedway, John Force Racing`s funny car family affair qualified very first and 2nd at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. Courtney Force on Saturday secured her 2nd consecutive pole position, with her father, John Force, a close 2nd.
A year ago, No. Two qualifier John Force defeated Courtney in the all-JFR final at Colorado`s 37th annual national event.
This year, sweeping the top two qualifying catches sight of could be the smooch of death for JFR, which can`t seem to race as well as it qualifies. Coming into Bandimere, JFR has qualified No. One a division-most eight times in thirteen races, but won just once. The rival Don Schumacher Racing has won twelve races, despite qualifying No. One just four times.
“We`re low E.T. almost every week but they`re winning them all,” John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, said of DSR. “So we`ve got a problem. We have to learn how to race on race day.”
JFR`s third car, driven by Robert Hight, who is John Force`s son-in-law, qualified third Saturday for a 1-2-3 JFR sweep. In the NHRA`s previous race July nine outside Chicago, each JFR driver lost in the very first round. John Force has the team`s only win, back on March nineteen in Gainesville, Fla.
“We have yet to win this season, so there`s a lot on my mind,” said Courtney Force, who set Bandimere`s funny car elapsed time and speed records with a Trio.889-second pass at 328.30 mph in Friday`s qualifying. “We`d like to end the week on a high note. We got to look for a good race day, and we need to make it happen. We`ve had a good race car. We`ve proven it in qualifying. We`re stumbling over ourselves on race day, and we can`t do it anymore. We`re well aware of it.”
Another nitromethane-powered female, Leah Pritchett, emerged the No. One qualifier in top fuel, and Drew Skillman (pro stock) and Eddie Krawiec (pro stock motorcycle) also have the pole positions in their 16-car/bike ladders.
Courtney Force will face No. Sixteen Jim Campbell in Sunday`s very first round. John Force will open against DSR rival Matt Hagan, who failed to reach one hundred sixty one mph in four qualifying passes, and Hight will oppose Todd Simpson in the very first round.
DSR struggled through much of funny car qualifying before points leader Ron Capps ripped off a Three.965-second run (313.73 mph) in Round four to collect the No. Five position. Teammate Jack Beckman also made big strides in the final round, ending sixth. Like Hagan, DSR`s Tommy Johnson Jr. couldn`t figure it out and stands 12th.
Hagan introduced the fresh Mopar funny car to commemorate the company`s 80th anniversary Thursday.
“All can say is I’m sorry,” Hagan said of his four poor qualifying runs. “Obviously our spectacle is not what we hoped and planned for up here on the mountain. We’ve truly never been in this situation where we’ve been this far back. We’ll get it figured out (Sunday). I trust in (squad chief) Dickie Venables and the job he’s capable of doing, and the brains that he has, and the decision’s he’s got to make.”
The John Force vs. Hagan race will be the most interesting first-round affair. In top fuel, the big-money teams each qualified in the top half of the field, and there are no big-name early matchups.
Footnotes. Courtney Force is just 5-5 on Sundays when qualifying No. One this year. She has lost twice in the very first round. … Top fuel`s Tony Schumacher will race his backup car Sunday after leaning his chassis in Saturday`s final qualifying run. The front of Schumacher`s dragster went airborne midway through the run and it slammed back on the track after the driver lifted off the gas. … John Force has won seven funny car titles at Bandimere, the most in nitro divisions and tied for very first with pro stock`s Bob Glidden and Allen Johnson.
John Force Racing sweeps funny car qualifying at Bandimere, looking to improve on race day – The Denver Post
John Force Racing sweeps funny car qualifying at Bandimere, looking to improve on race day
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Top dragster racer Brad Basgall's burnout at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
NHRA haul racing fans observe early activity at the commence line on the 2nd day of the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Local car proprietor Chris Barth guides Steve Johnson, top dragster, into the decent grove before Johnson's run on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A-Nostalgic division haul racer John Marottek during his burnout at the begin line on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Crews unload John Force's NHRA funny car out of the hauler on the 2nd day of qualifying at the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Youthfull haul racing fans from Aurora Colorado Abby Jalbert, 7, and her brother Bryce, 11, see a pair of super gas dragsters take off the commence line on day two of the 38th annual NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway July 22, 2017.
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MORRISON — For the 2nd consecutive year at Bandimere Speedway, John Force Racing`s funny car family affair qualified very first and 2nd at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. Courtney Force on Saturday secured her 2nd consecutive pole position, with her father, John Force, a close 2nd.
A year ago, No. Two qualifier John Force defeated Courtney in the all-JFR final at Colorado`s 37th annual national event.
This year, sweeping the top two qualifying catches sight of could be the smooch of death for JFR, which can`t seem to race as well as it qualifies. Coming into Bandimere, JFR has qualified No. One a division-most eight times in thirteen races, but won just once. The rival Don Schumacher Racing has won twelve races, despite qualifying No. One just four times.
“We`re low E.T. almost every week but they`re winning them all,” John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, said of DSR. “So we`ve got a problem. We have to learn how to race on race day.”
JFR`s third car, driven by Robert Hight, who is John Force`s son-in-law, qualified third Saturday for a 1-2-3 JFR sweep. In the NHRA`s previous race July nine outside Chicago, each JFR driver lost in the very first round. John Force has the team`s only win, back on March nineteen in Gainesville, Fla.
“We have yet to win this season, so there`s a lot on my mind,” said Courtney Force, who set Bandimere`s funny car elapsed time and speed records with a Trio.889-second pass at 328.30 mph in Friday`s qualifying. “We`d like to end the week on a high note. We got to look for a good race day, and we need to make it happen. We`ve had a superb race car. We`ve proven it in qualifying. We`re stumbling over ourselves on race day, and we can`t do it anymore. We`re well aware of it.”
Another nitromethane-powered female, Leah Pritchett, emerged the No. One qualifier in top fuel, and Drew Skillman (pro stock) and Eddie Krawiec (pro stock motorcycle) also have the pole positions in their 16-car/bike ladders.
Courtney Force will face No. Sixteen Jim Campbell in Sunday`s very first round. John Force will open against DSR rival Matt Hagan, who failed to reach one hundred sixty one mph in four qualifying passes, and Hight will oppose Todd Simpson in the very first round.
DSR struggled through much of funny car qualifying before points leader Ron Capps ripped off a Three.965-second run (313.73 mph) in Round four to collect the No. Five position. Teammate Jack Beckman also made big strides in the final round, ending sixth. Like Hagan, DSR`s Tommy Johnson Jr. couldn`t figure it out and stands 12th.
Hagan introduced the fresh Mopar funny car to commemorate the company`s 80th anniversary Thursday.
“All can say is I’m sorry,” Hagan said of his four poor qualifying runs. “Obviously our spectacle is not what we hoped and planned for up here on the mountain. We’ve truly never been in this situation where we’ve been this far back. We’ll get it figured out (Sunday). I trust in (squad chief) Dickie Venables and the job he’s capable of doing, and the brains that he has, and the decision’s he’s got to make.”
The John Force vs. Hagan race will be the most interesting first-round affair. In top fuel, the big-money teams each qualified in the top half of the field, and there are no big-name early matchups.
Footnotes. Courtney Force is just 5-5 on Sundays when qualifying No. One this year. She has lost twice in the very first round. … Top fuel`s Tony Schumacher will race his backup car Sunday after arching his chassis in Saturday`s final qualifying run. The front of Schumacher`s dragster went airborne midway through the run and it slammed back on the track after the driver lifted off the gas. … John Force has won seven funny car titles at Bandimere, the most in nitro divisions and tied for very first with pro stock`s Bob Glidden and Allen Johnson.