John Force gets ready to ride (Linda Brock photo)
“Worsham is a hell of a racer. He was way overdue and hungry. He had a car that was just fast. A lot of these cars have been carrying this weight since last year. They have more runs on them then us but we’ll learn,” said John Force.
This was the second semi-final round appearance for the elder Force in 2008 and moved him up to the sixth position in the Funny Car standings. Considering how much he has overcome in the last five months; a career threatening crash in Dallas last September, a vigorous and brutal rehab schedule, and major adjustments to his Ford Mustang, Force has expanded his already legendary status in a sport where many would consider him the king.
“Every round is a learning experience for me because of my body healing but I am coming around as a driver. I am doing my job and feeling my car again. It is just taking a little longer.”
Funny Car Point Standings
1. Cruz Pedregon, 260; 2. Jack Beckman, 249; 3. Tony Pedregon, 233; 4. Robert Hight, 232; 5. Ashley Force, 231; 6. John Force, 219; 7. Gary Densham, 208; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 204; 9. Del Worsham, 187; 10. Jim Head, 156.
PRO STOCK
Greg Anderson (Randy Anderson photo)
By his own admission Greg Anderson's Summit Racing Pontiac GXP wasn't the fastest Pro Stock car going into eliminations for the 21st annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, but that didn't stop the three-time POWERade champ from collecting his second win of the season by defeating No. 1 qualifier Kurt Johnson in the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt in the final round. In the money round Anderson, who qualified sixth, had an elapsed time of 6.692 seconds at 207.37 mph as Johnson spun the tires and slowed to a 13.425 e.t. at 64.01 mph.
"I'm a realist and I kind of know when you deserve to win or have a good chance to win, and I wouldn't have put my money on us at the start of the day," Anderson said. "But drag racing's crazy and you've got to race on the track, not on paper. We struggled this weekend, but a lot of guys struggled. It just came down to timing. Whoever we were matched up with we just did a slightly better job to get the round win. Timing is everything. This is a neat win. I don't remember winning one like this before. The racetrack just threw curveball after curveball at us, and we just kept getting infield hits, I guess. We never knocked one out of the park, but I guess it was enough to win. I'll remember this one for awhile."
This was Anderson's 53rd career victory to break a tie with Joe Amato (52) on the all-time wins list.