BILL STEPHENS “IN THE GROOVE” 5/23/11

The stats were getting a real shakeup in Topeka this past weekend thanks to JFR.  Let’s take a look at some of the more significant statistical highlights as a result of Robert’s final round victory over his teammate Mike Neff.

First and foremost, John Force Racing has now tallied 200 national event wins in its long history. John’s first NHRA Funny Car event title was scored in Montreal in 1987, his first championship came three years later in 1990, and now some 21 years since, Robert’s win on Sunday gives the team 200 altogether, a milestone which will take a very long time for any other team to equal or surpass.

John has had some very accomplished drivers race for JFR along the way and they all deserve to share in the 200 national event win record. Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Eric Medlen, Robert, Ashley, and now Mike all responsible for that remarkable win total.

Of course, John’s 132 career wins comprises a rather monstrous chunk of the 200 JFR victories. And let’s quickly mention John equaling Warren Johnson’s once-thought insurmountable total of 138 No. 1 qualifying spots this year.

Back in Topeka on Sunday, Robert’s final round meeting with Mike was the 35th all-JFR final in Funny Car history. It was Robert’s third win of 2011, more than anyone else this season, and it gave the team four wins out of the year’s first seven races. In the Full Throttle points, Mike is still up top, Robert continues to hold down third and John remains in seventh.

While the racing was fierce at Heartland Park Topeka all weekend, I was in Indianapolis covering the Mecum Muscle Car auction for HD Theater. We were on the air, live, for four consecutive days and in all broadcast for 17 hours. The incredibly desirable and valuable cars which crossed the Mecum block were mind-boggling to be sure but the ones that truly had me getting rubbery in the knees were the classic drag racing machines that went up for auction. Want a few examples?

“Dyno” Don Nicholson’s 1964 A/FX Mercury Cyclone, complete with the injected 427 Ford overhead cam engine it was powered by during the peak of the factory horsepower wars. Beautifully restored and looking just as fresh and ferocious as it did when “Dyno” Don was giving Mercury a real NHRA presence.

There was an original Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, No. 57 of the 100 built, fastidiously restored and appearing as race-ready as it ever did. 427 Medium Riser engine, 4-speed transmission, dual-quads with that ever-familiar reverse “teardrop” hood, and sounding just as menacing as it ever did when it was driven onto the auction block.

There were several incredible factory lightweights—a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere lightweight, a 1963 Ford Galaxie lightweight, and a 1962 Pontiac Super Duty lightweight in all-original condition and as flawless as anyone could have hoped.

And how about an incredibly rare 1957 Ford Thunderbird D/F with a supercharged engine and a drag racing history dating back over 50 years?  Do I have the greatest job in the world or what? I get to see and hear these sensational drag racing vehicles parade before me onto the auction block while broadcast on network television and all I have to do is talk about them. Life is good!

The NHRA will take Memorial Day weekend off and reconvene a week later at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ for the Super Nationals. Have a safe holiday and we’ll be back to work after E-town.