This was a day that hardcore NHRA drag racing fans will never forget. I sure as hell will never forget it because it was bedlam, insanity, and completely freaking nuts. The race was the NHRA Northwest Nationals and the moment was when John Force captured his landmark 150th national event win in nitro funny car. It was followed up by Austin Prock’s first national event win in top fuel. It was unhinged in all the best of ways and I had a front row seat to not only call the race but relate the craziness to America. We were live on national television and it all went down.
This video is John Force and Dan Hood who was working with Brian Corradi tuning the car talking about the day, the round by round wins, what their strategy was and how it all happened. John was so on the chip that day, I remember watching him and thinking, man this could actually be it. Had had come close a couple of times earlier in the season. In one memorable instance, Bob Tasca stopped him at Bristol in the final.
On this day, he was not to be denied and once he won, all hell broke loose. As always, he tells the story better than anyone. Watch this.
Great video. I remember this race vividly. I was on vacation and my dad was a huge John Force fan. I came home that Sunday and he was ecstatic about Force winning 150. I still have that National Dragster put aside and was debating framing it. My father passed away not too long after that race. I still remember how on sundays at 9-10am I’d turn on NHRA TV and we’d watch drag racing all Sunday and in the background while we did our usual Sunday routines.
Great memories. I have every NHRA season in review on DVD and we would always watch one year a week as well until we completed it.