Correspondent Lee Cowan puts the pedal to the metal for a thrilling ride with the members of the First Family of Drag Racing: National Hot Rod Association champion John Force and his three daughters, Courtney, Ashley and Brittany.
I've meet him he is very humble. You would think a superstar like John Force would be arrogant. No this man he's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
The Force Family are an awesome group of people! I saw them this June at Old Englishtown Raceway (Raceway Park) John, Courtney & Brittney are great to their fans! The day was awesome! The best part was watching John pull up on the motorcyle to the starting line every time Courtney or Brittney came up to race! A family that races together stays together!
John Force is a racing icon and his three incredibly beautiful daughters are on fast pace to join him. It takes skill to keep those things straight and steady. Driving does run in the blood.
Loved Lee's last statement, "Surviving is what the Force family does,,,, 4 seconds at a time" There's so much awesome truth in that comment. All drag racing fans - perhaps I should say ALL RACING fans - wish JFR the very best and that God and the JFR angels continue sharing the team drivers seats as long as JFR is in the business.
I heard John Force is so fast, that he's actually younger by the time he reaches the end of the track (Theory of Relativity joke in case you don't get it)
I remember standing about 20 feet away and absorbing the ground pounding vibrations from John's Brute Force funny car doing burn outs at the Market Basket grocery store parking lot in Huntington Beach Ca. I was about 10 years old and that goes back 47 years. I was hooked as a spectator to drag racing from that moment.
I have a lot of respect for a Man that made from being poor to a successful! His mom and dad. Couldn’t help him to be a survivor in life . He’s like me! I understand it’s Tuff to be John FORCE !
In September 2018 I will turn 50. I've been watching NHRA as long as I can remember. In September I'm finally going to a NHRA race. In St Louis something on my bucket list. Can't wait to September
Some may say this is a wrong way to raise and support a family. But this is the way John Force paid the bills, the mortgage, clothes for his family and brought the groceries home. Now Because John Force believed in himself, his hard work, inspiration and persperation, John Force does not have to wish or want for nothing. Success for many is mostly sweet. GO FOR IT ! Life is short.
Met him at the nationals show in Scribner, Nebraska 1994. Best days back then I also met Shirley Muldowney Big Daddy Don Garlits Bob Riggle and my neighbor Bob Chavaneu
Oh, my! CBS actually ran a story without trying to spin it hard left, which is good 'cuz John Force ain't a NASCAR left-turn racer, he's a straightline dragstrip maestro!
A friend of mine Named Henry "Cap" Wilburg who raced and built drag cars for ALL of his adult life told me recently, "These cars are 330 plus MPH, nitromethaine and alcohol fueled firbreathing dragons, and these dragon's do EVERYTHING they can to commit suicide while trying to take you with them, I wish I could do it all over again" 😳 ...RIGHT ON Cap...Right on...😊...
Get out, John. Gather up your girls and hand over the reins. I know it's an exciting sport, and you're well-funded and well-established. But it's also a violent sport where real human beings get hurt. Dallas in 2007 was a lot worse than a broken ankle. You cheated death and came out nearly unscathed. I know you remember what it was like when you lost Eric. It would be a hundred times worse to lose one of your girls. You know you would be devastated. Your odds of losing one is worse than most, because you've got more drivers in cars. I know you guys are capable drivers, but even the best crew can't protect you from the guy in the other lane. You've run the race, and finished well ahead of anyone in our time. You've cheated death - taunted death - and lived to tell your grandchildren every story you've collected. Drag racing will always remember you as a legend in the sport. Your girls will follow your lead. They may be disappointed, but they will trust your judgement. Gather them up and get out. Enter the next phase of your life with joy; not with anguish.
Sorry but like any racer, they do what they do for the love of the sport. Despite the dangers, injuries, etc many keep going. The sport is unique in that way. Even in the face of death, they/we race on.
1320crusier true. The day before his death, Aryton Senna was asked by Dr Sid Watkins to consider retiring, as he was distraught after watching Ratzenberger get killed. His reply was "But Sid, I can't..."
Admittedly, I was a little worried this story was going to be too sappy or not take the Force family serious, but it was actually a very well done story which I enjoyed watching. I love the Force family. It’s so great, especially in this day and age, to see such a tight, respectful, humble, yet competitive and successful family thrive. And at the heart of the Force body is John. I don’t know how anyone couldn’t love that guy.
Indeed, YES! And we are witnesses to a legend in our time. In the future, we will be gone. John Force will be gone. But people will be reading about, hearing about, talking about, watching videos about John Force the legend.
you bet he is 150 wins and counting Old John Force is full of laughs and he always has another story of the glory days at the track. This is why he is one of my favorites my second favorite is Robert in his AAA Funny Car and for third it is Capp with Hagan fourth. In Top Fuel I like to watch Leah and I like to watch Brittany but Brittany is my favorite in Top Fuel. In Prostock Enders and in Bike it is Angie I have my favorites.
Just saw the Force family here at New England Dragway. Awesome down to earth people that have a genuine passion for what they do. God bless the Force family.
derekjlight For John, racing his in is blood and in that sense, John will always show the most passion for it. It's cool his daughters race as long as it is what they really want to do in life and don't feel pressured by it...
Cam Maida I do see your point, but that's exactly what I couldn't figure out. Do they REALLY want to do it or are they just following in his footsteps. Either way both girls are very good at what they do.
Cam Maida Was Laurie there, as well ?? Haven't seen her once this year at any of the races.... could be be just the camera angles, but normally... she's not hard to find, behind the starting line. There isn't much that anyone could teach John about running a "flopper"...... but, at least up until recent years, he sure could have learned a few things about how to be a (Lot) better husband to his wife..... for such an emotional guy, he sure wasn't "there" for her "emotionally".... totally clueless !!
I had the pleasure of meeting this man at Bristol last weekend 6/18/22. I've been a fan and watched him race on TV since I was a kid. And at 47 years old I got to go to an NHRA event and meet him. It one of the highlights of my life.Didn't get to meet the girls but maybe next time. I couldn't get over how humble he is. Just a super nice down to earth guy.
You from down here or you just come to visit. Never got to see the top he cars just the drag bikes and of course. The NASCAR race and I’ve lived here 44 years maybe one day
Mad respect for John and his entire family. He is the CHAMPION for the SPORT. PERIOD. If it were not for John's "FORCE", his tenacity and true love...would there still be this great sport?? Mmm? I think NOT.
leah Is a skinny boobless twig with a crocked mouth. grose. I used to race jr dragsters with her. the luck is strong with that one. you get good when daddy has you in a race car every single weekend as well. not cheap.
John is one of the nicest and funniest guys in NHRA racing.. He always comes up with something nutty and down to earth. We love him and his family of racers. Only in America....RACE ON..!!
The Nicest, most humble, amazing family you could ever have the pleasure of meeting. John took time out to take a photo with my little girl and signed her sweatshirt. Brittany also took a pic with her. Imagine how proud and amazed an 8 year old little girl was to see this little blonde haired girl driving the baddest car on earth. The girls of John's are true role models. I can honestly say I love this family. TEAM FORCE 100%
One thing that the article forgets to mention is that in the wake of Scotty Kaletta's and Eric Medelen's fatal accidents John spearheaded a program to make the cars safer and invested a huge chunk of his personal fortune to fund it. He brought together a team of crewchiefs, automotive engineers, racers, and NHRA officials to make these cars safer. They made many improvements to chassis and cage designs and created safety systems to protect the driver if something goes wrong. John credits the first batch of improvements with saving his life when he wrecked. A lesser man would have hung it up after that wreck, but he lives for drag racing and those who said that he would never race again just lit a fire under him that made him push himself to get back in shape to drive. He truly is the indestructible old man of the NHRA.
yup it is called the Medlen Project and it is located in Indy right next to their shop Ruhal Racing is right across the street and shares space with Team Force in fact Courtney is married to Ruhal and manages their team.
I love the way John Force handles the car, the crowd and that it has become a family event. I grew up at the strip working on dads rail that we ran experimental with and worked the way up. At one time just before the divorce he bought a rail off of Jim Walther's and unfortunately as fast as my new life at the track as a young kid started it ended with the divorce since he could not afford to keep it by giving his part of the ownership to her. I can now only live it seeing this family on the track. Gotta love them for all they are!
HOLY CRAP............. this John Force guy is the most interesting man I've seen. He LITERALLY lives on the edge of life in every conceivable way. The absolute Edge of life itself... and stays positive and a winner.
John Force is a nicest athlete celebrity that I've ever met I have met many country music stars, rock and roll Stars oval track race car Stars Indy car Stars I've met many people but nobody nobody touches John Force. I would gladly have a beer with him.
Im more of a NASCAR guy but what the force family has accomplished in the world of drag racing is absolutely incredible also Courtney's sponsor traxxas are such awesome rc vehicles i own 5 of them
Best video i've seen this year.All the years of hard work and struggle have paid off.He deserves all of success he has and then some.Very humbling to see him choked up talking about his family.That shows you where his heart is.
Let’s not forget that at one point it was thought that John needed a new kidney, and a brave man from Texas offered one of his, even though it turned out he didn’t need it after all. Dale Gribble is a hero
The smug look the woke Lee Cowan has thoughout the interview sad sad.. He probably should go over to Nascar and talk to Bubba he would be more comfortable.
My brother tells the story about a young John Force who had his car parked at an Anderson's General Store in Columbus, Ohio, circa 1983 or '84. Said they talked for a good 20~25 minutes. 'Who was it', I asked, a second time? I wasn't sure if I had ever heard of this guy before. I've heard of him now...
