NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

John Force has put together an impressive 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and heading to one of the tracks where he’s had the most success, the legendary 16-time Funny Car world champion will look to keep heading in the right direction.
 
He will have plenty of momentum heading to Brainerd Int'l Raceway for this weekend’s 39th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, a race he’s won an incredible 11 times, following his victory less than a week ago in Topeka. It gave Force the points lead for the first time since 2014 in the loaded Funny Car class, and he’ll look to put on a show in Brainerd in his 11,000-hp PEAK Blue DEF Chevrolet Camaro SS. But he’s not concerned with points at the moment. Force simply wants to grab more wins, and he’ll look to pick up his first victory in Brainerd since 2007.
 
“I don’t want to even look at the points. That will jump around, and it is what it is,” said Force, who has three wins in 2021. “But I’m glad, and I love racing. Our hearts are with the people, and to win, it doesn’t matter if nobody’s there. We’re going to Brainerd, and we want a crowd [there]. Let’s pack the stands everywhere we go. That’s what brings us to life as drivers. That’s what I want. We will entertain you, not just John Force Racing, but the racers do because our hearts are in it, and when we see the crowd, we come alive.”

 
Leah Pruett (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) were the winners of the 2019 event. This year’s race in Brainerd will be televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX, including live final eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Aug. 22 on FOX. It is the 12th of 20 races during the 2021 NHRA season and appears in its traditional spot as the penultimate race of the regular season. After the NHRA didn’t race at Brainerd in 2020 due to the pandemic, Force is excited to race in front of an enthusiastic fanbase at BIR, many who have watched the 154-time event winner dominate time and time again at the track.
 
There’s an abundance of drivers who will look to stop that, including 2019 winner Capps, who has six Brainerd wins, Topeka runner-up J.R. Todd, defending world champ Matt Hagan, Force’s teammate Robert Hight, Bob Tasca III, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, and Tim Wilkerson. But the stout competition always brings out the best in Force, who is looking forward to battling them throughout the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, which start next month. Before that, though, Force wants to keep improving, and that starts with continuing his hot streak this weekend.
 
“Let’s go race for a championship, let’s go pack the house, and let’s have some fun,” Force said. “I’m going after winning. I love this sport. I live it, I breath it, it’s what I do, it’s who I am, and at my age, I can’t believe I’m still in it. These young guys out here, I do what I can to keep up with them. [Crew chiefs] Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi and the PEAK team, they give me a great car. We’ve been great all season. I just have to get out there and not screw it up. That’s what I’m trying to do. Where we are in points, we need to keep it going. The Countdown is almost here, and it’s tough out there, but we’re hanging in there.”

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 20 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 2 and 5:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 22. 
  
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 866-444-4455. Tickets also are available online at www.brainerdraceway.com. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.