John Force is the winningest driver at Arizona’s Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park by a long shot.
With eight victories — 1994, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’01 and ’05 — at the facility formerly known as Firebird Int’l Raceway, the 16-time Funny Car champion has three more Wallys to his credit than any driver in any NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series category.
Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher is second on the list with five wins.
Needless to say, Force has a collection of fond memories made in Arizona.
His history at the drag strip dates back to the inaugural race that was held at the Chandler, Ariz., drag strip in 1985. Force had just entered the world of NHRA seven years previous and was still in search of his first event win.
While a trip to the winner’s circle wasn’t in store for the young hot rodder until 1987, he started his prosperous career in Arizona with an appearance in the final round of eliminations during the track’s debut race. After spinning the tires off the line, Force was defeated by John Collins, who earned his first national event win that day.
Since then, Force has made the NHRA Arizona Nationals his second home. From 1994 through 2002, Force was in the final every year except 1998. In addition to eight victories, he has six runner-up efforts in the event.
“I’ve loved racing in Arizona,” Force said. “I’ve got a lot of memories there, a lot of success.”
This weekend will be the 73-year-old’s last opportunity to add another notch to his win column at the drag strip, as Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park will no longer appear on the NHRA schedule moving forward.
The 450-acre plot of land the track occupies will become part of a new overpass and roadway for the Interstate 10 extension. After nearly 40 years of being a staple on the calendar, Force and the rest of the NHRA family will say goodbye to the quarter-mile.
“Never want to see a race track go. We’ll see what happens, but me and my team, we’re hoping to bring this chapter to a close with a win,” Force said.
At the AMALIE Motor Oil Gatornationals on March 12, Force opened his 47th season of NHRA competition with a quarterfinal finish, ultimately exiting the weekend fifth in the standings.
“Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi (crew chiefs) and my guys, they’ve been working hard,” Force credited. “I’ve got to step it up to keep up but we’ll get the job done.”
With the magic he’s often found in the Arizona desert, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Force and his BlueDEF Camaro Chevy climb back into the winner’s circle for one last hurrah.