FLAT-OUT FANTASTIC FINISH

Words and photos by Ian Tocher

Five-thousandths of a second. That's all it took for me to forever lay those "Force-will-always-beat-Tony-when-it-counts" conspiracy theories to rest. Their semi-final match for all the marbles in the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals was one to remember.

Simply put, it was a helluva drag race, with Force needing a holeshot to edge his teammate by just five-thousandths at the finish!

With his championship-clinching victory at the season-ending event in Pomona, Funny Car superstar John Force became just the 11th driver in NHRA history to back up his win at the season opener on the same track (DRO file photo).

Based strictly on empirical observations, one might've been forgiven for predicting Pedregon would quickly go up in smoke while "the boss" streaked to his 12th career and 10th straight NHRA Fuel Coupe championship. After all, with just 31 points separating the two Castrol team cars going into the event, and after watching Tony's ride lose traction a few times in the past when he stood between John and merely another trophy, the stage seemed set for a repeat when a championship was on the line.

To everyone at John Force Racing's credit, however, that was not the case.

Crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly on Force's side and John Medlen and Dickie Venables for Pedregon obviously had free rein to make whatever tweaks they saw fit to get their respective cars and drivers down the track. Pedregon clearly felt the freedom to deep-stage and Force somewhat surprisingly followed his lead, a move that proved fortuitous as he needed nearly every bit of the .024 holeshot he strapped on Pedregon with a .447 light.

Some fantastic TV shots from a hovering blimp clearly showed Force gain an ever-so-slight advantage off the start, then Pedregon surged past at half track, before Force recovered to post a 4.954-secs pass at 315.12 mph to Pedregon's quicker, but losing 4.935. Like I said, a helluva' race!

Now, I'm sure there are still a few stubborn doubters in the crowd, who just can't accept that Tony P. was given a fair chance to earn his first POWERade championship. But honestly, can anyone who understands drag racing really argue the fix was in after seeing what transpired? There's just no way it could've been scripted, and given the performance, I think everyone (including yours truly) has to re-examine whatever suspicions they may have entertained about prior match ups between the two.

Of course, Force went on to win the event, too, defeating Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final and becoming only the 11th driver in NHRA history to win both races at Pomona in a single year. As it was his 106th event victory, Force also moved past stock car driver David Pearson into second place behind Richard Petty on the all-time win list for all professional motorsports.

Now, I have to admit, I sometimes get tired of John Force being the center of attention no matter what else is happening in the straightline racing world. It sometimes seems as if no other drivers -- especially fellow Funny Car pilots -- can talk about anything without Force's name cropping up. I suspect even the man from Yorba Linda is himself occasionally tired of being conjured up in every interview, but the fact is, he commands attention. If one man can be a dynasty, Force fits the bill.

So what is a guy like Tony Pedregon to do? Is he doomed to forever play second fiddle; to become known as the greatest Funny Car driver never to win a championship only because his teammate is the greatest driver ever to win a championship? I mean, Pedregon had a great year, finishing with a career-best six wins, including three straight in the latter stages of his 2002 campaign. He really gave Force a run for the title this season, and proved it was there for the taking if he could just get the job done. How disappointing must it be after 23 races to come up just five-thousandths of a second short of dethroning the king?

To be honest, I can't imagine. It's got to be disheartening to lose like that, but at the same time, Pedregon has to be encouraged by the opportunity his mentor so clearly offered -- and offers. He has to feel that he's got a legitimate shot, certainly as good or better than anyone else in the class, to be the one who finally forces Force from the limelight.

It just won't be this year -- but it sure was a helluva' race, right to the finish.

At 37 years-old, Tony Pedregon has plenty of time left in his driving career to become a multiple championship winner in NHRA Fuel Coupe competition, considering his teammate and team owner, John Force, just wrapped up his 12th season title at the age of 53 years and shows no signs of slowing down. (DRO file photo)

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