John Force Takes 2010 NHRA Funny Car Championship

History repeated itself today for the 15th time.  Completing an improbable comeback, drag racer John Force won the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Championship today in California. 

Force needed an upset win by Bob Tasca III over current points leader Matt Hagan today in the first round to take the title.  Force defeated Bob Bode to clinch the championship.

The 61-year old Force was badly injured in a crash in Dallas in 2007.  He came back in 2008 and 2009, but wasn't completely healthy until 2010 and he made the most of it.  Force is celebrating 25 years with his main sponsor Castrol Oil.

Update on Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 5:16PM by Rick C.Limpert

Force honored the Ford Motor Company by presenting his championship trophy to Henry Ford III.

John Force Tries to Take Down Matt Hagan at NHRA Finale

The NHRA will crown four champions today in its major pro divisions in Pomona, CA. Even if you aren't a drag racing fan, you know the name John Force.

The 61-year old funny car driver is trying to win his 15 NHRA Championship. He is neck and neck with a young cattle rancher from Virginia, Matt Hagan.

The 27-year-old Hagan in his second full season in funny car competition, has a 38-point lead over Force, who is looking to complete an improbable comeback after a horrific crash almost crippled him at Dallas in 2007.

The are four rounds in the 16-car Full Throttle Series final eliminations, and Hagan and Force, in separate brackets, can't meet before the final round. By then, Hagan will have won three rounds and have accumulated enough points so that the only way Force could win the championship in that case would be to set a national record. A record is worth 20 points, same as a round win in the finals.

Force doesn't think a national record is possible.

"Not on this track," he said. "It would take a miracle."

But if Hagan loses in an early round, that will open the door for Force. Hagan faces a tough first round opponent in Bob Tasca.

Hagan, who credits crew chief Tommy DeLago for his success this season, cautiously likes his chances of winning the title.

"For us, it's first and goal at the 10," he said. "We just have to deliver."

Force also used a football analogy to describe the competition between the youngster and himself.

"At his age, he should be chasing around Brett Favre instead of this old man.

"If he beats me, I'll shake his hand. He's really a good kid. But I'll be back next season going for that 15th title. I'm not going anywhere."

That's true. John Force Racing isn't going anywhere.

Greg Anderson in Position for Fourth NHRA Championship

With one race remaining, NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson is leading by 115 points and is poised to win another title.  Anderson drives the Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stocker.

Anderson won in Las Vegas two weeks ago to get in this position.

Anderson recently hosted a chat on ESPN.com.

Here is what he had to say:

What's your favorite thing to do when your off?

Greg Anderson

  (1:58 PM)

Pretty sad but I like to work. If you want to win, you have to work. But I do try to take a couple of minutes to spend with my family especially my son. He loves any sport with a ball or a stick.

Eric Chmiel (Bucks County, PA)

How much of an accomplishment is it to win the NHRA Championship?

Greg Anderson

  (2:00 PM)

It's a huge accomplishment, the reason being there is so much talent out here. The competition is great. Anybody can win on any given weekend. It's a team effort and that's why we are where we are right now. My hat goes off to my team. They will be responsible if we win this year's title.

Carl Ray (Kentucky)

How many more years do you plan on racing, and does your son have any desire to follow in your footsteps?

Greg Anderson

  (2:02 PM)

That's a great question. The beauty of drag racing is that you don't have to put down your tools. You can do this into your 60's. I'll have to know when that time is but I hope it's not soon. I want to give it at least another five your. When I can't quite hack it anymore, I'll put another driver in the seat.

Greg Anderson

  (2:03 PM)

It's funny, my son loves coming to the race track but right now he loves baseball, basketball, football and gold. Baseball seems to be his favorite sport and he hopes to play for the Yankess one hopefully. Hopefully he stays on that track.

tracy lynn morton (burlington.ct)

as a former crew chief,did you ever think you would turn out to be so successful as a driver, your #1 fan tracy

Greg Anderson

  (2:06 PM)

Absolutely not. I never really had driving aspirations. I loved being a crew chief and driving happening by accident. Warren Johnson sent us to driving school so we can learn just how hard it was to drive and I loved it. And here I am today.

Gina Greathouse (ODENTON, MARYLAND)

In your pursuit of the championship this year is it as exciting as your first championship?

Greg Anderson

  (2:10 PM)

It's actually more exciting. I know it's hard to compete with the first but right now this one seems to be more important and special. Ken Black went down with a heart attack and we also hard some personal losses. It's been a tough season and I know people were ready to throw dirt on us but we came back from the dead so to speak. Having Ken back for our last was great. This championship is the toughest more certainly the most meaningful one.

mike sicurella (n.j. home of division one)

What do you feel was the most important factor in comeing from behind in the points?

RC (Atlanta)

Greg, who are some of the young Pro Stock drivers that you have your eye on that could be future NHRA champions down the road?

Greg Anderson

  (2:15 PM)

I think without a doght, Shane Grey. He's had a great season and has the chance to be rookie of the year. Erica Anders looks to be a good driver as well as Ricky Jones. If Dave Connelly comes back fulltime he looks to be a threat too. There are a lot of up and coming drivers out there.

Greg Anderson

  (2:17 PM)

Thanks to everybody for all ther great question. I my figers crossed that we can close this thing out in Pomona. We need to go in with guns blazing like we did in the first couple of races and let the card fall where they may.

Jeff Diehl's NHRA Funny Car Crash in Las Vegas

Anytime Jeff Diehl gets strapped into an NHRA Funny Car anything can happen.  Diehl has blown engines, caught on fire and has had violent crashes.

He had a little bit of everything last night during qualifying for the NHRA event in Las Vegas.

Diehl hits the right wall, catches on fire, and then stumbles out of what remains of his car when it stops, thankful to be intact himself.

Diehl did not qualify for the event finals to be run on Sunday.

NHRA: Ashley Force-Hood Blows the Body off Her Funny Car

A terrible explosion caused the body to blow off Ashley Force-Hood's Funny Car during qualifying this weekend at the NHRA event at Maple Grove.

She was running in a heat against her father, John Force.  Ashley had a good run going until the explosion.