11/04/07

Whew! I think we could all use a break……

The season ended on an upbeat amidst a downbeat with Robert crushing the field to complete the ’07 season with a win. The fact that it was his sponsor’s title event and he was driving a Mustang carrying their sponsorship made it all the more sweet, but missing the championship by roughly a single round of points was a bitter pill to swallow.

Robert was very classy in offering his congratulations to the new champion, Tony Pedregon, and we all know the connection that Tony and JFR has—and will always have. Tony emerged as a legitimate Funny Car champion while racing with John and the guys and he learned a tremendous amount wisdom on how to race and how to succeed while a part of John’s operation.

Whenever Tony talks about his time at JFR or John is asked about his feelings on Tony, you can easily pick up the emotions that their relationship conjures up even now. There will always be a bond there.

As I was completing my Media Workshop with Ashley and Robert this weekend, one of the most compelling storylines we talked about while meeting with them was how much had transpired in their lives since the last time we were in Pomona. That was this past February when the season began at the Winternationals. Who could have possibly imagined what 2007 had in store for the Force family and the JFR team when we were kicking off the ’07 schedule at Auto Club Raceway ten months ago? The answer is nobody.

I got to briefly sit with John in his Prevost motorcoach at the track over the weekend but it was really important to allow him as much time to rest as possible. John has obviously lost some weight and the surgeries he has undergone on his ankle and hand which he injured in Dallas have left him in some physical discomfort. He’s taking some pain medication and I was astonished that he was able to get around the racetrack as often as he did during the weekend, both in his wheelchair and in his walker. John Force does NOT know how to slow down.

It wasn’t uncommon to see his crew chiefs poke their heads into John’s coach from time to time, asking him how he wanted the team to handle certain issues relating to the four cars which successfully qualified. To see two JFR cars heading to the final round on Sunday was just the kind of uplifting development to speed along John’s recovery. Man, did that make him smile!

Ashley won the Rookie of the Year honors at the NHRA Awards Banquet Monday night. And what has impressed me most about Ashley’s rookie year has been her poise and maturity during a season of incredible highs and lows. Like I said before, there was no way anyone could have anticipated the chain of events which have confronted everyone on the team in 2007 and through it all, Ashley has conducted herself with a tremendous attitude and that ever-present smile of hers. With Mike Neff showing enormous improvement every time he climbs into his Mustang, John’s expected recovery in time for the 2008 season, Robert coming off a second-place finish in the points, and Ashley returning next year as this year’s No. 1 rookie, next season looks like it’s going to be a blast.

I’m going to take a little time off as we slip into the off-season and enjoy some quality time at home. Next weekend, it’s the finale of the Champ Car World Series campaign for 2007 and I’ll be jetting down to Mexico City to work the ESPN2 coverage. It will be my concluding motorsports assignment of the year after which I’ll be stacking up the firewood at my home on Cape Cod and hunkering down for the winter. When drag racing jumps back into gear in February, I’m planning on getting back “In the Groove” here at johnforceracing.com and getting back into touch with everyone.

Until then, have a great holiday season, a peaceful and prosperous New Year, and remember to buckle up and drive safely.

Thanks!