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    John Force walks away from horrific crash in Funny Car qualifying in Pomona
    • April 2, 2023

    Funny Car driver Chad Green drives through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon drives through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Ned Walliser, NHRA Vice President of Competition, speaks with Funny Car driver John Force following the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. Force crashed into J.R. Todd during the second round of qualifying on Saturday, neither driver was injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd drives through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers Robert Hight, right, and Cruz Pedregon, left, drive through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers Alexis DeJoria, left, and Chad Green, right, head down track during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers John Force, left, and Ron Capps, right, drive through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Troy Coughlin Jr. drives through the shut down are during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A woman backs up a nostalgia funny during the opening round of sportsman eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers Chad Green, near lane, heads down track against Robert Hight, far lane, during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Ron Capps performs his burnout during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Matt Hagan performs his burnout during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Carie Caruso performs her burnout during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Austin Prock sits in his dragster prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers Alexis DeJoria, near lane, heads down track against Ron Capps, far lane, during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Robert Hight performs his burnout during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel drivers Justin Ashley, near lane, and Steve Torrence, far lane, head down track during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, from Redlands, does her burnout during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Carie Caruso sits in her hot rod in the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Brittany Force heads down track during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Carie Caruso sits in her hot rod in the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Carie Caruso waits in the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock driver Carie Caruso waits in the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher sits in his dragster in the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence watches Pro Stock qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon walks through the staging lanes prior to the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers John Force, left, and Ron Capps, right, drive through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    In this image taken off the video board, Funny Car driver John Force, right, crashes into J.R. Todd during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. Both drivers were not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver John Force, far lane, heads down track against J.R. Todd during the second round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. Force crashed into Todd in the shutdown area seconds later. Both drivers were not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver John Force rides his scooter back to the pits following the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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    POMONA – John Force, the old bull of drag racing and the sport’s biggest name, was involved in a horrific crash during qualifying Saturday at the 63rd Winternationals at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

    In the day’s first Funny Car qualifying run, Force, starting in the right lane, was paired against J.R. Todd. Force lost control of the dragster right away and wildly circled around Todd’s car while banging into it several times.

    After crossing the finish line, Force crashed hard into the concrete protective wall on the right side of the track, demolishing the car. Force, who turns 74 on May 4, soon got out of the car, dusted himself off, and took a few deep breaths before hopping on his scooter and heading for his pit.

    After talking to crew chiefs Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi, Force was soon back at the starting line to watch John Force Racing’s Robert Hight make his first qualifying run. Meanwhile, the crew got a spare car ready for Force to make the second of the two qualifying runs held Saturday. Todd also made his second qualifying run in a backup car.

    Might this be the end of Force’s amazing run as a Funny Car driver? His immediate reaction was no. But he did offer his perspective on the crash.

    “It got squirrely out there, but it’s been doing that since the beginning of the season, and we think we know why,” he said. “Driving right, left, right left, I can do that, I do that all the time, trying to keep it straight.

    “When it hit a bump, it blew the tires off, and it made a left turn into the other lane. I thought I just got (Todd’s) headers (exhaust pipes).” He got more than that. “Then I hit the wall hard. I’m okay, but more importantly, J.R. Todd is okay.”

    Force added he would have to re-evaluate everything after studying the video.

    Todd said he was anxious to see the video too.

    It was a WILD ride for @JohnForce_FC and @JRTodd373 during qualifying at the @Lucas_Oil #Winternats.

    Both exited the car under their own power. pic.twitter.com/AbBeTsfyJw

    — NHRA (@NHRA) April 1, 2023

    “At first I thought maybe he just got into my chutes or something,” Todd said, “but next thing I know I see him on my left side and we’re in the left lane. You’re not supposed to be there.

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    “After that, just sort of hanging on and steering away from him, steering away from the wall, and trying to get on the brake to get the thing stopped. But when the chutes are tangled up like that, you’re just along for the ride.”

    Todd was driving a new car and hopes it can be repaired in time for Sunday’s elimination finals.

    Force said later that the only thing hurt was his feelings.

    Force has been in too many crashes to count. He had a similar one in 2018 at Phoenix. His worst was in Dallas in September of 2007. He suffered a compound fracture of his left ankle, a broken wrist, cuts in lots of places and broken fingers. With blood everywhere, he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

    At one point, he was told he may never walk again. He was in a wheelchair for weeks and later on crutches. But it is hard to keep the longtime Yorba Linda resident down.

    When Force first began racing in 1977, he went 10 years without winning. Since then, he has won 20 Funny Car national championships. And he has had great success as a team owner as well. His drivers include daughter Brittany Force and Austin Prock in Top Fuel and Hight in Funny Car.

    Before a good crowd that filled the east grandstands, the rest of Saturday’s qualifying went pretty much problem free.

    Qualifying No. 1 in Top Fuel was Justin Ashley, the defending Winternationals champion and the event winner at Phoenix last weekend. Ashley also won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, a new feature intended to beef up interest during Saturday qualifying. The competitors are the four semifinalists from the previous week’s event.

    Seeded second for today’s Top Fuel elimination finals is Brittany Force, who had the top qualifying run on Friday.

    In Funny Car, Cruz Pedregon’s run on Friday stood up and he goes into today’s finals seeded No. 1. Chad Green won the Funny Car challenge event.

    This story will be updated.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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