John Force won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout on Saturday in the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, beating Ron Capps to take the $100,000 top prize in the Funny Car bonus event.
The 63-year-old Force had a run of 4.218 seconds at 296.57 mph in his Ford Mustang. Capps finished in 4.223 at 296.50 in a Dodge Charger. Force beat Jack Beckman and Jeff Arend to advance to the final in Ennis, Texas.
“It’s a great day and we won,” Force said. “The 100 grand goes to my employees. I don’t take any money. It’s not about that for me. It’s about winning for them and the fans and the sponsors. ”
In qualifying for the final eliminations in the second of the six playoff events in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, Shawn Langdon took the top spot in Top Fuel, Courtney Force won in Funny Car, Allen Johnson in Pro Stock, and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Langdon captured his third consecutive No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel with a run of 3.827 at 322.34. He’ll face Scott Palmer in the opening round as he goes for his second straight playoff win.
Courtney Force, John Force’s daughter, won her second No. 1 qualifying spot in Funny Car with her Friday pass of 4.081 at 308.21.
Johnson raced to a career-best 10th No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock, powering his Dodge Avenger to a track-record 6.550 at 211.99.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana Jr. claimed his second No. 1 of the season and ninth of his career with a run of 6.852 at 195.34 on a Buell.
ROOKIE DILLON WINS
Rookie Austin Dillon took advantage of a pit road mishap by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and steering issues by Elliott Sadler to win the Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.
Sadler, who reclaimed the season points lead from Stenhouse, got the lead when Stenhouse collided with Eric McClure on pit road on lap 33. But Sadler encountered steering issues with 50 laps left and subsequent pit stops opened the door for Dillon.
Sadler has a four-point lead over Stenhouse, who finished 17th. Dillon is 19 back.
LEWIS ON F1 POLE
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton claimed the pole position for today’s Singapore Grand Prix, which will stay on the Formula One calendar through 2017 after an agreement was struck between the national government and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
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