Ageless John Force wins funny car class in inaugural NHRA four-wide drag races
The legendary Force, who has won an unprecedented 14 NHRA funny car championships, beat his daughter Ashley Force Hood and two other drivers to win the funny car event Monday in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., near Charlotte.
The final eliminations of the unique races in the National Hot Rod Assn.'s Full Throttle Series had been postponed from Sunday because of rain.
Force, who is rebounding from a 2009 season in which he failed to win at least one race for the first time in 23 years, also won this year's season opening Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.
In the sport's other premier class, top fuel, Cory McClenathan beat Doug Kalitta by inches to win that division in the four-wide races at zMAX Dragway.
-- Jim Peltz
Photo: Funny car driver John Force, in the leading green and silver car, during eliminations Sunday in the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. Force won event Monday after rain force the final round to be postponed. Credit: Marc Gewertz / Associated Press
