John Force laughs last in Funny Car

Naysayers can reopen their book on John Force.

The old man is back, and his story is not over.

The 60-year-old, 14-time NHRA season champion won the Funny Car title Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after failing to qualify for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in 2007 and 2008 and losing in last year's first round.

"You're afraid you're not going to get back," said Force, who extended his NHRA record for titles to 129.

"I was pathetic. In 2008 and 2009, I was terrible and my racecar was terrible, too. I was a big part of that. I can race again."

In other professional categories of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Larry Dixon defeated Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final and Mike Edwards beat Greg Stanfield to win the Pro Stock title.

Justin Lamb of Henderson won the Super Stock category in NHRA Sportsman competition before an estimated crowd of 16,000 to become the first Southern Nevadan to win a major NHRA title at the track.

Force reached the final round by eliminating teammate and reigning series champion Robert Hight in the first round and daughter Ashley Force Hood in the semifinals. His time of 4.334 seconds (284.93 mph) in the final round beat Tony Pedregon, whose car experienced mechanical problems.

Force's third victory of the year extended his points lead over Matt Hagan, who lost to Force in the quarterfinals, to 120 points through six of 23 events.

In 2007, about a month after one of his drivers, Eric Medlen, died from injuries sustained in a testing crash, Force ended a string of qualifying for 395 consecutive national events that dated to Oct. 31, 1987.

After not winning a title last year and one the year before, Force began hearing whispers from others -- and the voice in his own head -- hinting that it might be time to retire.

A big factor was coming back from major injuries to his legs after the worst racing crash of his career near Dallas six months after Medlen's crash. Force couldn't walk without assistance for four months.

"In the hospital they were telling me, 'You can't come back,' " Force said.

Instead of giving in, he began a demanding workout regiment that continues today.

"I was pathetic. And I was a drunk; I partied until I fell down," he said.

He has not had alcohol since the crash.

"It's a drive I have inside, and my family pushed me," Force said. "It was just a matter of doing what the trainers said to do. You have to live it, and it has to be the most important thing in your life.

"I will keep trying because I love the game."

Two of Force's major sponsors recently extended their contracts with him for five years.

"They've stood by a guy they probably should have fired," he said.

But the loyalty could pay off with his first championship since 2006.

Even as one of the most-sponsored teams in drag racing, the economy led Force to cut back from four teams to three this year. That allowed him to move the idled driver, 43-year-old Mike Neff, to co-crew chief with veterans Austin Coil, 64, and Bernie Fedderly, 67, on Force's car.

Neff has provided a lift.

"I'm dedicating this trophy to Mike Neff," Force said. "Like Coil said after I made the move, 'A little puppy has gotten the two old dogs off the couch.'

"Coil and Bernie are the best. They needed a little something to give them some change."

Force praised a valiant effort by Pedregon and his team after they almost had to rebuild their racecar from heavy damage sustained in a fire in the semifinals.

"I know he is struggling (with funding). He will get right," Force said of Pedregon, who won the 2003 championship while driving for Force.

"He'll get it together, or someone will take that kid because he is way too good. They didn't get the win, but they were still right there. God bless that kid."

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.