John Force wins 11th title

[MountaineerTom]

From thatsracin.com

 

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ENNIS, Texas -- John Force won a record 11th NHRA Funny Car title with a second-place finish Sunday in the NHRA's O'Reilly Fall Nationals.

 

Force had been tied with former Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden for the most championships in the history of the sport.

 

The championship also was an unprecedented ninth straight for Force. He clinched the title while losing to teammate Gary Densham in the final round.

 

Densham covered the quarter-mile strip at Texas Motorplex in 4.832 seconds at 318.13 mph. Force went 4.852 at 318.69 in a battle between Ford Mustangs.

 

Larry Dixon, V. Gaines and Bob Panella Jr. also were winners.

 

Dixon beat Doug Kalitta with a run of 4.553 at 320.05 to move within 15 points of Top Fuel points leader Kenny Bernstein. Kalitta smoked the tires and coasted to a time of 7.908 seconds at 105.64.

 

Gaines beat Tom Hammonds in Pro Stock with a 6.929-second run at 199.77 in a Chevy Cavalier. Hammonds had a 6.961-second run at 200 mph in a Cavalier.

 

In Pro Stock Truck, Panella sped to a 7.460-second pass at 181.48 for the win in his Chevy S-10. Mike Coughlin clocked a 7.499-second effort at 180.50 in his Chevy.