John Force, the legendary drag racer, won his 15th Funny Car championship on Sunday at the season-ending race in Pomona, Calif. At 61, Force is the oldest national champion in the history of the National Hot Rod Association. On Tuesday, his team’s crew chief of 26 years, Austin Coil, unexpectedly resigned.
Force’s win at Pomona was remarkable in that it comes just three years after a violent accident at over 200 miles an hour. Severe injuries to his hands, arms and legs required surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. Force was back in the driver’s seat for 2008, but saw little post-injury success until this season.
To win his 15th championship, Force had to come from behind. Going into the final event, Matt Hagan, 27, led Force by 38 points. Force got help from Bob Tasca III, who defeated Hagan in the first round of competition. In round two, Force beat Bob Bode with a 4.162-second elapsed time at 304 miles an hour, clinching the title. He went on to win the event, defeating Jeff Arend in the final with a 4.085 time at 306 m.p.h.
On his victory lap, Force jumped from the vehicle and ran the length of the grandstand. “To the doctors and fanatics that got my legs back: I’m 40 again,” Force yelled as he celebrated with his fans. “I’m still ugly, but I’m 40.”
Much of Force’s success can be attributed to his “always on” intensity. His vibrant personality has made him a fan favorite and attracted sponsor support. But he’s also armed himself with some of the best mechanical talent in the sport. He hired Austin Coil in 1985 soon after Coil had won a couple of Funny Car championships with his “Chi-Town Hustler” team.
Coil is credited with bringing a measure of scientific method to drag racing. His Chi-Town Hustler cars were dominant from the late 1960s through the mid-’80s. After joining Force’s team, he created sophisticated rigs for the in-shop testing of key parts like clutches and superchargers. He also developed numerous mathematical formulas that enabled better utilization of data recorder information and precise adjustment of the racecar’s tuning variables.
“I really enjoyed working with the team,” Coil said in a phone interview. “They’re all great guys. Mike Neff, who worked with me this year, is a jewel. He has a great feel for track conditions and clutch setup. That’s where we struggled the last couple of years. “
When asked why he had resigned, Coil said he was unhappy with the financial restructuring within the team that was caused by the recession. But more important is a desire to spend time with his wife, Lisa, and do some things he’s never been able to do.
“I have a bucket list to fill while I’m still young enough,” he said. “I want to ride my motorcycle in the Swiss Alps and see the leaves turn red in Vermont. When I’ve had my share of fun, I’ll probably hang out my shingle and go racing again.”
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