NHRA: FORCES TO RECKON WITH.

Byline: LOUIS BREWSTER

Staff Writer

POMONA -- In perhaps the most dramatic and pressure-packed Saturday qualifying session since NHRA drag racing started at Pomona Raceway 47years ago, father and daughter both delivered.

That allowed the crowd that numbered more than 25,000 and two generations of Force racing -- John and Ashley -- a sigh of relief.

Facing the possibility of starting the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series season on the sidelines, the 14-time champion and his 24-year-old rookie daughter qualified on their final attempts for today's Winternationals.

They will be in the quickest 16-car Funny Car field in NHRA history.

There were plenty of twists and turns in the fourth and final qualifying session. Almost lost was Gary Scelzi's run of 4.692seconds at a sizzling 333.49 mph for the top qualifying spot.

Tony Schumacher remained first in Top Fuel dragster at 4.472, his third No. 1 spot at the Winternationals. Greg Anderson rebounded to take the Pro Stock top spot at 6.634 at a track record 209.04, his 52nd career No. 1 effort. Scelzi's run, his first in a Funny Car at the historic track, was nearly an afterthought following the drama about whether either Force would make the show.

Ashley was on the bubble when San Dimas' Jeff Arend ran a career-best 4.795. That run put the elder Force in the precarious position of extending his streak of 392 consecutive starts, the all-time NHRA record, at the cost of bumping his daughter.

Much to the delight of the crowd, he came through with a solid 4.709, advancing him from the 19th spot into second at that point, eventually finishing fourth-quickest.

"It was painful," Force said. "But you just put your foot down and go to get into the show. I just hate that number (the qualifying streak), it gets into your head."

Nine minutes later, father and daughter were both happy.

Ashley improved her time to 4.790, a career-best, to climb to the 13th position. She finished the day in 15th.

"This day has been so intense," Ashley said. "It's easy to say that you aren't going to get nervous. I was so conflicted watching dad in front of me. I wanted him to get in the show, but I didn't wanted to get bumped out.

"The numbers thing was in my head, too. Thankfully, everything worked out. It couldn't have been any better. I'm glad all of us (John, Ashley and Force Racing teammates Robert Hight and Eric Medlen) are in the show."

That was almost quite enough for Force.

"It's just a great day; it means so much to put all four cars in the show," said Force, the team owner. "It's the greatest show on Earth, and all I wanted was to be in the show, and I wanted her to be in."

Ashley will face her brother-in-law Hight in the firstround.

"I'm excited to race against Robert," said Ashley, who avoided a first-round match against her father when Scelzi and Ron Capps posted their final numbers. "The only thing I know is that for the first time ever, my little niece (Autumn Danielle) is not going to be rooting for me."

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