John Force : The Straight Story of Drag Racing's 300-MPH Superstar

More than two million motorsports fans gather at 23 NHRA events around the country. The stars of the show may be 6,000-horsepower nitro-burning drags cars, but the 300-miles-per-hour superstar of the sport is funny car racer John Force. He's the Dale Earnhardt of drag racing, a blue collar hero whose 13 Funny Car titles and more than 106 tour victories are unmatched. But John's popularity is about more than his career record. His honest and consistently outrageous demeanor have endeared him to the fans, made him a favorite with Jay Leno and FOX's The Best Damn Sports Show, and has led him to be dubbed the "best interview in sports today." Force has been the face-and mouth-of drag racing for the past decade, and he shows no signs of slowing down, on or off the track. This photo biography by veteran race reporter Erik Arneson covers the rags-to-riches story of Force's rise from a penniless racer to a multi-team effort that includes his high-profile daughter Ashley (the 2004 Driver of the Year and Rookie of the Year). Force's story is of a career built on sheer will and determination by a racer who overcame lousy equipment and little backing with drive, guts, and savvy. The photos include archive shots of John's early days; the horrific crash after which Force famously quipped, "I saw Elvis at 1,000 feet"; and incredible race photography through to the modern day.