From humble beginnings , Force started with nothing and built an empire in the nitro ranks that currently fields two Funny Car teams , including his own , and a pair of Top Fuel operations . Force ’ s relentless drive for success has been unwavering for decades , both in his pursuit of corporate America and his unparalleled success on the track .

In becoming the most popular driver the sport has ever known , Force has racked up an unprecedented 16 world championships and 154 victories .

When it comes to Funny Car wins , only Ron Capps is within 100 victories of him , a staggering statistic considering the legends who have been a part of the category . None of them , though , can measure up to Force , who won a remarkable 10 straight world championships in Funny Car from 1993-2002 and 13 total from 1990-2004 .

He ’ s also approaching 1,500 round wins , has appeared in more than 260 final rounds and has watched his daughters , Courtney , Ashley and Brittany , achieve significant success .

His wild , quirky , occasionally unhinged , but also entertaining personality has made him a fan-favorite for decades and a defining character in the sport . Force brought the sport to new levels and is universally recognized as a legend by his peers in all forms of motorsports .

Force ’ s dedication to the craft and to drag racing also needs to be mentioned , as he remains steadfast in helping the sport grow more than 45 years after his first start .

He will be invested in drag racing forever and will always be known as one of the greatest of all time . – JOSH HACHAT DI

PHOTOS : NHRA , JASON SHARP

January / February 2022 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 119