Force is a finalist for Shav Glick award

FORCE AMONG FINALISTS FOR SHAV GLICK AWARD
Penske, Agajanian, Stewart, McGrath Also Nominated

FONTANA, Calif. -- Drag racing icon John Force, the NHRA Funny Car Champion 13 of the last 15 years, is among those nominated for the sixth annual Eagle One Shav Glick Award to be presented during the Feb. 27 Automobile Club of Southern California 500 at California Speedway.

The award, named for the long-time motorsports writer for the Los Angeles Times, recognizes distinguished contributions to motorsports in California. Previous winners include NHRA founder Wally Parks, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Rick Mears and Les Richter.

Force, who last season reclaimed the title he had relinquished in 2003 to then teammate Tony Pedregon, is nominated for this year's award along with businessman Roger Penske, legendary promoter J.C. Agajanian, motorcyclist Jeremy McGrath and off-road racing standing Ivan Stewart.

"Being nominated with Penske and J.C. Agajanian and Stewart, the 'Iron Man,' is an honor because those were names you knew growing up in racing," Force said. "Bottom line, if I am lucky enough to get an award that's named for Shav and be on the same page as Wally Parks and Gurney and Parnelli Jones and the others, well, you can't do better than that."

The most successful drag racer of all time, Force has won 114 NHRA tour events and was the American motor racing Driver of the Year in 1996, the only drag racer ever so honored.

He owns numerous NHRA records but is most proud of his 13 career titles. He has qualified a Castrol GTX Funny Car for a record 346 consecutive events, a streak that dates back to Oct. 31, 1987.

Driver of the quickest and fastest Funny Car on the planet, a Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang that last year covered the standard quarter mile in 4.665 seconds at 333.58 miles per hour, Force has won at least one NHRA national event in each of the last 18 seasons.

The judging panel for the Eagle One Shav Glick Award includes national and California motorsports writers and track executives.

-www.johnforceracing.com-