Force Puts On Weight, and Gains Top Spot

Funny car champion John Force, who had a 5.094-second run wiped out Thursday because his Pontiac Firebird was more than two pounds under the legal limit, came back Friday at Pomona Raceway, ran 5.084 and grabbed the No. 1 spot in qualifying for Sunday’s Chief Auto Parts Winternationals drag racing.

“We put seven pounds back in the car to make sure there wasn’t any problems today,” Force said. “When we switched to Firebird (from Chevy Lumina), we had to build an all-new body and we’re still getting used to it. I hope we can push it a lot quicker tomorrow.”

Two qualifying sessions today, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., will set the fields for Sunday’s 16-car eliminations.

Rookie driver Larry Dixon, in Don Prudhomme’s year-old top-fuel dragster, moved into the top spot ahead of four-time champion Joe Amato with a 4.835-second run. Eddie Hill, with a career-record 304.05 m.p.h. at 4.854, also passed Amato, the first-day leader.

Warren Johnson remained No. 1 in pro stock with the 7.139-second pass he made Thursday in his Olds Cutlass.