John Force rockets to 134th win

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POMONA, Calif. -- John Force raced to his 134th career Funny Car victory Sunday at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

The 62-year-old Force used a holeshot start to claim his sixth win at this event and 15th at this track with a performance of 4.080 seconds at 315.84 mph in a Ford Mustang.

Runner-up Mike Neff finished in 4.036 at 316.82 in his Mustang.

"It was good to get a win under my belt," Force said. "Last year we struggled all year and only won one race. You really want to perform. We knew we had to go after (Neff) and it just went. It wasn't quick enough to beat him. He was late and I got the win. We have the old team back together like the way it used to be. It's a good start for us this weekend."

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were winners of the season-opening NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Massey, who finished second in the points standings last year, opened the new season in first place by outrunning Antron Brown in the final round to take his seventh career Top Fuel victory and first at Pomona. Massey posted a 3.750 at 325.77 to hold off Brown's dragster, which trailed with a 3.794 at 320.43.

In Pro Stock, Anderson raced to his 71st career victory and fifth at the Winternationals, by powering his Pontiac to a 6.549 at 210.87 to hold off Jeg Coughlin's Dodge Avenger, which trailed with a 6.586 at 209.62.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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