GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sixteen-time NHRA champion John Force has so many victories that they run together.
This one surely will stand out.
Force won the Gatornationals on Sunday for the first time since 2001, doing so on the 10th anniversary of his worst day in racing.
His 148th career victory came a decade to the day after one of his drivers, Eric Medlen, crashed during practice at Gainesville Raceway. Medlen died four days later. Force helped Medlen's father, John, spearhead efforts to make professional drag racing safer.
"I know he was in my heart all day," Force said.