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69-year-old John Forces races to 149th NHRA Funny Car win

MORRISON, Colo. (AP) — John Force raced to his first victory of the season and record-extending 149th career Funny Car win Saturday in the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

The 69-year-old Force won for the eighth time at Bandimere Speedway, edging Ron Capps in the final with a 4.075-second run at 315.42 mph.

Force drove the John Force Racing Camaro past Matt Hagan in the first round, Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinals and daughter Courtney Force in the semifinals en route to his first victory since the Gatornationals in March 2017.

"I found myself with all of the crashes at probably the lowest I've been, probably worse than '05 when I crashed and was fighting to get back," the 16-time season champion said. "The fire is back in me, I'm fighting."

Leah Pritchett won in Top Fuel for her second victory of the season and seventh overall. She beat Doug Kalitta in the final with a 3.831 at 316.45.

Greg Anderson topped the Pro Stock field for his first win of the year and 91st overall, and Hector Arana Jr. won in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Anderson edged Jason Line with a 6.943 at 196.53, and

Arana topped Jerry Savoie with a 7.170 at 185.89.

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