Driving Force: Episode #1 First Impressions
Written by David Lamm · July 18, 2006
The debut of the NHRA reality series that focuses on John Force and his strained relationship with his wife and three daughters was last night with much fanfare and hype. I had a chance to catch the first episode and there were some good and bad things to take away from it. The best news is that this show will expose a brand new demographic to the sport of drag racing that possibly never even considered going to a drag strip.
A&E: Driving Force Episode Guide
If you are tuning into Driving Force for more racing coverage, you will be severely disappointed. That is not the focus of this show. The focal point is the fact that John Force, the most prolific driver in NHRA history, made sacrifices to achieve his legendary status in the drag racing world. Those sacrifices came at the cost of his marriage and family. Through years of traveling from race to race and winning championships Force missed a lot of his daughters’ formidable years and skipped piano recitals, cheerleader tryouts and other childhood activities. This show is about John making amends for that neglect and trying to reach out to his daughters in the best way he knows, through drag racing.
The first episode was rather entertaining in that the interaction between all involved is real. I had the privilege of working closely to all the drivers in the NHRA while working for the NHRA Media Relations Department. That close working relationship included the sport’s biggest star, John Force. Many people would ask me if John Force is the same way off the track in a one-on-one environment as he is when he is animated and talking a mile-a-minute. The answer was and always will be yes. John is one of a kind and this program showcases that.
I did have a few complaints although they are quite minor. Although I know they are trying to appeal to the masses in the show, there were some discrepancies with the racing sections. In trying to build the drama prior to Ashley Force’s near miss of a crash, they focused in on the other driver’s cockpit. That cut was clearly the helmet of Doug Kalitta and was rather obvious because of the Mac Tools paint scheme on it. Also, they made it seem like it was the beginning of the season, yet the crash footage came at Gainesville Raceway. Rather than drive yourself crazy trying to pick out what’s wrong with the show, focus on what’s right.
This is probably the closest you will ever get to John Force outside of him signing an autograph or posing for a picture for five seconds in between rounds at a race. I am looking forward to the rest of the season of this show and hopefully it becomes a hit for A&E like many of its other reality shows. Great debut for the show and here’s hoping this show will bring in a new legion of fans and media exposure for the sport of drag racing.
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21 Responses to “Driving Force: Episode #1 First Impressions”
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I’ll keep an open mind but I’m not impressed. I know John through neighbors of his and he’s not as “on” as the show would seem. When he’s around a lot of people, press etc, he is always on but not entirely when just at home. They obviously can’t (& wouldn’t) be able to pick that up. I know it’s TV so we’ll see. First impression isn’t good.
I know that many drag racing fans will be disappointed that there isn’t more boom/bang race-specific action, but I’ll bet that stuff follows in subsequent episodes.
Meantime it’s the John Force Racing human stories that take center stage on A&E. When I’ve seen Force in media interviews he’s exactly the way he is in the series; gruff, excitable, enthusiastic and quite outspoken. I like the guy and appreciate that he’s showing the price he’s paid in lost family time.
I’d say that this is the biggest media event for NHRA since Shirley Muldowney’s “Heart Like a Wheel” in the 1980s. That movie got me interested in drag racing partly because of the wonderful human interest stories; I hope more people check out the NHRA now, for the same reason.
Anything with John Force, has to be good. Look what he has meant to the sport of Drag Racing. Yes, I am sure he was so busy with his racing career, that he did miss alot of his family ’s growing pains. But, that is the price you pay for being on top.
I totally liked the show, Go Get em John !!
LOVED John, hated the Wife, thought the Daughters were spoiled, and thought all 4 don’t appreciate the sacrifices John has made for them!
NOTE TO JOHN FORCE- Find three young deserving guys, and GIVE EVERYTHING TO THEM! Then get divorced.
I loved the show I think his wife knew who she married she doesnt complain about the money she has on tap does she and Johns daughters have alot more than most kids so boo hoo .In order to be the best you have to give up something and he is trying to make amends to his kids.Oh yeah and the daughter who wants to be a teacher ,John could open up a drag racing school and she could be a teacher there why not? All in all I love Drag racing and have been a John Force fan since he had WENDYS as a sponsor and really dont care aslong he smokes those tires
I thought the show was great.I have been around drag racing since it started and John is one of a kind.Sure,he’s tough on the girls, but he built an empire and I don’t think they realize what he’s done and someone needs to pay attention.John is definetly a type A and is going to have the big one,one of these days.My bet is on Robert,his son-in-law,to take over.I’ve talked with Robert and he is focused and will be a great champion in the future.Ashley is pretty cool and will probably hang in there for awhile.
I used to color pictures with crayons with John’s daughters on the dining table of the Steve’s motor home at various events. In an earlier comment it was asked if John was always the way he is in the show and NO he is not always like that. The John Force I know is a quiet, fun, and loveable person who is a big kid at heart. When John is NOT on stage, he is a cool quiet interesting person. I remember once at Sonoma, Fram’s people were supposed to have made the hotel arrangements for John and his family, but somebody screwed up and the arrangements never happened, so when John went to check in he didn’t have a room, so he took care of everything and put his family and himself in a different hotel where no body would know where they were staying. John commented about the situation and it was obvious he was frustrated with the situation and wanted to deal with it in a manner so as to make Fram’s people aware of the screw-up, but yet not offend anyone. John was scheduled to speak at the Fram Autolite dinner that evening and commented that he wanted to get back at them for the situation, so me being the smarty pants I am, suggested that he stay in his ever dusty dirty grimmy fire suit and we would loan him a sleeping bag and he would show up at the dinner at the very last minute with the sleeping bag tucked under his arm, walk into the room from the back and get up at the podium and say “Sorry I am late, but I was busy trying to catch up on some sleep since I didn’t have a room to stay in”, Well let me tell you, the President of Fram’s wife literally fell out of her chair she was laughing so hard and the president of Fram at that time almost lost it he was laughing so hard. I could go on and on with TRUE stories of the John Force I have been privileged to know. I do however enjoy the TV, Racer John Force, but to really know John and how he really is outside of the public eye is truly a privilege. John Force is the Dale Earnhardt of NHRA. If we lost John the way Nascar lost “Big E”, it would be an extremely sad day. Regarding the comment about Robert Hight being the one to take over the Force empire….wow what a story there, from the mountains of the greater Northwest, who came to Force and just wanted to work and was willing to work for nothing and now drives one of John’s funny cars and is married to John’s oldest daughter to the front door of the Force family home. Robert is one of a kind man…dependable, honest, hard working and never tiring, who understands what respect is. Robert Hight is a true winner through and through…!!!!!!! I have been blessed to have been around John the times I have been and have a lot of truly interesting stories of the man and how he REALLY is.
The first show was merely a prelude of the many great shows to come. I have 2 daughters and some of the issues hit pretty close to home. It’s just a glimps of real life as a professional celebrity. The girls, which are all very bright and also easy on the eyes, are the future of great drag racing to come. I think the show will be a success and being an 11 year die hard Force fan, I’ll watch every episode. John isn’t just a racing champion but also a pretty good husband and daddy.
John is like that, not mean, excitable. He is passionate for the sport, he wants his chidren to have the same passion. John isn’t getting any younger and he hopes to have his children continue his dynasty. These girls all have good heads on their shoulders and will progress just fine. I don’t think that the show was in anyway indicative of them being spoiled. Remember they didn’t ask dad to be a huge success, he ended up that way through hard work, he is showing his kids what hard work can do for you (in any profession). I will denfinitely tune in, because I know that episode 1 is just the tip of the iceberg and that we are in for a roller coaster of a ride. ENJOY!
I have heard many mixed reviews and here is what I can contend from all of it. It appears to me that for the most part the older generation of drag racing fan does not agree with the way the show portrays one of their own. I gained that impression from a a visit to the IHRA Canadian Nationals this past weekend. However the younger crowd that perhaps hasnt experienced John to his fullest potential seems to enjoy his passion for something he loves so much, including his daughthers and his racing.
I for one thought it was an incredible look into the life of a living legend and no matter where the show goes from here I will be a spectator.
Jory Elliott
Loved the show! Great editing. Great Wolfmother music. Hollywood writers could not have thought up a more colorful guy than John Force. John’s curses remind me of Ozzy Osbourne relaxing at his home. Ashley is cool to endure it all as her famous father’s daughter trying to find her place in the world. The younger daughters are just along for the ride, but that is OK too.
I have been a John Force fan for 30 years and have watched over the years in amazement of all he has accomplished both in and for drag racing. I was amazed at the attitude of the daughters and wife toward him. John, get a divorce….cut your losses and let the spoiled little girls get a job and make their own way, just like you did. Living in the guest house…you have got to be kidding! Your family aren’t crying about the lifestyle you have provided to them. My dad wasn’t around either but that is business.
I got the prividlege to see John Force race three times, all at the U.S. Nationals, and I got to see him win all three times, he’s a dynamite racer, and from the looks of the series, he can be a definite person that the blue collar type can relate to.
Being a man that came from a background where he had nothing, until he started hitting it big in the drag racing world, is something that the average “everyman” can relate to, because they face those struggles every day.
John Force is the biggest icon that the drag racing world has seen for many years . . . he’s won more championships that Don Garlits, he’s won more races than Bob Glidden, and he’s been to more events than Kenny Bernstein, all because of his drive to do what’s right or his family.
The sacrifices he made for his career can also be seen in the average human being daily, he’s the kind of person that could easily pass for your next door neighbor, or your best friend, going through the exact same troubles.
Granted, even though he’s in front of a camera, and might not be the kind of person off camera, as he is on, but you can see that the struggles are still there, as he trys to connect with his family, in a way, you hope he succeeds in mending his family.
I watched both half hour segments last night (6/25/2006), and enjoyed both of them.
The one thing that irritates me about this whole deal is that in true Hollywood fashion, the show starts out with a problem and 30 minutes later everything is all better….BullPucky, I know John and you don’t change someone like John in 30 minutes, nor do you change his family and their ways either. I am a huge fan of John’s and will continue to watch the saga as it unfolds, hope they continue to tell the truth, because some of it isn’t pretty, but then, welcome to real life..!!!
I received this from the NHRA Media Dept. Thought I would pass it along and share:
‘DRIVING FORCE’ MOST SUCCESSFUL DEBUT SINCE ‘DOG’: The premier of “Driving Force” was a smashing success, pulling in almost two million viewers for the debut last week. The real-life television show based on the lives of 13-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force and his three drag racing daughters was A&E’s most watched series premiere since its 2004 premiere of “Dog the Bounty Hunter.” “To get more than a million viewers is just amazing,” Force said. “A&E is really excited about the show, not just for the numbers and because the racing is always exciting, but they got a big charge at their preview party from people who can relate to our family, the contact of their parents and their families to our children, so they feel they have a balance. We’re grateful to all of the people who helped get the show made, and we hope that drag racing fans and everyone else will keep watching us.”
I think this is a great idea for a show. I can relate, because my husband is a racer. I’ve seen many post of people saying John should divorce Laurie, which I think is terrible. She comes off as being very cold on the show, but she has been through alot. She has always supported him in his racing. Early in the Force racing career, Laurie was instrumental in business contracts, most notably the Wendy’s sponsorship, sponsor event recap reports and even the mixing of race fuel and packing of the race car parachutes. After Ashley was born everything changed. Laurie had to stay home to take care of the children. Laurie has sacraficed just as much as John. Imagine what it must feel like when you haven’t seen your husband in a whole month, and when he comes home he still can’t take a day out of his time to be with you, hold you, or say I love you. She raised the girls on her own. John has realized his mistakes and is trying to amend for them. That’s the whole point of this show. If you spent years at home with the kids waiting for alittle attention from your husband or wife you wouldn’t be a happy camper either. I think she still loves him. She has gone to every race she was able to. She is the one who brought the girls to the tracks to involve them in the racing. She is the big reason why the girls have started there racing careers, not just because of John. It was the both of them. John’s daughters have always been handed everything, but they are still young. Some people take alittle longer to grow up. This is also a tv show, looks can be deceiving. It isn’t always the whole story. Any relationship can work out if you want it to. Whether you are a race car driver, a doctor, or you work in a factory. You have to be able to let go of your work every once in a while, and stop thinking about yourself. Racing is a family sport, but it needs alot of work from both ends. I think this show will help other couples and families involved in racing see where mistakes can easily be made, and how to fix them. John I think you should call your wife every night on the phone if she isn’t there with you, and tell her you love her. Take an interest in what she is doing everyday. I’m a big fan. I went down to englishtown this year. I hope to see more of driving force!!!
I agree, I was looking on the NHRA website and going through some of the biographies on the A&E website of the family, and she actually seems quite jovial to me. I’ve met her and got her autograph at the track and she was nothing but sweet and kind. Maybe home life is different, but I think that if she went to that much effort to be kind to me and other fans at the track she would want to carry it over to television too. Point is, the camera can make her look they it wants you to see her.
What can i say other than THE SHOW IS GREAT and will follow it on A@E
NHRA# 1
HI I need a e mail adress/or some way to contact for the force family for promo idea $ …ETC… please thanks glenn
After viewing the first episode of “Driving Force”, I checked out this web site to see more of the family! A very different group than what I’m used to as far as a “family” goes. I watched the second episode as well with my neighbour who had been track-side during some of the Force races. He told me John was exactly the same as on the show and very accommodating as well. I’m not a fan, but he seems like a nice man — maybe a little up-tight……well I would be too with his fast-paced lifestyle. Looking forward to episode #3. I would like to add that I don’t have cable TV and this is one show I don’t mind imposing on my neighbours to watch. Good stuff.
This split up between Laurie and John truely is sad. I get the impression Laurie doesn’t love John anymore and is playing the role not only for TV but to keep the daughters happy.
I hate divorce and i hope they reconcile but 7 years. I know John made istakes and now is being humilated by Laurie on a daily basis.
Even when the daughters told her how she acted towards him she didn’t care. I hate to say it but its best to just give up and make all the family happy. laurie gets divorced and the girls can see their dad when THEY want.
If i was john i would just stay home for a week and not call, talk or bother anybody. you would findout quick who cared and who doesn’t.
Thats when laurie would have to choose between John and the big D.