John Force for mayor?

John Force loves it in Indiana.

He credits tax breaks and other assistance local government officials have given him for his ability to grow his 60-employee operation at his 150,000-square-foot shop in Brownsburg.

But it’s not just about the tax breaks, Force said. It’s personal attention. He admits the area’s central location, roadway system and proximity to other NHRA teams and parts makers is also part of the allure.

But Force said it all starts with Brownsburg’s initiative to make it beneficial for drag racing teams to call the city home.

Force also has operations for his National Hot Rod Association team in California, but said he’s slowly moved 90 percent of his operation to central Indiana. Force will be spending lots of time in Indiana soon as the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals run Sept. 1-6 at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

“I love California, it’s a beautiful place,” Force said. “But government officials there, they’re running everybody out. It takes me four to six months to get a meeting with any California [government official]. I make a call in Indiana and I get a sit-down meeting within a week. It’s fantastic.

“The [Brownsburg] police chief just stops by our facility and asks if there’s anything he can do for us. The mayor too is extremely helpful.”

Force added that county and state officials have also bent over backward to make sure his and other NHRA team operations in Brownsburg have what they need to grow. He said the assistance has been especially helpful over the last two years as NHRA teams have chugged through a difficult economy.

“Heck, [Lt. Gov.] Becky Skillman came out and spent a half a day with us at the race last year, just to learn more about our operation, and to see what the state could do to help us grow,” Force said.
 
Though he’s not native to this area, Force, 61, said he considers himself a member of the Indiana family.

“I’m a Hoosier golldangit,” Force said. “I simply love it there. I love it so much, hell, I don’t know, I may run for mayor some day.”