Die Macht » The proud fathers huddled near the

During this most divisive election year, there have been questions about whether Donald Trump, 70, and Hillary Clinton, 68, are too old to hold this nations highest office. Athletes in this age range are long retired -- and their coaches often are too. Grandparents at this age are being asked by their children if perhaps they might not need to be driving long distances or getting behind the wheel at night. ?John Force is 67 years old, and last weekend he earned a record-extending victory by driving his Chevy Funny Car 319.45 mph, covering the 1,000-foot dragstrip in 3.965 seconds.Juan Ponce De Leon died 495 years ago this month after being shot in the thigh by a poisoned arrow during his second trip to Florida, a place he had named, where he had continued to search for the fountain of youth. Poor Ponce was looking in the wrong place. The fountain of youth is located a full continent away from the Florida coast. Its in Yorba Linda, California, and the liquid that flows through it is not water. Its nitromethane -- with a little Peak antifreeze mixed in for good measure.On Sunday afternoon in Denver, Force gulped from that fountain on live television, earning his unmatched 144th career NHRA finals victory and checking off the mind-bending 29th season that he has won at least one national event. This win might set the stage for an autumn run at a 17th Funny Car championship.There are more statistics to list, but there isnt time. Force is already on to the next race, this weekend at the Sonoma Raceway. Thats cool, because theres really only one stat that matters here. Its the one number that automatically puts all the others into perspective. Those 67 years.His children arent demanding that he hand over the keys. On Sunday in Denver, he defeated one of his four daughters, 28-year-old Courtney. His grandchildren arent begging him to slow down and drive them to the toy store. On Sunday, long after the grandstand had been emptied, Force was making one more run up and down the Denver dragstrip, this time at a near crawl, piloting a scooter with his toddler grandson riding in his lap.This is who John Force is now. He has always been a prodigious talker. But now his legendary 300 mph rants are packed with reflection and philosophy.We are all put here on this earth to do something, whether its to be the governor of a state or the guy who empties the governors trash cans, he said earlier this year. I used to think I was put on this earth to be nothing. Then I thought I was put on here to be a football player. Well, you know what? I wasnt great at football and I really wasnt great at being nothing. Then I thought I was put here to go 300 miles per hour, setting myself on fire and blowing myself up for these fans out there. I am pretty good at that. ...But now I realize thats just part of my purpose. These kids, these grandkids, my wife, thats my purpose, man. I tried racing when I didnt include them as much. Thought I was having fun. I wasnt. Now were having fun. And Ill be doing that until my time here is done.For mere mortals, that time would have been done multiple times over. He isnt being hyperbolic when he speaks of setting myself on fire and blowing myself up. Hes done both multiple times. So many times that in the 2011 Body Issue of ESPN The Magazine -- the one that fills its pages with photos of youthfulness titled Bodies We Want -- there was a two-page spread of Force, then 62, buck naked with descriptions of the scars that crisscross his skin like a Rand McNally Road Atlas. Burned off fingertips, a knee that looks like a zipper, and a sewn-up hole where a bone used to be sticking out of his wrist.It was titled The Body You Dont Want.Force has lost blood, skin and his closest friends. Still, he races on. In 2007 his protégé Eric Medlen was killed via a brain injury so horrific that it has been hard for physicists, let alone physicians, to describe. Force didnt walk away. Instead, he led a wave of safety innovations that have changed the sport, even while rivals questioned every step of the process.Forces physical aches and pains are nearly matched by the pitfalls of his business. It wasnt so long ago that his auto manufacturer unexpectedly walked away. So did his sponsors.People say to me, Why in the world do you keep digging out of holes to keep doing this? he said earlier this spring, when he was mired in the one-year winless streak that was eventually snapped in Denver. Ive been digging out of holes my whole life. I had polio when I was kid. I grew up in a trailer. Yeah, Ive won a lot of races, but you know what? I raced for a dozen years before I even won a race. Why do I keep going? Because my life came without a safety net, man. If I dont keep swinging on that trapeze deal like I do, guess what? Splat.Force is an astronaut without NASA. Hes a stuntman whos never heard Cut! Hes Evel Knievel played with the fast-forward button pressed to 8X. Out here, away from the drag strip, we might wonder why he keeps going. But down there, on Nitro Alley, where the fans line up six-deep, wearing gas masks and 20-year-old John Force T-shirts, screaming his name and laughing along to every diatribe, they never ask when hes going to stop.They just want one whiff of that nitro, one quick shot of 300 mph wisdom. One quick sip from Ponce De Forces Fountain of Youth. Byron Buxton Twins Jersey . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Miguel Sano Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-max-kepler-jersey/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. C. J. Cron Twins Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Rod Carew Twins Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. LAS VEGAS -- The UFC says heavyweight Brock Lesnar failed a second doping test in a sample taken on the night of his victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200.The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency notified Lesnar last week about his first potential violation of the UFCs policy from an out-of-competition test last month.The UFC says Lesnar tested positive for the same unnamed substance in both tests.The 39-year-old Lesnar declined to comment Tuesday on the UFCs disclosure of hiis second positive test.ddddddddddddLesnar is among the most popular athletes in both mixed martial arts and professional wrestling. He beat Hunt by decision on July 9, handily winning his first MMA fight in 4 1/2 years.He made a UFC-record $2.5 million guaranteed purse at UFC 200, likely along with undisclosed millions in bonuses. ' ' '