HIGHT, B. FORCE HOLD ONTO STRONG QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL, TN – Warmer conditions took their toll on performance numbers today at the 16th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The benefit to the teams will be better data to evaluate for race day and the teams of John Force Racing will be looking to pick up their fifth win of 2016. Robert Hight and Brittany Force held onto their No. 3 qualifying positions and every driver held form qualifying in the top half of their respective fields.
Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team will head into Sunday with confidence and lane choice over No. 14 qualifier Jeff Diehl. Hight was not able to improve his performance from Friday, a career quickest 3.897 second run, and the 2011 Thunder Valley Nationals winner actually never made it to the finish line under power today. The 2009 Funny Car champion was aggressively attacking the track finding the performance edge needed to go rounds on race day.
“We were very aggressive today with this Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car. We are heading into summer and we are working on a hot weather tune-up. We got pretty far down track on the last run and we just lost traction. We are looking at the data and I know we can back this race car down and make strong runs tomorrow. You can’t take anyone lightly out here and we will be focused for Jeff Diehl in the first round,” said Hight.
“I am happy my daughter Autumn is out on the road with me for Father’s Day so that will make it special. I want to get back to going rounds on Sunday and I think Mike Neff and these Auto Club guys will give me a car that can do that,” added Hight.
Team leader John Force driver the PEAK/Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car raced to the No. 8 qualified spot and will face veteran driver Jack Beckman in the first round. Force and Beckman had similar numbers during both sessions today but Force will go into race day knowing he can pick his lane and control his own destiny.
“I know the drill over there. I danced with those guys (crew chiefs) Jimmy Prock and John Medlen. They are really good. It is exciting and it is great for the fans. I am ready to get back in this fight and we aren’t where we want to be but we are getting better. I have a young team and we are getting better and I am having a great time out here. The fans are great and I love Bristol Dragway. I want to get out here and entertain all the fathers that are coming out to the track tomorrow,” exclaimed Force from the top end after his final qualifying run.
Force’s day will start with the Legends of Thunder Valley induction ceremony and hopefully for the four-time Thunder Valley Nationals winner wrap up with a fifth trip to the winner’s circle. In his career at Bristol Dragway Force has only raced Beckman once dropping a first round race in 2009.
“I am honored to be named a Legend of Thunder Valley. I am not done making history yet with this hot rod. I look at those names up on that building, people like Bruton Smith, Connie Kalitta, Don Schumacher and Don Garlits, and I can’t believe my name will be up there. I have won a lot here and I want to keep on winning,” said Force.
The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster was the picture of consistency on Saturday at Bristol Dragway. Brittany Force had the quickest dragster of the first session today running 3.834 seconds at 318.69 mph and in the second session the Brian Husen tuned dragster was right up at the top of the performance scale with a 3.849 second run.
Force picked up bonus points in the three of the four qualifying sessions over the past two days. She will go into race day as the No. 3 qualifier and will race the legend Chris “The Greek” Karamesines. Two years ago Force was upset by Karamesines in the first round at the Thunder Valley Nationals and that was the only time the pair have met in competition.
“I am just proud of everyone one on this Monster Energy team. We made four great runs and that just gives me a lot of confidence going into Sunday. We have to race Chris Karamesines and he is a legend. I will be ready and I love racing at Bristol Dragway. I would love to get a win here on Father’s Day. I am not going to take anything for granted and I know we have to take it one round at a time. This Monster Energy dragster felt good every run down the track,” said Force.
The lone JFR dragster will be focused on winning for the third time in 2016 and also possibly celebrating Father’s Day in the winner’s circle on Sunday.
The Traxxas team was also one of the more consistent Funny Cars this weekend posting qualifying runs of 3.968, 3.938, 4.105 and 3.998 seconds. Courtney Force, who on Monday will celebrate her 28th birthday, will be looking for her second win of 2016 and first at Bristol Dragway. The youngest racing Force will have to first get past Dave Richards in the first round tomorrow.
The Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car was on a strong run in the first session today when it dropped a cylinder and slowed to a 4.10 second. The No. 5 starting position is the best start for Courtney and for Traxxas, The Fastest Name in Radio Control, at Bristol Dragway.
“We qualified with a 3.93 in this Traxxas Chevy Camaro and it is great to be back out here at the Thunder Valley Nationals. We are qualified in the No. 5 spot and I am excited to be out here. We’ll have Dave Richards in the first round and we have a fast hot rod,” said Force. “We made four great passes throughout qualifying. We had a hole out in the first run today which slowed us to a 4.10 second run. I think there are a couple things we have been able to tweak and we will be ready for race day tomorrow. Being able to celebrate Father’s Day here at the track with my dad is awesome. I hope that one of our teams ends up in the winner’s circle.”