JOHN FORCE, BRITTANY FORCE HAVE QUICK STARTS AT U.S. NATIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS – The 62nd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals started today with strong runs by John Force in Funny Car and Brittany Force in Top Fuel. Each of the drivers finished the first day with their lone qualifying runs placing them in the provisional No. 4 spots. Also in Funny Car Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car ran right behind Force in the No. 5 spot while Courtney Force will try and get an elapsed time on the board.

The PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car blasted down Lucas Oil Raceway with a blistering 3.872 second run at 329.58 mph that had Force in the No. 1 spot for a short period on Friday. After two days of testing last week John Force was hopeful his young team would come together at the biggest race of the season with a strong start. The four-time U.S. Nationals winner was rewarded with a run that had him near the top and positioned to have continued success.

“We put a 3.87 up there which wasn’t bad. We knew the cars following us would see what was out there. I am excited about that run and we’ll see what happens on Saturday, Sunday and of course race day on Monday. (PEAK Crew chief) Jon Schaffer worked with (Auto Club crew chief) Mike Neff and I think you saw some improvement. We have a whole new outlook coming in here. It was great to get this Chevrolet Camaro to run so good at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals,” said John Force at the end of the day.

Right after Force lit up the scoreboard teammate Robert Hight took the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car right down his lane with an amazing 330.31 mph run in 3.881 seconds. Hight was side by side with eventual provisional No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan who also ran over 330 mph. The three-time U.S. Nationals winner knows that getting a solid start on Friday will give his team an advantage going into the weekend and especially the Traxxas Nitro Shootout.

“That was a good run to get the weekend started. I think we can improve on that and be in a strong position for the Traxxas Shootout and the race on Monday. This team is really working well together and I am looking forward to four more strong qualifying runs. I could feel this Camaro pulling the whole way down the track and I still think there is more out there,” added Hight.

The Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car closed out the Funny Car session today but Courtney Force, who is No. 2 in the Mello Yello point standings, was not able to join her teammates at the top of the qualifying sheet. Force hit the throttle on her 10,000 horsepower Nitro coupe and she immediately drove into tire smoke. After the run crew chiefs Dan Hood and Ronnie Thompson diagnosed a mechanical issue that overpowered her Funny Car.

On the eve of the Top Fuel Traxxas Nitro Shootout Monster Energy driver Brittany Force established herself as one of the favorites for tomorrow’s $100,000 to win specialty race. The fourth year pro and three-time 2016 winner ran to the provisional No. 4 spot with a solid 3.730 second pass at 323.35 mph. The run was right down the middle of the track and gave Force confidence going into the weekend.

“That was an awesome start to our weekend. We went right down the race track in Q1 We have a long weekend ahead of us but this is how we wanted to start. I am feeling good and I am thankful to have this Monster Energy team behind me. They are an awesome team and I am excited to see what we can accomplish this weekend,” said Force.

Force will race Tony Schumacher in the first round of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout tomorrow.