Chevrolet Drivers Make Big Gains in ‘Big Go’ Qualifications
Brittany Force is provisional No. 3 Top Fuel qualifier; Aaron Strong wins first Pro Stock race

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3, 2016) – The “big picture,” which includes the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoff, is top of mind for Brittany Force.

Force, a three-time winner this season in the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, improved one position over Friday and is the provisional No. 3 Top Fuel qualifier at 3.706 seconds at 326 mph through three of five rounds of qualifications for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

The prestigious event is the last of 18 regular-season National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) races, during which drivers earn points to qualify for one of the 10 spots in each Mello Yello Series class for the Countdown to the Championship that begins Sept. 16-18 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Force, who fell Saturday in the first round of the special event-within-the-event Traxxas Nitro Shootout, is a solid fourth in the standings and has locked up a berth in the six-race Countdown for the third consecutive year.

“The way I look at it, just to have a shot to compete in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout is a big deal when you look at the people you’re playing against,” she said. “We won a race to qualify this year at the very beginning of the season at Gainesville, and that is something to be very proud of.

“This weekend is a crazy weekend. It’s two races in one and there is so much that goes into it. Now we have a couple more qualifying passes, then we go right back to work on Monday and I hope we turn on those win lights and bring home a win. I am excited to see what we can accomplish.”

John Force Racing trio to compete for $100,000 bonus
John Force Racing teammates John Force (PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS), Robert Hight (Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS), and Courtney Force (Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS) – each of whom has at least one Funny Car victory this season — also have locked up playoff berths.

All three are scheduled to compete Sunday for the $100,000 prize in the Funny Car Traxxas Nitro Shootout. Hight was a finalist in the Shootout the past two years, while John Force has won the special event in 2014 and 2012.

Courtney Force moved from ninth to the No. 4 qualifier in the third round with a run of 3.857 seconds at 327.11 mph. In the evening round, a ball of fire engulfed Hight’s car about two-thirds of the way down the racetrack.

“I had no indication anything was wrong. All of a sudden it exploded and blew me over into the left lane. We have a lot of work to do tonight, but I have the best guys in the business,” said Hight, who was uninjured.

The team’s race shop is about five miles from the racetrack.

Strong wins rain-delayed Pro Stock final
Aaron Strong wasn’t able to celebrate his first Pro Stock victory with friends and family at his home track in Seattle, but there will be a party in the near future.

Strong defeated Vincent Nobile, who tripped the red light, to win the final round of the Seattle race that was postponed Aug. 7 because of rain. Strong, driving the A&J Furniture Chevrolet Camaro SS, advanced to his first final in nine career Pro Stock races by ousting four-time national champion Greg Anderson, reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders-Stevens, and No. 2 qualifier Bo Butner.

“When we changed to Pro Stock, I knew it was a major undertaking and wasn’t expecting to make it to my first final so soon,” said Strong, who was the No. 14 qualifier. “Pro Stock is a beating and I was happy just to get our first round win (at Seattle). We would have loved to win at home for all the fans there. It was pretty loud and crazy every time we won a round. I was OK doing it at Indy because I always wanted to come here and race. It was on my bucket list.”
Chevrolet drivers own top six spots in Pro Stock qualifying

Nobile, driving the Mountain View Tire Chevrolet Camaro SS, retained the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot through three rounds. His 6.582-second pass (210.05 mph) Friday remained the quickest. He was the No. 1 qualifier the past two races.

Chevrolet drivers hold the top six positions heading into the final two rounds of qualifying Sunday.

Shane Gray (Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro SS) jumped five positions in Round 3 to second (6.589 seconds), while Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) is third and Butner (Jim Butner Auto Chevrolet Camaro SS) is fourth. Alex Laughlin holds the provisional No. 5 position in the Gas Monkey Energy Chevrolet Camaro SS, and Pro Stock points leader Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) is sixth.

Laughlin takes initial steps to Countdown

Laughlin is seeking to qualify for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

The second-year Pro Stock driver, who turns 28 on Sept. 7, entered the weekend 36 points behind Jeg Coughlin for the 10th and final spot in the six-race playoff.

“We weren’t even really paying attention to the points for about the first 10 races, and then we started thinking, ‘We really have a shot at racing in the Countdown this year.’ It’s not something that we had an opportunity to do last year,” said Texas native, who was the No. 1 qualifier at Denver and has advanced six times to the quarterfinals. “It took us a little while to pick up our momentum this year with a new team and new car and we’re still learning. We’re certainly happy with where we are but always want more. I think we really could be a contender if we got in.”

Laughlin, who competed in seven Pro Stock events in 2015, began racing at age 9 in karts and won two national championships. He moved to Legend Cars before receiving his state-issued driver’s license.

“Racing has been my passion since I can remember,” he added. “I give my success in racing and the ability to feel the cars, the ability to slow everything down and process what’s going on around you to growing up in karting.”

Chevrolet COPO Camaros displaying their mettle

Nine Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers won their first-round Stock Eliminator matchups Saturday, led by No. 6 qualifier Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama.

Arthur Kohn, who was the No. 13 qualifier, said the Camaros are showing their mettle. There were 169 entries in the category this weekend.

“They are rocket ships. They run straight and are comfortable and reliable,” said Kohn, of Richmond, Texas. “They’re amazing cars that are fast right out of the box.”