Monster Energy driver Brittany Force seeks first career NHRA Arizona Nationals victory

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 21) – Brittany Force knows what it takes to get to the finals of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Now, she wants to take it one step further.

A two-time finalist and runner-up in the NHRA Arizona Nationals (2014 and 2016), Force and her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team seek their first victory in the annual event, as well as first victory of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Force began the year at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., where she was a quarterfinalist.

Force’s race in last year’s Arizona Nationals served as a springboard to a successful early-season run. Including the Phoenix race, Force earned a berth in the Top Fuel final round in three of five races. While she came up short at Wild Horse Pass, she left the track third in the points standings. Force said that finals matchup was a strong indication of things to come.

“I love racing at Phoenix,” said Force, fifth in the Top Fuel points standings. “I’ve raced there in a lot of different cars there and been successful. Obviously last year we made it to the finals, and then the next race, we won at Gainesville (Fla.) in the Gatornationals. It’s a good spot for us, and this year, we want to take it all the way.”

Force tested at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park earlier this month, and achieved a best time of 3.695 seconds – third quickest among all Top Fuel competitors – and several runs in the 3.70-range. She returns to the track with enthusiasm.

“I think everything we put together for testing, we’ll put toward the setup for this weekend,” Force said. “It’s nice to be back at a track you were recently at. We made 10 or 11 passes, so it will be nice to have some familiarity.”

The Arizona Nationals begins Friday, with the first two rounds of qualifications (televised tape delay on Fox Sports 1 – midnight Eastern). Qualifying continues Saturday (tape delay on FS1 – midnight Eastern). FS1 will televise elimination rounds Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern.

4-Second Reads:

Brittany Force has competed in the NHRA Arizona Nationals four times, and every year since 2013, the first year she competed in the event.
Brittany Force has advanced to the final round of the Winternationals twice, but still looking for her first victory. Her record in elimination round races at Wild Horse Pass is 7-4.
Brittany Force’s best qualifying effort at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park was No. 5, which she earned last year.
Following a first-round loss in her track debut in 2013, Brittany Force has won each of her last three first-round matchups in the NHRA Arizona Nationals.
In her career, Brittany Force has three victories and 88 round wins.