Monster Energy driver Brittany Force ready to make another run at Arizona Nationals victory

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25) – Brittany Force and her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team are trending positive after a productive Saturday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

Force made solid runs in the final two qualifying sessions, saving her best pass for last and snaring a spot in the top half of the field.

Force qualified No. 7 with a lap of 3.703 seconds at 329.42 mph as she tries to race to her second consecutive final round here – and her third in the last four years.

”It’s always good knowing we had success here last year – we went to the final,” Force said. “I raced here in Super Comp, I raced here in A-Fuel and in 2014, I went to the final, too. We’ve almost had some luck here – not all the way. But we’re hoping this is my track this weekend.”

Force qualified No. 10 in 2014 but raced to the final before falling to Antron Brown. Last year, she was No. 5 and battled Leah Pritchett in the final round before losing a close race.

The 2016 final round here was just the second time in NHRA history that two females squared off in a Top Fuel final.

Force failed to make it down the track with a full run on Friday, but her team went to work. Crew chief Brian Husen and tuning consultant Alan Johnson made adjustments, and Force made a run of 3.737 at 325.06 mph in Q3.

Then, Force went even quicker in the final session.

“It’s been a rough weekend for the Monster team,” Force said. “Friday, we had two qualifying passes and couldn’t get the car down the track. Coming out today and making two decent runs, .73 and then improving on Q4 with a .70 has us all set up and ready for Sunday.

“It’s going to be tough, but we plan to battle it out and go after it.”

She’ll race No. 10 qualifier Terry McMillen in the first round of eliminations Sunday. McMillen’s best pass was 3.768 seconds at 322.11 mph.

The two have raced each other 11 times, with Force winning the last 10 meetings – including beating McMillen in the Gatornationals final round last season. They raced in the second round here in 2016, with Force winning.