Courtney Force’s No. 1 qualifying streak ends,
but Advance Auto Parts driver still No. 2 in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 20) – It took a national record to halt the No. 1 qualifying streak of Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car driver Courtney Force.
Force had earned the No. 1 qualifying spot in each of the last four races and temporarily held the top spot during the final qualifying session for the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals on Saturday at Heartland Park Topeka.
Force’s scintillating pass of 3.815 seconds at 335.23 mph lowered the national elapsed time record, but Matt Hagan went a tick quicker to steal the top spot and move Force back to No. 2.

“It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t continue the streak,” Force said. “But I guess if it was gonna end in any sort of way, I’m glad it was with someone resetting our national ET record.”
Force has still qualified in the top four for all nine races this season and has qualified in the top half of the field for 34 consecutive races.
“I’m really proud of my Advanced Auto Parts team, (crew chief) Dan Hood, (co-crew chief) Ronnie Thompson, with that phenomenal 3.815 at 335 mph,” Force said. “It was a pretty insane ride here at Heartland Park Topeka, and it’s really cool make a pass like that. We first had set the ET record before it was reset a few pairs later, but still a great job by my team, and it really gets us excited about tomorrow.”
Force, seeking her ninth career victory and second at Topeka, will face No. 15 qualifier Tim Wilkerson in the first round Sunday. Wilkerson had a best pass of 4.522 seconds at 185.26 mph.
“It should be close to similar conditions,” Force said. “We are No. 2 qualifier, but it’s gonna be a tough first-round matchup when you have to go against Tim Wilkerson. So we will do the best we can and look for that consistency we been looking for it all season long and hope for a long race day.”
Force’s 2014 victory here was the 100th win by a female driver in NHRA.
“This is one of those tracks that very special to me,” Force said. “A lot of great memories here, and I hope to continue to make more.”
Sunday’s NHRA Menards Heartland Nationals begins at noon Eastern. Fox Sports 1 will provide three hours of live finals coverage starting at 3 p.m. Eastern.

4-Second Reads:

Qualifying Round 1: 9.524 sec./54.97 mph; lost traction around 150-foot mark
Qualifying Round 2: 3.815 sec./335.23 mph; set both ends of career bests and lowered the national ET, set last year
Qualifying Round 3: 7.588 sec./77.08 mph; lost traction immediately and lifted but stayed No. 2
This is the second time this year Force has qualified No. 2; she was also No. 2 in Phoenix. Her No. 2 qualifying position ended her streak of four consecutive No. 1s, a career best.
Force has now qualified No. 2 on 14 occasions and has made it to the finals twice. She has 18 round wins in 31 eliminations, and is still seeking her first victory from that qualifying spot.
Force’s most recent victory at Heartland Park Topeka came in 2014, when she defeated Cruz Pedregon in the final round.
Force also qualified No. 2 at Heartland Park Topeka in 2013, when she made it to the quarterfinals.
Force’s matchup against Tim Wilkerson marks the 13th time the two will compete in an elimination round. Force won the last matchup, in her most recent victory in May 16 in Houston. Force owns a 9-3 advantage over Wilkerson in elimination round matchups.