Monster Energy driver Brittany Force sets career-best time, speed in qualifying No. 4 for Heartland Nationals
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 20) – Brittany Force and her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team look to not only have solved an ongoing issue with her machine – they’ve put her back in contention for victory in almost an instant.
Force made a career-best pass of 3.674 seconds at 332.43 mph in her third and final qualifying attempt Saturday, which was good enough for the No. 4 qualifying position for Sunday’s NHRA Menards Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
The run was two thousandths of a second quicker than her previous best – also set at Topeka last year – and almost a mile per hour faster than her previous best of 331.53 mph – set in 2015 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
Force had struggled in the previous three races – at Houston, Charlotte and Atlanta – before crew chief Brian Husen and tuning consultant Alan Johnson diagnosed a problem with the clutch. The crew went to work and put together a solid car in which Force made four solid passes at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last week – all under four seconds.
The problem solved, Force went 3.775 seconds or better in each of her three passes in qualifying. Friday’s second round of qualifying was canceled because of inclement weather.
“We knew after the test that we had the problem figured out,” Force said. “Topeka has always been a track where you can go fast – I’ve been No. 1 here twice before – and set records. We came out and made three awesome passes, went to the No. 4 spot, and improved on that career-best ET. We’re pumped about that, ready for race day, four is my lucky number, and a great spot to start on Sunday.”
Her opening-round matchup will be against No. 13 Luigi Novelli, whom she has defeated both times in two previous meetings. Novelli posted a top lap of 3.998 seconds at 283.61 mph.
“We definitely feel like we got our race car back,” Force said. “We’re ready to go rounds tomorrow and end up in winner’s circle.”
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: 3.730 sec./329.02 mph; straight down the track and No. 1 at the time
Qualifying Round 2: 3.775 sec./272.56 mph; drifted toward wall before shutting car off
Qualifying Round 3: 3.674 sec./332.43 mph; career bests for time and speed
This marks the fourth time this season in which Force has qualified No. 4 for an event. In her three previous events having qualified No. 4, she has won her first-round matchup.
Force has qualified in the No. 4 spot 11 times previously and has 13 round wins in 24 elimination rounds. She is still looking for her first career victory from the No. 4 qualifying position.
Force’s most recent victory came at Brainerd International Raceway, when she qualified No. 3.
While Force has never won at Heartland Park Topeka, she has made it to the semifinals twice, and holds a 5-4 mark in elimination rounds at the track. She also holds two previous No. 1s.
Force’s matchup against Luigi Novelli marks the third time the two will compete in an elimination round. Force holds a 2-0 advantage, with her first victory against Novelli in 2014 at Topeka.