Can Epping winner Brittany Force go back-to-back in Englishtown with Monster Energy car?
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 6) – One of the fortunate by-products of the win by Brittany Force last weekend in Epping, N.H. is that she gets immediately gets to jump back in her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver five days later.
The NHRA Summernationals is slated for this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, giving Force a chance to ride the wave of momentum from her first victory of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
“I’d love to go back-to-back and bring home another win,” Force said. “That’s what we’re going for, that’s what we’re going to try to do. I’ve had some success there in A-Fuel, but we’re going after that win. We won last weekend, and we want to do it again.”
Force stormed to the win in Epping, beating defending class champion Antron Brown in the final round. Now, all that speed carries over quickly to Englishtown.
“Keeping the momentum going after a huge win like that is pretty easy,” Force said. “We’re all pumped, we’re all excited. The whole team is still on the high from that win, and to be able to go back-to-back right into the next one, you’re going to be able to feel it in our pits, for sure.”
Force’s team knew after a test in Indianapolis in May that her Monster Energy car was back to its 2016 form, when she earned the first three victories of her career. The victory in Epping reaffirmed that confidence, and they entire team will have a bit more pep in their step in Englishtown.
“Claiming a win in Epping just boosts everyone’s confidence,” Force said. “It just gives them that push, that drive. Really, it’s about how hard the whole team has worked, how much they put into this car over the last few months through the ups and downs we’ve had. It paid off, and that’s what makes it all worth it, knowing that all that hard work paid off.”
Force has yet to win in Englishtown in Top Fuel, but she went to the semifinals in 2016 and the final in 2015.
Two rounds of qualifying are scheduled for both Friday (3:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (1:45 and 4:15), with eliminations slated to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Fox Sports 1 plans to televise one hour of qualifying coverage Friday at 10 p.m., two hours Saturday at 2 p.m. and three hours of eliminations Sunday at 6 p.m.
4-Second Reads:
Brittany Force has competed in four races at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and every race since 2013, her rookie season.
Force has advanced to the finals once – in 2015, where she lost to Antron Brown.
Force is 7-4 in 11 elimination rounds at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Force’s best qualifying effort at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park was No. 4 set last season.
Force is 4-0 in first-round matchups at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Force is currently sixth in Top Fuel points standings.
In her career, Force has three victories, 98 elimination round wins and six No. 1 qualifying spots.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2016 NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago.
Force’s best time/speed at Englishtown – 3.747 seconds (2015); 326.24 (2014).
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.674 seconds (2017 Topeka Q3); 333.66 (2017 Topeka E1).