Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force
always has fun racing dad on Father’s Day
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14) – For Father’s Day, Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force jokes that one of the presents she hopes to give him is the day off.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races in the Thunder Valley Nationals this weekend at Bristol Dragway, with final eliminations slated for Father’s Day. And Courtney Force hopes her dad, 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, has an enjoyable day watching.
“Being able to race against my dad on Father’s Day weekend is something that I really look forward to,” Force said. “Hopefully, we can give him Sunday off – that’s always the goal coming out to Bristol, to give dad the day off for Father’s Day. We’ll see what we can do.”
She’s joking, of course, having fun with the thought of racing her dad on Father’s Day. They’ve only raced each other once this season, with Courtney beating John in the semifinals at Pomona.
“I don’t feel bad – he’s got plenty of Wallys, so he’s fine,” Force said. “Honestly, he’s taught me everything I know in a Funny Car, and I have fun when I’m in the lane next to him competing against him. I try to mess with him, but literally nothing breaks that guy down. I can’t screw him up, even if I try. We have fun with it.”
The Force family also has fun at this race, as Courtney Force considers it one of her favorite stops on the NHRA tour.
“The atmosphere, the fans are amazing,” Force said. “Everything around the track: the restaurants, the town, I always love coming here. This is one of my favorite races to come to.”
And Bristol can be fast, too, which is good for Force since she’s been the quickest driver at five events this season – earning five No. 1 qualifiers. She’s been to two final rounds and one semifinal thus far in 2017, still looking for that first win.
“This is a track you’re going to see these cars running national ET records on, and that’s really exciting for us as a team,” Force said. “And for me as a driver, it’s always exciting to be able to come out to a track like that.”
Two rounds of qualifying are slated for Friday (5:30 and 8 p.m. Eastern) and Saturday (1:30 and 4 p.m.), with final eliminations scheduled for noon Sunday.
Fox Sports 1 is scheduled to television one hour of qualifying highlights at Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Saturday at 11 p.m. FS1 will broadcast three hours of finals coverage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
4-Second Reads:
Courtney Force has competed in five races at Bristol Dragway and every race since 2012, her first race at the track.
Force is looking for her first finals appearance. She has made it to the quarterfinals twice (2014 and 2016).
Force is 2-5 in elimination rounds at Bristol Dragway.
Force’s best qualifying effort at Bristol came in 2016, when she qualified No. 5
Force is 2-3 in first-round matchups at Bristol Dragway.
Force is currently fourth in Funny Car points standings.
Force celebrates her 29th birthday Tuesday, June 20.
In her career, Force has eight victories, 143 elimination-round wins, and 15 No. 1 qualifying spots.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2016 NHRA SpringNationals in Baytown, Texas
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, N.J.
Force’s best time/speed at Bristol – 3.938 seconds (2016); 322.81 mph (2016)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.815 seconds (2017 Topeka Q2); 338.68 mph (2017 Topeka E1)