Monster Energy Top Fuel driver Brittany Force races to Norwalk semifinals

Monster Energy Top Fuel driver Brittany Force
races to Norwalk semifinals

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25) – Brittany Force found several positives in her march to Sunday’s semifinals in the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, the 12th of 24 races on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Force took the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster to elimination-round victories against Pat Dakin and Terry McMillen before falling to eventual race winner Steve Torrence in the third round. She also posted quick elapsed times in two qualifying sessions and boosted her points total as the season reached the halfway mark.

Force bested Dakin in the first round, despite falling behind early. She won with a pass of 3.772 seconds at 324.98 mph while Dakin trailed by only a half-car length at the finish. That set up another matchup against McMillen, whom Force had defeated in 12 consecutive races coming into the event.

But it took a lot of work in between rounds to get the 13th straight victory. The Monster Energy team found a problem in the ignition, resulting in multiple warmups and forcing the team to tow the car to the staging area right before the run.

Force hopped in the car later than expected, forcing her to change her pre-race routines. But once she got on the track, Force took care of business. Despite trailing early, she put together another solid performance with a pass of 3.808 seconds at 325.53 mph, while McMillen fell behind after dropping cylinders near half-track.

Force took on Torrence from the left lane, but Torrence led the entire way. He posted a time of 3.751 seconds at 326.08 mph, while Force’s car suffered tire shake and coasted to the finish line, officially at 8.630 seconds at 75.66 mph.

Force, though, was upbeat following her car’s departure.

“You have to look overall at the weekend, and the Monster Energy team had an outstanding weekend,” said Force, sixth in the Top Fuel points standings at the midseason point. “We picked up so many points in qualifying and went all the way to the semis. I’m hoping that moves us up in points, but semis are not a bad way to end this Eastern swing. We’ll go to Chicago next and hopefully get the job done there.”

The next race on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule with the Fallen Patriots Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.

4-Second Reads:

Best Qualifying Effort: 3.714 seconds/327.66 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 2)
Elimination Round 1 (Right Lane): 3.772 seconds/324.98 mph, def. No. 15 Pat Dakin, 3.832 seconds/293.60 mph; better reaction time, fell behind from the 60-foot mark to through about 800 feet but pulled ahead at the end for a half car length victory; vs. Dakin – now 4-2 all-time; 1-0 this season; 2-0 at Norwalk
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Right Lane): 3.808 seconds/325.53 mph, def. No. 7 Terry McMillen, 3.859 seconds/291.32 mph; trailed for first half of the race until McMillen’s car started to lose cylinders; vs. McMillen – now 13-1 all-time; 3-0 this season; 1-0 at Norwalk
Elimination Round 3 (Semifinals, Left Lane): 8.630 seconds/75.66 mph, lost to No. 3 Steve Torrence, 3.751 seconds/326.08 mph; suffered severe tire shake at the start while Torrence went right down the track – vs. Torrence – now 3-5 all-time; 0-3 this season; 0-1 at Norwalk
Force is now 16-11 this season in 27 elimination rounds.
Force is now 6-4 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in 10 elimination rounds.
Force is 10-3 all-time in 13 elimination rounds from the No. 2 qualifying position
Force is now 103-100 all-time in 203 elimination rounds.
Top Fuel Points Standings: 1. Steve Torrence, 1,071; 2. Leah Pritchett, 1,021; 3. Antron Brown, 990; 4. Tony Schumacher, 856; 5. Doug Kalitta, 781; 6. Brittany Force, 734.