Monster Energy driver Brittany Force seeks strong start
to Western Swing, strong end to regular season

DENVER (July 18) – The last big stretch of races before the Countdown to the Championship begins this weekend, with the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway kicking off the annual three-race Western Swing.
For Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster, the Western Swing is vital as she looks ahead to the Countdown, the last six races that determine the NHRA Drag Racing Series championships. Force is currently No. 6 in the Top Fuel points standings, but she heads into Denver and the Western Swing with a significant amount of moment.
Force qualified No. 1 in the last race, the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, earlier this month in Joliet, Ill., and has won first-round matchups in six consecutive races, dating back to May. She won the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., to start the last big segment of races, four consecutive races unofficially referred to as the Eastern Swing, and hopes to start the Western Swing in the same fashion.

“I love the Western Swing,” said Force, of Yorba Linda, Calif. “It’s close to home. It makes things easy for those who are based out of California. But it’s the last big group of races leading up to the Countdown. We’re right there. We’re only a handful of races until the Countdown begins. The Monster team – we’ll bring our game, but we have to figure it out by the time we get there.”
Bandimere Speedway lays claim to the highest altitude on the NHRA circuit, sitting at 5,860 feet above sea level. Force acknowledged there are challenges to the track and said the altitude, among other things, has made it a struggle in previous races, but statistically, she’s done well there.
In four races, she’s qualified in the top four on three occasions, won every first-round matchup, and advanced to the semifinals twice. She also has one finals appearance, in which she raced from the bottom half of the bracket to win three rounds in 2015. Of course, she’s seeking one more round victory this time.
“Denver is always a tough one for us,” Force said. “It’s tough going into the Western Swing and starting with Denver, because we’ve always struggled there. It’s a place where we’ve always battled, trying to figure things out. With (tuning consultant) Alan Johnson and (crew chief) Brian Husen and the entire Monster Energy team, together we have last year’s runs we made and we’re going off of. Hopefully in qualifying we’ll get everything figured out and into the right shape for race day, and go some rounds.”
Nitro qualifying for the Mile-High Nationals begins Friday, with two sessions at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Mountain time (televised on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern). The final two sessions of nitro qualifying are scheduled Saturday for 4:30 and 7 p.m. Mountain (televised at midnight Eastern Sunday on FS1). Elimination rounds begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Mountain (three hours of live television coverage on FOX beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern).
4-Second Reads:
Brittany Force has competed in four races at Bandimere Speedway and every race since 2013, her rookie year.
Force is looking for her first victory at Bandimere Speedway. She made it to the finals in 2014.
Force is 7-4 in 11 elimination-round races at Bandimere Speedway.
Force’s best qualifying effort at Bandimere Speedway is No. 3, achieved in 2013 and 2015.
Force is 4-0 in first-round elimination races at Bandimere Speedway.
Force is currently sixth in Top Fuel points standings.
In her career, Force has four victories, 104 elimination-round wins and seven No. 1 qualifiers.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill.
Force’s best time/speed at Denver – 3.802 seconds (2015 Q2); 326.95 (2015 Q2)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.674 seconds (2017 Topeka Q3); 333.66 (2017 Topeka E1)
Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster crewmember Zak Seedroff, who works on cylinder heads, hails from Littleton, Colo.
Force will participate in a meet and greet and autograph session on Thursday, July 20, at Alta Convenience, 11614 W. Belleview Ave., Littleton, CO 80127