Courtney Force, Advance Auto Parts
team finding their rhythm in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – The consistency that Funny Car star Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts team have been searching for in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season appears to have been found at Sonoma Raceway.
And that has Force excited for final eliminations for the Sonoma Nationals on Sunday.
Force made three excellent runs in qualifying, topped by a best pass of 3.889 seconds at 327.03 mph that puts her in the No. 1 qualifying spot. Force made the quickest pass in Q3, 3.914 seconds at 329.91 mph, and was on another good run in the final session before getting off the throttle.
“We’ve found some consistency with our Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro,” Force said. “It definitely feels good going into race day. We’re in the No. 4 qualifying position. We pushed the car a little harder in Q4. It was on a good run, and I got out of it early because something felt a little strange to me. I got out of it to be safe, but it was on a great run.
“It feels good going into race day, knowing that we’ve got a pretty consistent race car. We know how to run it, so far this weekend, in the heat and when the track cools off as well.”
Force will battle No. 14 qualifier Jim Campbell in the first round Sunday. Force lost to Campbell from the No. 1 spot in Denver last weekend.
“Looking forward to tomorrow,” Force said. “We’ve got another first-round matchup with Jim Campbell, so we’re looking for a little revenge on the race track. Hope we can get that win. It’s pretty exciting to have Big Machine Records on board this weekend, and I’m hoping we can get them in the winner’s circle with this Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro.”
Elimination rounds begin at 11 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, with live television coverage beginning at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
4-Second Reads:
Qualifying Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.889 seconds/327.03 mph; down the middle and into the top spot for the session at that time (No. 1 of session and No. 1 overall; three bonus points)
Qualifying Round 2 (Right Lane): 10.246 seconds/81.88 mph; strikes the tires at the green light (No. 15 of session and No. 3 overall; no bonus points in session and three bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 3.914 seconds/329.91 mph; fastest career pass at Sonoma with strong run (No. 1 of session and No. 3 overall; three bonus points in session and six bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 4 (Left Lane): 3.961 seconds/266.27 mph; another good launch but smoke slows the car slightly at the end (No. 6 of session and No. 4 overall; no bonus points in session and six bonus points overall)
This is the third time this season and 16th time in her career Force has qualified No. 4. She has also qualified No. 4 at Gainesville, Fla., and Bristol, Tenn.
Force has one victory and three finals from the No. 4 position. She is 20-14 in 34 elimination rounds.
This is the first time Force has qualified No. 4 at Sonoma. Her best qualifying effort came in 2014, when she qualified No. 1.
Force’s matchup against Jim Campbell marks the ninth time the two will compete against each other and sixth time this season. Force holds a 5-3 advantage overall and is 2-3 against Campbell this season.