Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force claims No. 4 qualifying position for Sunday’s Northwest Nationals

SEATTLE (Aug. 5) – Courtney Force saved her best qualifying effort for last, taking the No. 4 qualifying position in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car competition for the Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

Driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS, Force, who had struggled to make a full pass in the first three qualifying sessions, posted a solid run Saturday afternoon of 3.943 seconds at 325.14 mph. That was second-quickest of the session and moved her up from the No. 14 position. In the 15 races in which she has qualified this season, Force has yet to start outside the top four.

“It wasn’t the consistency we were obviously looking for, as we kept spinning the tires going down the track, and in one of the runs we dropped a hole at the hit of the throttle and had to get out of it early so we didn’t hurt any of the other parts,” Force said. “But I’m really happy that my Advance Auto Parts team gave me a car to make a good run when it counted on Q4. It put us in the top half of the field, and we even picked up a couple points.

“So I’m really proud of my guys. We still haven’t found that consistency, so it still makes me a little nervous going into race day, but at least we know that we can get that car down the track. I’m going to be pushing that car down the track and know that my team will be too.”

Force will race No. 13 Cruz Pedregon in the first round. Pedregon’s best run was 4.006 seconds at 311.49 mph.

Pacific Raceways is more than just a stop on the circuit. For Force, it marks the first track at which she recorded a Funny Car victory, during her rookie season in 2012. She’d love to get back to winner’s circle at the track, which would be her second at the Pacific Northwest track and first of the 2017 season.

“Sure, we’re looking to pick up some round wins, but we’re looking for a win tomorrow,” Force said. “This is a big race for us, as we’re finishing off the Western Swing as well as the regular season, and hoping our Chevy Camaro can get it done. There are a lot of tough guys out there we’re competing against, and excited to see my teammates doing so well, but we’re hoping for a good race day, too.”

Elimination rounds for the Northwest Nationals begin at 11 a.m. Pacific on Sunday. Fox will televise three hours of live coverage beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific.

4-Second Reads:
Qualifying Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.187 seconds/230.33 mph; slows about two thirds of the way down the track (No. 13 of session and No. 13 overall; no bonus points)
Qualifying Round 2 (Right Lane): 6.043 seconds/110.68 mph; tires shook before a third of the way down the track (No. 14 of session and No. 14 overall; no bonus points in session and no bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 5.502 seconds/126.23 mph; hazes tires at about the 330-foot mark and slows (No. 14 of session and No. 14 overall; no bonus points in session and no bonus points overall)
Qualifying Round 4 (Left Lane): 3.943 seconds/325.14 mph; finally got down the track for best pass of qualifying (No. 2 of session and No. 4 overall; two bonus points in session and two bonus points overall)
This is the fourth time this season and 17th time in her career Force has qualified No. 4. She is looking for her second victory and fourth finals from the No. 4 position. Force also qualified No. 4 at Gainesville, Fla.; Bristol, Tenn.; and Sonoma, Calif. She has a 22-15 record in 37 elimination rounds from No. 4.
Force’s only victory from the No. 4 position came in September 2014 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill.
This is the first time Force has qualified No. 4 at Pacific Raceways. Her career-best qualifying position came in 2014, when she qualified No. 2.
Force’s first-round matchup against Cruz Pedregon marks the second time this season and 13th time the two will compete against each other. Both drivers have won six races against each other, with Force winning the last two, most recently in June at Epping, N.H. She holds a 4-2 advantage in first-round matchups.