Despite close second-round defeat in Brainerd, Brittany Force knows Monster Energy car is fast at right time of year

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20) – This is the right time of the season to be running well, and since Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver Brittany Force is doing just that, she’s pumped for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the Countdown to the Championship.

Force dropped a close second-round match in the NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, but the Monster Energy car was flying all weekend.

“Looking over the weekend, we’re in a pretty good place,” Force said. “Qualified No. 2, and we’re sitting fifth in points. Plus, we had four consistent runs down the race track during qualifying and two awesome runs on race day.

“It’s unfortunate. I’m trying not to beat myself up over the holeshot. I still had a decent light – just Antron (Brown) is killer out there. I need to step up my game at Indy, and hopefully we can win the Big Go.”

After beating Steve Chrisman in the first round, Force battled defending Top Fuel champion Brown in Round 2. Force made a spectacular pass of 3.675 seconds at 332.75 mph, slightly better than his 3.681-second run at 332.43 mph.

The difference, though, was on the starting line. Force had a solid .060-second reaction time, but Brown was slightly better, .050, and he got the win by .004 seconds.

Force has stepped up her game on the Tree over the last few races, and it showed this weekend.

“We’ve made some changes, and I’m really lucky to have such a supportive team,” Force said. “No matter what I do, they have my back, and I have theirs.”

Force made a terrific run in the first round, too: 3.728 seconds at 327.03 mph. But she already had won the race because Chrisman left .329 seconds too soon.

Force will test her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster at Lucas Oil Raceway later this week in preparation for the U.S. Nationals, the next race on the schedule, Sept. 1-4.

4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Effort: 3.685 seconds/333.16 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 2)
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.728 seconds/327.03 mph, def. No. 15 Steve Chrisman, 5.301 seconds/139.78 mph; both drivers went red, but Force went after Chrisman’s car left and she earned the victory; vs. Chrisman – now 3-0 all-time; 3-0 this season; 1-0 at Brainerd
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Right Lane): 3.675 seconds/332.75 mph, lost to No. 7 Antron Brown; slightly slower reaction time but led by 330 feet until the last few feet; vs. Brown – now 4-11 all-time; 2-3 this season; 2-1 at Brainerd
Now 110-105 (215 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.512)
Now 13-5 (18 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 2 (.722)
Now 9-5 (14 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Brainerd International Raceway (.643)
Now 23-16 (39 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.590)
Top Fuel Points Standings: 1. Antron Brown 1,513; 2. Steve Torrence 1,482; 3. Leah Pritchett 1,453; 4. Tony Schumacher 1,121; 5. Brittany Force 1,052.