Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force is almost perfect at Charlotte

Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force
is almost perfect at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 17) – Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro driver Courtney Force had the perfect start to the Countdown to the Championship. Almost.

Force qualified No. 1 and advanced to the final round of the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sunday at zMax Dragway before falling to John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight in a close race.

Force started the weekend meeting several executives at Advance Auto Parts headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., a two-hour drive from the race track. And she nearly pulled off a thrilling victory.

“Definitely a great start for the Advance Auto Parts team coming to the home track for Advance Auto Parts,” Force said. “To come out and really show them what this sport is all about, what our team is capable of doing, to go out there and get the No. 1 qualifying position and then to have such a great, consistent race car – and go all the way to the final round in an all-JFR final at that – is pretty incredible.”

Force’s third final-round appearance of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season vaulted her to third in the Funny Car points standings – up from sixth before the start of the six-race Countdown.

“I’m really proud of my team,” Force said. “We were able to get lane choice every round. Unfortunately, that final round against Robert, he drove around us at the end when we dropped a cylinder and it slowed our car.

“This Chevrolet Camaro has been flying and I think we’ve turned the corner, and this is the place to do it in the first race of the Countdown to the Championship. We made a big move here and it’s where we want to be going into Race 2 of the Countdown.”

Force earned her seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season this weekend and won in the first round over No. 16 qualifier Bob Gilbertson with a run of 3.947 seconds at 319.75 mph. That run earned her lane choice over dad John Force in the second round.

The all-Force matchup was a terrific race. The two left within .002 seconds of each other, but Courtney inched ahead and won with a pass of 3.934 seconds at 330.07 mph – beating John’s 3.983-second pass at 325.61 mph.

Courtney’s pass was low of the second round and earned her lane choice against Alexis DeJoria for the semifinals. Force left first and moved ahead with a run of 3.957 seconds at 325.06 mph to beat DeJoria’s 3.976-second run at 322.04 mph.

Force had lane choice in the final and cut a good light, .060 seconds, but Hight was psychic on the Christmas Tree (.019) to pull an early lead. The two were close until the lights, as Force’s car put a hole out and slowed to a pass of 3.980 seconds at 315.19 mph, while Hight got the win with a run of 3.943 seconds at 328.86 mph.

Force and her team race again this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.

4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Effort: 3.891 seconds/330.07 mph (Round 2, Qualified No. 1)
Elimination Round 1 (Right Lane): 3.947 seconds/319.75 mph (RT – .086 seconds), def. No. 16 Bob Gilbertson, 5.556 seconds/128.44 mph (RT – .110 seconds); perfect pass down the middle for 150th career elimination round win; vs. Gilbertson – now 1-0 all-time; 1-0 this season; 1-0 at Charlotte
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Right Lane): 3.934 seconds/330.07 mph (RT – .069 seconds), def. No. 9 John Force, 3.983 seconds/325.61 mph (RT – .071 seconds); left first and extended advantage at every increment to move on; vs. John Force – now 9-14 all-time; 2-0 this season; 1-2 at Charlotte
Elimination Round 3 (Semifinals, Right Lane): 3.957 seconds/325.06 mph (RT – .069 seconds), def. No. 5 Alexis DeJoria, 3.976 seconds/322.04 (RT – .091 seconds); another solid light and led the entire way, but only 20 feet at the finish; vs. DeJoria – now 12-7 all-time; 2-0 this season; 1-0 at Charlotte
Elimination Round (Finals, Right Lane): 3.980 seconds/315.19 mph (RT – .060 seconds), lost to No. 6 Robert Hight, 3.943 seconds/328.86 mph (RT – .019 seconds); Hight cut a strong light and never looked back, while Force made a strong pass despite losing a cylinder near the end; vs. Hight – now 8-14 all-time; 0-4 this season; 0-2 at Charlotte; 0-2 in final rounds
Now 152-129 (281 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds (.541)
Now 31-13 (44 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds after qualifying No. 1 (.705)
Now 7-12 (19 rounds) all-time in elimination rounds at Charlotte (.368)
Now 21-18 (39 rounds) this season in elimination rounds (.538)
Points Standings: 1. Robert Hight 2,197; 2. Ron Capps 2,153; 3. Courtney Force 2,141; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr. 2,107; 5. Matt Hagan 2,102; 5. J.R. Todd 2,102; 8. John Force 2,085.