BRITTANY FORCE CONFIDENT IN HER ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MONSTER ENERGY TEAM

BRITTANY FORCE CONFIDENT IN HER ADVANCE AUTO PARTS
MONSTER ENERGY TEAM
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 19, 2018) — Racing the red, black and yellow of Advance Auto Parts again this weekend, Brittany Force knows she has her work cut out for her as she continues the defense of her Top Fuel world championship at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park. Though the task looks daunting to most, Force and her Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy team know what it takes to rise to the top.

In the midst of their 2017 championship campaign, Force and her team battled their way from the No. 6 spot to take home the title at the final race of the season. The 2018 season has been hard for the defending champions with only one win and one No. 1 qualifier, however the hard work and dedication of the team has not ceased, giving Force confidence as they move forward.

“We’re struggling and we’re really trying to figure this car out. All my guys are right there with me. I know they are putting their heart into this car, trying to figure it out,” said Force, now 10th in the points standings. “Our hard work hasn’t paid off yet, but I know there are five races left and I know we can turn the corner. We’re going after wins and want to move up that ladder. I have the greatest group around me and we’ll move ahead to St. Louis and see what we can do there. It is the second race of the Countdown and we are looking to bounce back from our start in Reading. I know I have a great team behind me and I have so much confidence in them.”

Force will be racing for her first win at Gateway Motorsports Park. Last season she qualified fifth and made it to the second round before veteran driver Doug Kalitta picked up a win against her. Her best qualifying showing came in 2015 when she was fourth and raced her way to the semifinals. This season, Force and her Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy team will be looking to turn their season around at the second of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

“We have Advance Auto Parts and Monster Energy supporting us with crew chiefs Brian Husen and Alan Johnson making tuning decisions. That is a lot of experience. They are great under pressure and they can pull off anything. I have seen it happen before,” explained Force. “In St. Louis we are going to start turning things around beginning with the first round of qualifying on Friday. We need to be quick in all four qualifying sessions and then have a long race day on Sunday. Last year we raced to the quarterfinals and this year we are focused on getting that win.”

Qualifying at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals begins Friday with two sessions at 4:30 and 7 p.m. and continues Saturday with sessions at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations at Gateway Motorsports Park begin Sunday at 11 a.m.