CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS
HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS
POST-QUALIFYING RECAP
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019

Forces sweep Houston No. 1 qualifier honors with Chevrolet power

• Brittany Force sets Top Fuel track records in earning second low qualifier of season
• John Force takes aim at 150th career Funny Car victory from No. 1 position

BAYTOWN, Texas. (April 13, 2019) – For the first time in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history, a parent and child earned No. 1 qualifier honors in different professional categories.

John Force and Brittany Force are the honorees in the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals.

Brittany Force set both ends of the Houston Raceway Park Top Fuel records with a pass of 3.661 seconds at 332.18 mph in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster for her second low qualifier honor of the season and 12th in her 149-race career.

“That was an amazing pass for this Advance Auto Parts team. It took us awhile to find our stride and we’ve been turning a corner these last few races. In Vegas we almost had it, we were runner-up and to come out here this weekend and go No. 1 is awesome,” said Force, who won the event last April from the No. 2 qualifying position.

Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force claimed the 156th No. 1 qualifier of his stellar career with a pass of 3.888 seconds at 319.29 mph in the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil/BlueDef Chevrolet Camaro SS. It was Force’s first pole since Gainesville in February 2017.

On April 14, Force will aim to earn his 150th career win and extend to 32 the seasons with at least one victory. His last win came at Denver in 2018.

“In my career, I’ve done a lot of things, I’ve won a lot of specialty races, but anytime this sport brings me together with my children that’s what I really love about NHRA drag racing is that we’re one big family,” said Force, who last year did not qualify for race day to end a category-leading streak of 221 races without a DNQ.

Funny Car points leader Robert Hight, who has two victories and three low qualifier spots already this season, qualified fifth in the Auto Club of Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS with a pass of 3.908 seconds in the fourth qualifying session.

Austin Prock qualified a season-best seventh in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster.

Eliminations and finals will be telecast live on FOX at 3 p.m. ET April 13.

An interview with Top Fuel low qualifier BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (second No. 1 qualifier of season and 12th in 149 career races; won at track in 2018 from No. 2 spot):

THAT RUN IN Q2 BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE.

“I’ve got an incredible team with David Grubnic and Mac Savage and the entire Advance crew. They are the hardest workers I know. They are an awesome team to work with and I’m ready for a win. We knew before Q2 that we could push it. David told me, ‘I’m going to surprise you and I’m going to put a hell of a number on the board.’ I knew it was good, but I had no clue it was a 3.66 until I got out of the car.”

YOU’VE BEEN HAVING GOOD RUNS THE LAST FEW RACES.
“We’re coming in strong this weekend. We had a good weekend in Vegas. We were runner-up at the Four-Wide. We’re coming in strong in Houston. We won this last year and the plan is to come out and win this thing tomorrow on race day. Setting both ends of the track record last night was awesome. A 3.66 on the board is a pretty incredible run by David Grubnic and Mac Savage, and the Advance Auto Parts team. We’re looking for a long day tomorrow. Its where it really begins. In the second run temperatures cooled down a bit so I had a good feeling we’d be able to get it down there and put a good number on the board. We struggled in the third session but overall we’ve had a great weekend with good runs and looking for a long day tomorrow.”

COOLER TEMPS TOMORROW

“It means fast. You’ll see some fast numbers on the board and hopefully we have some fast runs, consistent runs all day tomorrow. But if it cools down that’s when the conditions will be nice for us.”

YOUR THOUHTS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DAD BEING NO. 1.

“Courtney and I have both been No. 1 qualifiers together and I won with Robert. My dad and I haven’t done anything yet side-by-side so to be No. 1 qualifier with him is really good. I’m looking forward to winning with him this season. We’ve been saying all year long that things are different since Courtney stepped out of the seat and she’s not out here so it’s like my dad and me, our year. We keep saying it’s just us out here, father-daughter year and we’re looking to double up and get a Funny Car and Top Fuel car in the winner’s circle.”

An interview with Funny Car low qualifier JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL/BLUEDEF CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; seven-time winner at the track, including 100th career Funny Car win):

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SECURE THE NO. 1 POSITION THE SAME DAY AS YOUR DAUGHTER.

“In my career, I’ve done a lot of things, I’ve won a lot of specialty races, but anytime this sport brings me together with my children that’s what I really love about NHRA drag racing is that we’re one big family. To have a moment with her that her and I can share together, we’ve really become a lot closer believe it or not. The girls were always really close to their mom, but as I raced like I did with Ashley and then with Courtney and now with Brittany, you get closer. There won’t be a party tonight; we have a race to win tomorrow. But it will just give us a moment of looking at each other and me being mostly proud of her. I’ve earned a lot of these hats — not so many lately – but (Brian) Corradi and (Dan) Hood are really doing a good job teaching the new kids and the old. Tomorrow, we’ve got to get after this thing, so tonight we can share the moment and tomorrow we come out here to Houston to entertain the fans.”

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO SEE YOUR 150TH WIN?
“Well, I’ve chased a lot of those – winning my 50th, my 100th right here. It’s good stuff; don’t get me wrong. But if you think about it you’ll give it away.”

TOMMOROW IS ABOUT GOING ROUNDS.
“And trying to win. I’ve been struggling but I have a good team now. I have to find myself. You have to find your zone. I’ve been working on it.”