INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves
but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2) – Robert Hight maintained the No. 2 position in the Funny Car class after the second day of qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Saturday at Lucas Oil Raceway, but improved his time significantly in drag racing’s most prestigious race. Continue reading INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying
63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals notebook
Hight a favorite to win Funny Car; Anderson moves to provisional No. 1 in Pro Stock
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2017) – Robert Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS is quick and consistent, with the latter potentially being the determinant in Funny Car eliminations at the 63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Continue reading 63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals notebook
INDY DAY 1: Robert Hight puts Auto Club Chevrolet
in No. 2 spot as JFR Camaros go 2-3-4
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 1) – Robert Hight led a strong contingent of John Force Racing Chevrolets in the first round of qualifying Friday for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, putting the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS in the No. 2 spot on Friday night.
Courtney Force was No. 3 and John Force No. 4 after the first of five qualifying sessions. Continue reading INDY DAY 1: Robert Hight puts Auto Club Chevrolet in No. 2 spot as JFR Camaros go 2-3-4
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force hopes
to add to family’s legacy at U.S. Nationals
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 28) – John Force Racing has a long, storied history in the Funny Car class of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, winning the Big Go a record 12 times.
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force would love to add to that legacy – in the Top Fuel class.
Force has raced in the prestigious U.S. Nationals four times in Top Fuel, and she’s still looking to add her name to the legends who have won this race. But she’s been coming to the Big Go nearly all her life, watching her dad John Force win this race four times and older sister Ashley Force twice.
“Lots of memories coming here,” Force said. “We’ve been coming since we were kids. Being in the winner’s circle with my dad, my dad winning the Big Bud Shootout and celebrating in the winner’s circle with him. It’s pretty surreal that I’m here with the Monster team, and we get to compete in the Traxxas Shootout and come out here for the U.S. Nationals.
“It’s the biggest race of the year, and we’re hoping that we kick ass and end up in that winner’s circle and take home the Wally.”
The Traxxas Shootout is a non-points-paying race for Top Fuel and Funny Car held in conjunction with the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Eight drivers compete for the $100,000 first prize in each category.
The first seven winners in Top Fuel and Funny Car are automatically entered, with Force earning a spot by winning in Epping, N.H. earlier this season.
But Force is also looking beyond the Traxxas Shootout and the U.S. Nationals, as the Countdown to the Championship begins in Charlotte on Sept. 15-17.
“We’re also focused on the end of the year,” Force said. “We’re focused on the Countdown, moving up in points. We want to keep moving up that ladder and gain as many points as we can.”
The U.S. Nationals can be a grind, as obligations away from the race track often fill drivers’ schedules. But Force has the perfect sponsor, Monster Energy, to help keep her going.
“It’s tough,” Force said. “There’s so much going on. It’s doing one thing at a time and catching your breath in between. When you strap in that race car, you put everything out of your mind and focus on doing your job.”
Five qualifying sessions are scheduled for the U.S. Nationals (all times Eastern): Friday at 7:15 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Fox Sports 1 will provide two hours of qualifying coverage (all times Eastern): Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. and two hours of live eliminations at 11 a.m. FOX will provide three hours of live eliminations at 1 p.m.
4-Second Reads:
Brittany Force has competed in four races at Indianapolis and every race since 2013, her rookie year.
Force is looking for her first victory at Indianapolis. Her best effort came in 2005, when she advanced to the semifinals.
Force is 3-4 in seven elimination-round races at Brainerd, and 2-2 in first-round matchups.
Force’s best qualifying effort came in 2016, when she qualified No. 3.
Force is currently fifth in Top Fuel points standings, and as a result has clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.
In 2017, Force has one victory, a 23-16 elimination-round record, and one No. 1 qualifier. She has set the event quick elapsed time twice, and event top speed a series-high six times.
In her career, Force has four victories, 109 elimination-round wins and seven No. 1 qualifiers.
Force’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
Force’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill.
Force’s best time/speed at Indianapolis – 3.706 seconds (2016); 328.30 mph (2014)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.674 seconds (2017 Topeka Q3); 333.66 mph (2017 Topeka E1)
PEAK Chevrolet driver John Force
gunning for fifth U.S. Nationals victory
Above: John Force’s special Chevrolet paint scheme for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
Below: John Force (photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery)
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 28) – Weekend after weekend, race after race, John Force relays the message to his teams, sponsors and fans: “We’re rounding the corner, we’re getting there, and we’ll be ready for Indy.” Continue reading PEAK Chevrolet driver John Force gunning for fifth U.S. Nationals victory
Three-time U.S. Nationals winner Robert Hight
ready to take Auto Club Chevy to another Indy win
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 28) – One victory in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals can make a drag racer’s career.
Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car driver Robert Hight accomplished that goal in 2006, when in his second season he won the Big Go. Continue reading Three-time U.S. Nationals winner Robert Hight ready to take Auto Club Chevy to another Indy win
Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force
looks to join father, sister with Indy victory
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 28) – As a child, Courtney Force watched as her father John Force set NHRA record after record, win championship after championship, and create a fanbase that is second-to-none in the drag racing world. Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force looks to join father, sister with Indy victory
John Force Racing completes Indy test ahead of the Big Go
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 24) – John Force Racing completed a two-day test Thursday at Lucas Oil Raceway, with each of the four cars making solid passes in preparation for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals here next weekend and the upcoming Countdown to the Championship.
Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight, driving a new spare chassis, was quickest of the three Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Cars with a pass of 3.842 seconds at 330.88 mph, but PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil driver John Force and Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force were not far behind. Continue reading John Force Racing completes Indy test ahead of the Big Go
Record-setting weekend ends in semifinals
for Auto Club Chevrolet driver Robert Hight
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20) – Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight left Brainerd International Raceway on Sunday with the national elapsed time record, second place in the Funny Car points standings and his 400th elimination round victory after the NHRA Nationals.
But Hight, who turned 48 on Sunday, wanted more – much more. Continue reading Record-setting weekend ends in semifinals for Auto Club Chevrolet driver Robert Hight
Continuing to turn proverbial corner, John Force
takes PEAK Chevy to Brainerd semis
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20) – John Force keeps saying he and his PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS are turning the proverbial corner. This weekend, they made seven strong runs and were inches from taking the car to the Funny Car final round.
After making four qualifying attempts in the 3.9-second range or better and qualifying No. 3, Force won his first two rounds in Sunday’s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway before narrowly falling in the semifinals – by just two thousandths of a second to eventual race winner Alexis DeJoria. Continue reading Continuing to turn proverbial corner, John Force takes PEAK Chevy to Brainerd semis
Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force looks
to Indy after Brainerd quarterfinals appearance
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20) – Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS team put together a strong performance in this weekend’s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in which they continued to establish consistency and competed in the quarterfinals.
Force, who at one point held the track speed record this weekend and made four runs of 3.9 seconds or better, handily won her opening-round race Sunday before bowing out with a mechanical problem in the second round. Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force looks to Indy after Brainerd quarterfinals appearance
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. Continue reading Despite close second-round defeat in Brainerd, Brittany Force knows Monster Energy car is fast at right time of year
Record-setting run powers Auto Club Chevy
driver Robert Hight to third No. 1 in a row
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19) – A day after making history with the first sub-3.8-second pass in Funny Car history, Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight secured his third consecutive No. 1 qualifier by taking the top spot in the NHRA Nationals on Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway.
But Hight was still all smiles over his record-setting run of 3.793 seconds at 338.00 mph -even if there was a bit of disbelief. Continue reading Record-setting run powers Auto Club Chevy driver Robert Hight to third No. 1 in a row
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force
looking to repeat in Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19) – Monster Energy driver Brittany Force hopes history repeats itself in the NHRA Nationals this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway.
Force qualified No. 3 in the Top Fuel class for this race a year ago and ended up in the winner’s circle. She’s qualified No. 2 for the 2017 and hopes to go back-to-back. Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force looking to repeat in Brainerd
PEAK driver John Force seeks 12th NHRA
victory at Brainerd from No. 3 qualifying spot
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19) – John Force delivered the strongest pass in 31 career race weekends at Brainerd International Raceway on Friday and earned the No. 3 qualifying position for Sunday’s NHRA Nationals.
Force took the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car down the drag strip at 3.852 seconds at 334.15 mph in Friday’s second session. That pass resulted in the fifth quickest elapsed time and third fastest speed of the 16-time Funny Car champion’s career. Overall, Force was the only driver of the 17 Funny Car drivers entered whom qualified under four seconds every run. Continue reading PEAK driver John Force seeks 12th NHRA victory at Brainerd from No. 3 qualifying spot
Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force
claims No. 4 spot for Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19) – Courtney Force claimed the No. 4 qualifying position for the third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car race, the NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.
Force, seeking her first victory of the 2017 season and first at Brainerd, turned in a best qualifying pass of 3.863 seconds at 335.98 mph in Friday’s first session. The speed was temporarily the fastest in track history and the second-fastest of her career.
Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force claims No. 4 spot for Brainerd
Another new Hight: Auto Club driver
Robert Hight first into 3.70s in Funny Car
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18) – Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight is getting pretty good at making history.
Two races ago, the Chevrolet Camaro SS driver set the national speed record of 339.87 mph at Sonoma, Calif.
On Friday at Brainerd International Raceway, Hight again went to new heights. The John Force Racing driver became the first in Funny Car to run under the 3.8-second mark, making a pass of 3.793 seconds at 338.00 mph to earn the provisional No. 1 spot for the NHRA Nationals on Friday night.
“It’s something you dream about,” Hight said. “There are so many things that have to happen, and so many people that have to work together for it to happen. It’s just not that easy. We’ve been on runs before that you think that, if it’d finished, it would have run in the .70s. Continue reading Another new Hight: Auto Club driver Robert Hight first into 3.70s in Funny Car
Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force
seeks first career victory at Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15) – Courtney Force and the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro team head into this weekend’s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway with a single goal – winning their first Funny Car race of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force seeks first career victory at Brainerd
Auto Club of Southern California driver
Robert Hight ready to roll into Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15) – To say Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight has been hot this summer is an understatement.
Heading into the NHRA Nationals this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway, Hight has won two of the last three NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. Plus, he won the special Night Under Fire match race at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio last weekend.
“When you’re on roll like we’ve been on and the car’s running so well, this is what you want,” Hight said. “Even though last week was a match race, we still got the win, and we ran great. You don’t want this to ever end. It’s going to at some point, but we want to roll into Brainerd and get right back in there.” Continue reading Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight ready to roll into Brainerd
Brittany Force hopes Monster Energy
team stays on Brainerd hot streak
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15) – Brittany Force will be gunning for her third consecutive final round – and second straight victory – at Brainerd International Raceway with her Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster team.
Force won the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race at Brainerd in 2016 and raced to the final round in 2015.
“Brainerd’s definitely been good to the Monster team,” Force said. “We seem to like that track, we seem to have been able to figure it out and run pretty well there. We did it last year and got to the winner’s circle and our plan is to do it again.” Continue reading Brittany Force hopes Monster Energy team stays on Brainerd hot streak