Brittany Force eyes strong finish to
Western Swing with Monster Energy team
KENT, Wash. (Aug. 1) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team wrap up the annual three-race Western Swing this weekend at Pacific Raceways seeking their second victory of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Force has five semifinals appearances in the last seven races, including a victory at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H. Her semifinals run at last weekend’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in California vaulted her into fifth in the Top Fuel points standings for the first time since April.
The team’s push for consistency is evident, as she seeks a strong conclusion to the regular season and a high seed for the Countdown to the Championship, which begins next month.
“Once we get there, we can’t hold back – everything needs to be running on all cylinders,” Force said. “We can’t afford any mistakes. Each week we’re getting better and better, and this weekend is not going to be any different.”
Without looking too far ahead, however, Force wants to end the Western Swing on a high note and turn around her statistics at Pacific Raceways. She is in search of her first semifinals appearance at the track, with her only elimination round win coming in 2015. But with momentum on her side, she believes she can achieve that and go further in the process.
“The plan for next week in Seattle is to take it off the trailer and end up in the winner’s circle,” she said. “We always want to go further; we don’t want to stop at the semis. We feel good about where we are.”
The NHRA Northwest Nationals begins Friday with two nitro qualifying sessions, at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Pacific (one-hour television coverage at 6 p.m. Pacific on Fox Sports 1). Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Saturday (one-hour television coverage at 11 p.m. Pacific on FS1). Elimination rounds are scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific on Sunday (three hours of television coverage beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific on FS1).
4-Second Reads:
Brittany Force has competed in four races at Pacific Raceways and every race since 2013, her rookie year.
Force is looking for her first victory at Pacific Raceways. Her best effort came last season, when she made it to the quarterfinals.
Force is 1-4 in five elimination-round races at Sonoma Raceway and 1-3 in first-round matchups.
Force’s best qualifying effort came in 2015, when she qualified No. 4.
Force is currently fifth in Top Fuel points standings.
In 2017, Force has one victory, a 21-14 elimination-round record, and one No. 1 qualifier.
In her career, Force has four victories, 108 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 Seattle – 3.729 seconds (2016); 325.14 mph (2016)
Force’s best time/speed of career – 3.674 seconds (2017 Topeka Q3); 333.66 mph (2017 Topeka E1)