BAYTOWN, Texas – Brittany Force arrived to the 32nd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil ready to defend her 2018 win and she’s off to a good start.
Force earned the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at Houston Raceway powered by Pennzoil on Friday in the Top Fuel division.
She isn’t the only Force family member off to a good start in Houston. Her father and 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force currently sits No. 1 in the Funny Car division.
The father-daughter duo has never been low qualifier at the same event. They will try to hold onto these titles on Saturday when nitro qualifying continues.
B. Force and her Advance Auto Parts dragster team were No. 1 for both qualifying sessions on Friday for the start of the weekend but it was her pass of 3.661 seconds at 332.18 mph that secured a new Houston Raceway track record.
“That’s an amazing pass for this team,” B. Force stated. It took us awhile to find our stride and really, we’ve been turning a corner these last few races. In Vegas, we almost had it, we were runner-up. Then to come out here and go No. 1 Friday is awesome. But really, ultimately, we’re looking for a win.”
J. Force and his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil / BlueDEF Chevy Camaro SS team picked up the Funny Car No. 1 spot with his 3.888-second pass at 319.29 mph.
“My daughter Brittany. I thought the .88 was impressive in a Funny Car,” J. Force said. “But that .66 was real impressive. That team, they know what they’re doing and my group, they’re having to put up with me. So, we’ll see what happens. My hot rod does the running for me.”
J. Force is already in a better position than he was a year ago in Houston, when the drag racing veteran failed to qualify for the event. He is in search of his eighth win at Houston, while his daughter looks for her second.