Brittany Force’s Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster has performed more like a Sportsman bracket car during qualifying for the NHRA Nationals this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway.
She qualified the Monster Energy car in the No. 4 spot for Sunday’s eliminations, and with such a consistent, quick car, Force is ready to chase her second victory of the 2017 season.
“The Monster team is pumped about how qualifying has gone Friday and Saturday,” Force said. “Four solid runs down the race track and putting awesome numbers on the board every single run. We got bonus points for low of the session that last round. Our team feels good going into race day.”
Force’s official qualifying pass came in the final session, when she posted a 3.730-second pass at 325.85 mph that was quickest of Q4.
But her other four runs were remarkably consistent – and fast:
Q1: 3.758 seconds at 327.90 mph
Q2: 3.731 seconds at 314.53 mph
Q3: 3.754 seconds at 316.01 mph
“That’s what we’ve been looking for: Being able to run in cool conditions and the heat,” Force said. “We did just that, so we’re pumped going into race day. We’re hoping to get this Monster team into the winner’s circle.”
Force starts eliminations, slated for noon Eastern on Sunday, against No. 13 qualifier Wayne Newby. His best pass was 3.878 seconds at 319.14 mph.
“I already know I have a great team around me,” Force said. “But when we have a race car that’s performing well on the track, it pulls everyone together. It gives us that momentum, that push and that energy to fight on race day.”
Reading marks the second of the six-race Countdown to the Championship. Force sits fourth in the Top Fuel standings after a semifinal finish in Charlotte last week, and a good showing here could help her move up even further.
Fox Sports 1 will broadcast three hours of live coverage on Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
4-Second Reads:
- Qualifying Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.758 seconds/327.90 mph; full pass straight down the track and first driver in any of the pairings to make a full run in the left lane (No. 3 of session and No. 3 overall; one bonus point in session and one bonus point overall)
- Qualifying Round 2 (Right Lane): 3.731 seconds/314.53 mph; start to finish with no major issues (No. 4 of session and No. 4 overall; no bonus points in session and one bonus point overall)
- Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 3.754 seconds/316.01 mph; strong launch and another run in the mid-3.7s (No. 4 of session and No. 4 overall; no bonus points in session and one bonus point overall)
- Qualifying Round 4 (Left Lane): 3.730 seconds/325.85 mph; straight down the track, showcasing a consistent car throughout qualifying (No. 1 of session and No. 4 overall; three bonus points in session and four bonus points overall)
- This marks the fifth time this season and 13th time in her career Force has qualified No. 4. The last time she qualified No. 4 came in May at Topeka.
- Force is looking for her first victory from the No. 4 position and second career final, having finished runner-up in the 2014 race at Chicago.
- Force has a 14-12 elimination-round record from the No. 4 position, and has won 10 consecutive first-round matchups from No. 4.
- This is Force’s first No. 4 qualifying effort at Reading. Her best qualifying effort is No. 1 in 2015.
- Force’s matchup against Wayne Newby marks the second time in her career and second time in as many races the pair have faced off. Force won the initial matchup in last weekend’s race in Charlotte, defeating Newby in the second round en route to a semifinal finish.
John Force Racing PR/Photo Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
