The outside of Courtney Force’s Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS may look different over the next two races, but underneath the bodywork and inside the cockpit, the fiery determination of winning remains, as Force seeks to run down the frontrunners in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car points standings in seeking her first career title.
Force’s Camaro is wrapped in hot pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, celebrated each October. Force had a hand in picking out the special shade of pink, which will adorn the car at this weekend’s AAA Texas FallNationals at Texas Motorplex and the subsequent, penultimate race of the season in Las Vegas.
“For us, this is going to be an exciting race, debuting our new car, and teaming up with Young Survival Coalition to help bring awareness of and educate people about breast cancer,” Force said. “I’m really excited to bring about the awareness in my pink Funny Car and for the fans to see it. This is really important to me. I worked with our graphic designer Brandon Baker to pick out the color and Advance Auto Parts to pick out the livery.”
Force is also working with fellow Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria and other female drivers to bring awareness to breast cancer, and signing autographs at special women driver-only autograph sessions in Dallas and Las Vegas. Additionally, women over the age of 40 are able to have mammograms performed at a special location at the track the next two events.
While the outside of car will be different for the next two races, Force’s mindset remains the same and the goal of winning an NHRA title hasn’t changed. The Yorba Linda, Calif., driver jumped from sixth to third in the opening event of the six-race Countdown to the Championship, which ultimately determines champions in NHRA’s professional categories. Her back-to-back finals appearances in Charlotte and Reading has her fighting for the title behind leader Ron Capps and teammate Robert Hight.
Fortunately for Force, she can draw on past successes at Texas Motorplex as she looks to close on the points lead. She won at the Dallas-area track in 2014 and has a pair of No. 1s to her credit.
“We had great momentum going over the last three races that were held all in a row,” Force said. “It was nice to have a break, and now, we’re ready for Dallas. Sure, we have some gaps in between races now, so I’m hopeful we can continue to carry that momentum, but honestly, we have a great race car.”
Two qualifying sessions are slated for Friday (3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Central) and Saturday (2 p.m. and 5 p.m.), with eliminations slated for 11 a.m. Central on Sunday.
Fox Sports 1 will televise one hour of live qualifying on Friday at 5 p.m. Central, one hour of coverage at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and three hours of live qualifying at 1 p.m. Central on Sunday.
4-Second Reads:
- Courtney Force has competed in five races at Texas Motorplex and every race since 2012, her rookie season.
- Force has one victory in one finals appearance at Texas Motorplex – in 2014. She defeated Tony Pedregon, teammate Robert Hight, and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first three rounds, and Del Worsham in the final.
- Force is 6-4 in 10 elimination rounds at Texas Motorplex.
- Force has two No. 1s at Texas Motorplex – in 2012 and 2014, when she went on to win the race.
- Force is currently third in Funny Car points standings, the same position for the third straight event. She started the Countdown to the Championship in sixth.
- In 2017, Force has a 25-20 record in 45 elimination rounds and seven No. 1 qualifiers, the most she has recorded in a single season. She has been to four finals this season, including two of the last three races.
- In her career, Force has eight victories, 156 elimination-round wins, and 17 No. 1 qualifiers.
- Most recent NHRA victory – 2016 NHRA SpringNationals in Baytown, Texas
- Most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C.
- Best time/speed at Dallas – 3.854 seconds (2016 Q2); 324.20 mph (2016 Q2)
- Best career time/speed – 3.815 seconds (2017 Topeka Q2); 338.68 mph (2017 Topeka E1)
- Force will be signing autographs for fans from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Central on Thursday, Oct. 12, at Advance Auto Parts, 152 W. Debbie Lane, Mansfield, TX 76063.
John Force Racing PR
