Reigning world champion Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster team are seeking their first victory of the season as they enter the Gerber Glass & Collision NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance. The sixth event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series calendar marks the return of NHRA to Route 66 Raceway just outside of Chicago after a three-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In seven appearances at Route 66 Raceway, Force has had one runner-up finish in 2014 and tallied two No. 1 qualifying positions in 2016 and 2017. At the most recent event at the facility in 2019 she qualified 15th and had a first-round loss.
This weekend’s competition has added incentive for Force and her Flav-R-Pac team as they compete for the first time in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge during Saturday qualifying. Thanks to a semi-final round appearance at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Force earned a rematch against John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock. Performing in the race within a race not only earns drivers’ championship points at the end of the regular season but a chance at extra cash as well.
“I’m excited to be returning to Chicago with the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team this weekend. Route 66 Raceway is going to be a challenging one with an added #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at a track we haven’t competed at in three years. A win this weekend would be huge for this team,” Force said. “We’ve held No. 1 qualifiers at this event and runnered-up so we’re ready to get to the racetrack and back with the Route 66 fans while hunting down our first win of the season.”
In addition to her Winternationals semifinal finish, Force’s 2023 season so far also includes a final quad appearance at the Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas resulting in semifinal points and the Flav-R-Pac team most recently had a quarterfinal finish at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte. Force enters the Route 66 Nationals sitting fifth in points thanks partially in part to the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team’s qualifying performance. They have been fastest of qualifying in three of the first five events, including back-to-back at the Las Vegas and Charlotte Four-Wides.
The Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway starts with qualifying Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday eliminations are set to begin at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage will be aired on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). The NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout will air Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET on FS1. Sunday eliminations are slated to begin on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
JFR PR
