NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Courtney Force put her fellow NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car competitors on notice last week that she intends to be a solid contender in this year’s championship fight.

 

She heads into this weekend’s season-opener, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, with a wave of momentum after posting the top three fastest times during the Nitro Spring Training test last weekend at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix. During the test, she clocked a time of 3.804 seconds in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS, unofficially the quickest elapsed time in history.

 

That should serve as a warning to others that Force is prepared to improve on last year’s sixth-place result in the points standings. Much of her team from last year – including crew chief Daniel Hood and co-crew chief Ronnie Thompson – returns intact, which Force said is important to challenging for victories and the title.

 

“Based on what we’ve seen at Phoenix during the test, and coming off last season, I think that we’ve definitely got into a pretty good rhythm, and now we’re looking to challenge in 2017,” Force said. “We’re obviously gunning for that championship, just like everybody else out here, and I think I’ve got a great team and a great race car that’s ready to go after it.”

 

Force has already shown well in five previous Winternationals. She won the 2013 event from the No. 1 qualifying spot – the only time she has reached the finals in this race – and has qualified No. 1 twice.

 

“We’ve won the Winternationals before, so we’re hoping to go out and do it again,” Force said. “Obviously, we want to start the season off strong, and impress our new sponsor, Advance Auto Parts. I think we have a great race car, one that is capable of winning. We’ll see how we do at Pomona, but looking forward to the whole 2017 season.”