Drag Illustrated Issue 129, January / February 2018 | Page 86

THE
CHAMPIONS
ISSUE
nhrA t op F uel
B
rittany Force’s first career
NHRA Top Fuel world champi-
onship came on the strength of
a brilliant performance in the
Countdown to the Championship,
winning three races and going to
four finals. But the steps to becoming a contend-
ing team started much earlier. In fact, it was late
May when Force saw the visions of a champion-
ship-caliber team. It ended up being a modest
second-round loss in Topeka, but Force and her
team saw much more, even if it took a while to
become clear to everyone else.
“We went testing right around Topeka and
when we went out to Topeka we qualified pretty
well, had a good weekend,” Force remembers.
“We didn’t win but I knew that was a huge turn-
around for us. I knew we were on to something.
I knew we were going to be okay. And then just
two weekends later we won Epping. That was a
big turning point for all of us.”
The payoff didn’t come until months later, but
it proved to be well worth it. It was huge in a
number of ways as well. Force became the first
female to win a championship in Top Fuel since
Shirley Muldowney claimed the crown in 1982.
It was Force’s first championship, while sharing
the championship glory with John Force Racing
teammate and Funny Car driver Robert Hight
gave JFR its first championships since 2013.
Winning a title with Hight meant something to
Force, too. Her first career Top Fuel win – the
2016 Gatornationals – included a winner’s circle
celebration with Hight, who also played a big
role in Force’s journey from Super Comp driver
to Top Fuel world champion.
It was JFR’s first career Top Fuel title as well,
but it took a monumental effort in the Countdown
to get past Steve Torrence, who ended up with
eight victories in what was a spectacular year
for the Texan.
But Force was dynamite in the Countdown,
beating Torrence in the finals at Maple Grove
and winning Dallas two events later to climb
to second. A red-light loss in the finals at Las
Vegas could have been crushing, but Force re-
sponded brilliantly, winning in Pomona to finish
off the championship and her dream season in
perfect fashion.
“We won 18 out of 24 rounds in the Countdown,
which is just unbelievable to me that we were
able to pull that off,” Force freely admits. “I had
all the confidence in my team. I felt good that day
(in Pomona), jumping in the car and driving and
that we were going to be OK. To see the win light
and know what you’ve accomplished, everything
you’ve ever worked for, it makes all those days
where you struggled or had bad days or runs, it
fixes all of it. It really makes everything worth
it. Seeing that win light, it was accomplishing
something I never imagined we could do. It was
a dream come true.”
The surreal moment of winning a champion-
ship has finally started to sink in for Force, who
must now try to defend her title against a loaded
field in 2018. But now having the confidence that
comes with accomplishing a massive task like
winning the title, Force is excited for what the
future holds this season.
“I’m ready for 2018,” Force says defiantly.
“I‘ll be ready to get back in my race car. It’s
going to be pretty cool to have a No. 1 on my
car.” – JOSH HACHAT
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
NHRA SUPER COMP AUSTIN WILLIAMS
86 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 129
Brittany Force