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It was a magical day filled with smiles for NHRA Top Fuel driver, Brittany Force at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The third-year driver made it to her eighth career final in Top Fuel against Terry McMillen, the second consecutive final after a narrow defeat against Leah Pritchett in Phoenix. This time, Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win, capturing the lead in the championship points for the first time in her career as well.
The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster was the car to beat all day long. Brittany posted the quickest passes in every round of eliminations, leading up to the final.
Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations
In the first round, she would face Morgan Lucas, a former 2012 Gatornational champ and an adversary she had not yet scored a victory against in their two prior meetings. But in round 1, she would leave first and never look back. Brittany defeated Morgan Lucas with a 3.739 second run at 319.45 mph over his losing 3.770 second, 316.75 mph effort.
Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations
Brittany would face rookie Tripp Tatum – the 26th competitor she has faced in Top Fuel, and although the Monster Energy dragster dropped a cylinder at launch, Brittany would keep it in the groove through to the finish, running a 3.808 second, at 311.05 mph. Tatum would run a clean 3.890 at 320.05 mph, but it wasn’t enough for the win.
Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations
Brittany Force, Terry McMillen, Dave Connolly and Clay Millican remained in the semi-finals, each vying for their first victory in NHRA Top Fuel competition. The first pair would see McMillen take the win after Millican smoked the tires at the start. Brittany proceeded to dispatch Connolly, running her best effort all weekend – a 3.729 second at 323.89 mph. This would give Force lane choice over McMillen in the final.
Gatornationals Top Fuel Final Eliminations
The final round would see the addition of a 102nd different winner in the history of Top Fuel to the books. McMillen was vying for his first at his longtime sponsor, Amalie Oil’s title event, while Brittany hoped to bring home the first Top Fuel win for John Force Racing. Brittany has appeared in eight previous finals, against six different opponents. But wait no more, as Brittany Force lands her first career Top Fuel win – running a 3.772 at 318.77 mph against McMillen’s 3.981 second, 266.90 fireball, engine expiring effort.
Brittany is sixth different driver that Alan Johnson has tuned to their first pro win after Blaine Johnson in 1995, Gary Scelzi in 1997, Bruce Sarver in 2000, Shawn Langdon in 2012 and Khalid alBalooshi, also in 2012. She is the ninth different woman to win in Top Fuel – joining Shirley Muldowney (1976), Lucille Lee (1982), Lori Johns (1990), Shelly Payne (1993), Christen Powell (1997), Melanie Troxel (2006), Hillary Will (2008), and Leah Pritchett (2016) in the record books. Her win coming after Pritchett’s inaugural wally in Phoenix, not only makes it the first time since 1982 that two different women have won a Top Fuel race in the same season, but also at consecutive races, after Shirley Muldowney won the 1982 Gatornationals and Lucille Lee also won the next race in Atlanta.
Photo: Gary Nastase
Last weekend was incredible and we almost made it there and I was definitely very bummed but very proud of my entire team because they worked so hard to get here. Today when we came out here, and driving out to the track and I was feeling good,” Force said from the winner’s circle. “As a driver I had that feeling, I had it in my stomach and just felt like we were going to go all the way. We finally did and I have been chasing this for so many years and this is a proud moment to be standing here today. I have to thank my entire team, my crew chiefs Brian Husen and Alan Johnson – thank you for getting us here. I love all my guys. Thank you to my family, especially my dad, for giving me this opportunity.”
Brittany leaves the Gatornationals event with the Top Fuel points lead heading into the next event, the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, April 1-4 in Las Vegas, NV.
Watch Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win
The first time is so so SWEET! Brittany Force wins her first Top Fuel Wally in Gainesville. Share to congratulate. #NHRA #AmalieGatornats
It’s the first race of the 2016 season this weekend for second generation NHRA A/Fuel Dragster driver, Megan Meyer. The 47th Annual NHRA Gatornationals marks the first of 18 events scheduled in her official rookie campaign. 22 year-old Megan Meyer is debuting a new Racer Evolved sponsored, nitro-injected dragster owned and tuned by her father, 2007 and 2015 Gatornationals event champion Randy Meyer.
I feel a little extra pressure and a little extra confidence,” Megan said. “We’re confident because we won it last year, but this is a new car and a new driver. This is my first national event so I’m a little nervous about that. It’s a bigger stage than a regional event. We had some great results with this car at Pomona, so I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
Megan Meyers is already familiar with Gainesville Raceway, having previously earned her Super Comp and Top Alcohol Dragster licenses there, even though she’s never actually raced in competition at the historic track.
I participated in Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School with my Super Comp dragster when I was 16 years old, and it was a great learning experience to transition from junior dragster to Super Comp. Two years later I was back on the track getting my feet wet with our Top Alcohol Dragster. I remember that day very well because a few of the Top Fuel teams stayed to test, and I felt very privileged to be able to run behind them for the very first time. This experience helped put everything into perspective as to where I could take myself in this sport. I grew better as a driver each time we returned to Gainesville, and last year I made a huge stepping stone of running a 5.29 ET pass and had the help of Dave Hirata to sign off on my TAD licensing pass. So it is very fitting to have my first NHRA National race at the Gatornationals.”
One aspect she looks forward to most is the opportunity to compete on a national level with drivers who she either grew up with, or grew up watching with her father’s Top Alcohol career since she was born.
There’s going to be lots of tough competition this weekend. I’m thrilled to be able to say that I’m ‘one of the guys’ now. I’m excited to be able to race against Mia (Tedesco). She won the Gainesville regional last weekend. We’ve grown to be really good friends over the last few years because we both come from a bracket racing background,” noted Meyer.
Megan Meyer debuts Racer Evolved A/Fuel Dragster
This is also a debut weekend for Meyer’s primary sponsor, Racers Evolved, an apparel company with designs for racers, by racers. The drag racing and motocross-themed line of apparel includes a “Megan Meyer Signature Series” designed to match the new livery on the car. In addition to gradually unveiling the Racers Evolved A/Fuel dragster on their Facebook page this week, the company also launched their website.
Megan Meyer and the Racers Evolved A/Fuel dragster will take to the Gainesville Raceway quarter-mile for Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying sessions at 10:45 AM and 2:30 PM on Friday, March 18. A third and final qualifying session is scheduled for Saturday at 10:15 AM, followed by first round of eliminations at 5:45 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday afternoon. FOX Sports will air Lucas Oil Series coverage from the NHRA Gatornationals at 9 PM ET on Thursday, March 24, with four scheduled re-air dates in the following weeks
Our very own Horsepower & Heels staff contributor Kelly Morris has been busy in the shop working on her own project – a 1982 Mercury Capri drag racing build.
With the help of her family and friends, Kelly is learning first hand about drag racing by taking part in her own race car build. The plan: a mid 11-second turbocharged 2.3L powerplant that will give Kelly some great experience both on the track and in the engine bay.
Kelly Morris 2.3L Engine Build
This week, Kelly tacked assembling the bottom end of her 2.3L turbo engine.After sending the stock crank out to RPM Machine Inc. to be cleaned and polished, and the stock block also sent out to Tim McMasters Machine Shop to be bored 0.030 over, Kelly got to work on honing the stock connecting rods to ensure a snug fit.
ARP provided new hardware for the bottom end, new main and rod bearings were sourced, along with rings for the new pistons, and by the time the crank and block returned, Kelly was ready to begin assembly on her short block. She set to work measuring and weighing the crank, rods and pistons. A brand new set of Icon forged pistons were selected to handle additional boost by the turbocharged powerplant.
Kelly took her time and great care during the assembly process. By turning the crank by hand, they were able to verify that the finished product had the piston clearances exactly where they wanted them.
It has been an exciting experience for me,” said Kelly of her first engine build. “I thought taking it apart was the best part. But actually seeing it slowly pulling together like a puzzle has been. I’m excited, and I am pretty anxious (to finish), even though I know I have to take my time & be patient.”
With the rotating assembly in place, Kelly decided to give the block a finishing touch, and a little extra dose of personality. She carefully prepped and taped off the newly assembled block and laid down a couple coats of engine paint. But instead of the standard Ford Blue, Kelly opted for a Bright Pink color for her 2.3L engine block.
“I’m very pleased,” said Kelly on her Pretty in Pink engine painting handiwork.
The finished product: a bright pink block ready for the next steps of the build.
Next up, Kelly plans to assemble the upper engine/valvetrain. Kelly Morris’ 2.3L engine build will retain the factory cylinder heads, ported with a combo of Manley 1.89 intake/ 1.95 exhaust valves and Comp Cam Beehive Valve Springs, paired with an Esslinger 2267 cam (242/ 0.460 lift). The extra fuel demands will be met by a Stinger Fuel Injection system with 80 lb. fuel injectors. Extra boost will come courtesy of an upgraded T4 turbocharger with a .70 AR Compressor trim and .84 AR exhaust trim.
All her hard work will pay off soon enough, when she is able to take to her local dragstrip in a car she ‘built, not bought’ herself.
One thing is certain, there is no one underestimating Kelly Morris and her 2.3L Mercury Capri!
For over 10 years, Horsepower & Heels has worked hard to evolve and grow in our mission to celebrate, promote and support women in motorsports and automotive. We are steadily growing, and have big plans for the future!
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Growth and Future | Horsepower & Heels
A long-standing labor of love, HorsepowerandHeels.com is home to a talented team of hard-working volunteers that dedicate hours of their time to helping to advocate and promote women in racing and automotive. From regular news coverage celebrating their on-track successes, to helpful How-to articles, Reviews, and open dialog about the challenges that women in the sport face, Horsepower & Heels is not only a helpful and inspiring tool for females in the motorsport community, but is also a popular online publication for fans of both genders.
The Horsepower & Heels team is ready to take the next stepin offering specialized resources for women in racing – things like a webinar series dedicated to racing career essentials, women in motorsports workshops and networking mixers, discount program for racers, and sponsorship support. To reach these goals, we are branching out to help accelerate our growth.
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The Gatornationals marks the season opener, and first of 16 events for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. Angelle Sampey is no stranger to the Gainesville, Florida racetrack, having made her way to the finals four times in her career, taking the event win in 1999, 2003, and 2006. The 3x time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion returned from retirement briefly in 2014, before returning full-time in 2015 after her recovery from a pit-related accident in 2014 ended her return prematurely.
I’m very very excited,” said Sampey. “I can’t wait to get back on. I’m nervous but not a worried nervous. It’s more of an excited and anxious nervous.”
For 2016, Angelle and teammate Cory Reed will debut new Precision Service Equipment/Star Racing Buells for competition. After not feeling 100% comfortable with her bike last season, the new bike was custom fitted to her, and the Star Racing team has worked hard during the off-season to prepare for a championship run in 2016.
The Americus, Georgia based Star Racing team took the new bikes to South Georgia Motorsports Park for some test passes.
I’ve been training hard and I’ve got a brand new motorcycle. I haven’t had a brand new motorcycle in a long time and they build this bike to fit me and nobody else.”
After a brief introduction by Star Racing owner, George Bryce, to her brand new motorcycle, Angelle was pleased and wasted no time in getting down to business putting the new bike through the paces. The veteran champ showed confidence on the motorcycle pulling into the waterbox, through the first burnout and in staging. The very first pass down the racetrack, Angelle posted a 6.86 second, followed by a career-best 6.826 @ 197.57 mph in just the second ever pass on the brand new motorcycle. The Star Racing team and Angelle Sampey are ready for the Gatornationals!
Angelle Sampey | Career-Best ET in Gatornational Testing [VIDEO]
Second run in the books and its low ET again!! 6.826 @ 197.57 mph!!!! And We still have room for improvement! #Angelle#StarRacing
There has been a confusing whirl of information circulating since February surrounding the EPA ban threatening motorsports. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their recent regulationsendanger the racing industry and automotive aftermarket. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is fighting to safeguard automotive aftermarket manufacturers by fighting the EPA and the regulations that threaten the future of motorsports.
“This proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting when the regulation was announced in February. “Congress did not intend the original Clean Air Act to extend to vehicles modified for racing and has re-enforced that intent on more than one occasion.”
The short of the story is that they seek to crackdown on automotive aftermarket manufacturers who produce racing parts that do not meet emission standards – even if they are labeled for off-road, recreational use. The language chosen would make modifications of any kind to commercially-made vehicles illegal – a direct blow to the grassroots motorsports community. The EPA’s stance is that under the Clean Air Protection Act, it has always been illegal to modify any motor vehicle – and that they are now exerting their authority to include race cars as they fall under the car-emission laws and are not part of non-road vehicles protected in the language (lawnmowers, agricultural tractors, industrial machinery, etc.).
SEMA activated its network to organize the racing community against the EPA, and within 24 hours had over 100,000 signatures collected petitioning the White House to block the EPA’s proposal that would make it illegal to convert street cars into racecars.
RPM Act – Fighting the EPA Ban threatening Motorsports
In response, Congress Introduced a Bill to safeguard the motorsports community. Spearheaded by U.S. Reps. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Bill Posey (R-FL) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY) , the bipartisan “Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016” (RPM Act), was introduced to clarify that it has always been legal to modify a street vehicle into a racecar used exclusively at the track. The practice was unquestioned until last year when the EPA proposed a new regulation which would make this activity illegal.
The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is enlisting the support of the automotive aftermarket and motorsports communities to push Congress to pass the RPM Act that will stop the EPA ban threatening motorsports.
As part of the motorsports community, we must rally together to ensure that our sport and livelihood is protected.
Visit the SEMA ACTION NETWORK campaign to write your local member of Congress asking for their support of the RPM Act! SAN has created an easy-to-use form that will generate the letters on your behalf with your information. Just fill out the form, and help fight the EPA ban threatening motorsports!
One of the pioneers for women in motorsports, Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney, will return to NHRA drag racing in 2016 at select stops on the schedule in support of the newly created Shirley’s Kids charity, which aims to help children in need.
“Drag racing has given me a wonderful life, and Shirley’s Kids will allow me to give something back,” Muldowney said. “With the tremendous support of Stan and Sheila Holt of Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurants and several corporate sponsors — that list keeps growing — I’ll be able to attend a bunch of races and visit with all of my friends and the great fans that have been with me for four-plus decades.”
Shirley’s Kids (www.ShirleysKids.org) aims to meet the goal of helping children in need at each of the races Muldowney attends in the coming year. The hope is to find children who are connected to drag racing in the various communities that have helped the sport prosper through the years.
“I wanted to be back out there more than I have been the last several years, but I wanted a purpose,” Muldowney said. “When my agent, Rob Geiger of Geiger Media Global, approached me with the idea to create a non-profit to benefit children, I probably had the quickest reaction time of my career in saying yes.”
Shirley Muldowney is slated to attend the NHRA national events Gainesville, Charlotte (both spring and fall), Houston, Atlanta, Englishtown, Bristol, Denver, Indy, Dallas, Las Vegas 2, and Pomona 2, as well as the Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals in Tulsa, Okla. Other events may be added throughout the year.
“By starting our own 501(c)(3) charity, we will know exactly where all of the money goes, and that’s to the kids. Other charities become businesses and a lot of money ends up going to a lot of different areas, not the beneficiaries. We didn’t want that to happen, so we’ve taken all the legal steps to control everything. It’s the best way we know to make sure the kids are taken care of every time, and we will be fully transparent.”
Photo: Shirley Muldowney
Working in conjunction with NHRA, Muldowney will mingle with fans to spread the message about the Shirley’s Kids mission. The charity also has a race car in the works that will be raffled off to raise money – a replica of Muldowney’s 1977 championship-winning dragster. The car will be built to run in the Super Comp category and at bracket races. It will be on display in the Manufacturers Midway.
The three-time NHRA champ will present a big Shirley’s Kids check to a selected child benefactor at each race during driver introductions on Sunday morning.
“Many, many thanks to NHRA President Peter Clifford and his staff for their help in getting this started,” Muldowney said. “They have been so gracious and supportive and I thank them from my heart. I’m excited. You know, at 75 and with the injuries I sustained in my career really catching up with me, my driving days are over, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a part of this wonderful world, and helping kids just makes it that much sweeter.”
Fans interested in learning more about Shirley’s Kids can visit www.ShirleysKids.org. Donations can be made on the website, with thank-you gifts up for grabs. There will also be a line of Muldowney apparel and gear available at the PiranaZ souvenir trailer.
At an age where most of her schoolmates are preoccupied with music, fashion and the average tweenager rites of passage, 11 year-old Alyx Coby is making her presence known in the Ireland Karting scene.
Hailing from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland, Alyx grew up around the karting world. Her father, Gary, raced them when he was much younger, and her uncle Aaron still competes. For her, it was inevitable that she would end up behind the wheel herself, and she took that opportunity by testing shortly after her eighth birthday. Her father and uncle coached her on mastering one skill at a time, gaining seat time in testing when the opportunities were available.
“My dad and my uncle took me out for some test days after my eighth birthday and it’s just been a case of getting out for as much testing as possible and working on one particular thing at a time to get it right before moving on to the next thing.”
In 2013, she entered her first official race. She would capture a few top 5 finishes that year, winning two novice finals in her rookie season. Her second season, she continued to improve, winning her first qualifying heat and appearing on the podium several times. But her third season in Karting would be a breakout year for Alyx Coby. She won three finals and set six fastest lap records, finishing the season in 5th place for the championship.
“I had a great start to the year and at the third round of the championship I finished in second place in the two qualifying heats and went on to win both finals on the day. That’s when I knew that I had what it took to be successful in karting. I always enjoyed racing, but this was when I really fell in love with it.”
At the end of the year in 2015, Alyx Coby made the jump up to the IAME X30 Junior class, becoming the youngest driver and the first girl to race the class in Ireland. The class features 125cc engines that produce 28 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Alyx will be competing in the IAME X30 Junior class for the Motorsport Ireland Karting Championship this season in a new, more powerful FA-Alonso Kart.
“Being the first girl to win a national final at cadet level in Ireland was pretty special and unique. Nobody else will ever be able to say that. There are not that many girls racing karts in Ireland so a lot of the time when I do something I’m the first to do it. Last year I became the first girl to race the IAME X30 in Ireland.”
With the new class and kart comes new challenges. Alyx works hard away from the track to meet the physical demands of the sport – aiming at increasing her strength and upper body control.
“My new kart for the 2016 season is bigger and more powerful than the one I used in the Cadet class for the last three years and the tyres have a lot more grip so it requires more effort to get the kart through the corners. After my first few long runs in the kart my arms were really sore so I have had to spend the winter doing extra training to build up the strength in my arms. I recently started doing Karate and train four nights a week for two hours and also on Saturdays. It is really helping me and it is a lot of fun too.”
At the track, Alyx’s only focus is driving and improving her skills on the track. Her father handles the business side of the team: loading/unloading the truck, getting them to the races, setting up awnings, setting up kart for competition. But Alyx is beginning to learn from him on the basic mechanics of the kart and how to set it up, adding that for now, she’ll leave it to the experts. She focuses on fine tuning her driving skills, adding more race events whenever possible to increase her experience.
“Testing only gets you so far, you still need racing experience to improve. Having somebody else to use as a target or reference on track is so much more valuable that just doing lap after lap in testing on my own so I try to get out as often as I can in local club meetings in between the Championship races and over the winter.”
The demands and discipline needed to be successful in karting help Alyx at school to focus and concentrate and have helped develop her self-esteem.
“It has made me tougher and more determined and winning my first few races gave me more confidence in myself, that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. Being around older drivers has also helped me to be more mature than a lot of girls my age.”
Between the demands of her race schedules, school and karate, Alyx doesn’t have the typical life of an 11 year-old. At first, her classmates didn’t understand her passion for racing, and what she was involved with. But that all changed after her first win received some local news coverage.
“When they first heard I was racing karts they thought it was just like bumping cars or the little rental karts they have at some tracks. It was only after I won my first race and appeared in the local newspaper that they realised what it was I did. Now they all think it is pretty cool and some of them keep up to date with what I’m doing by checking the news on my website or following my Facebook and Instagram accounts!”
But even with her success, Alyx Coby has faced some obstacles in her path. Two years ago, the young racer was involved in a big crash at the beginning of the season that led to her kart rolling over several times and ejecting her from the seat. She was ok, and wasn’t badly injured physically, but the emotional side shook her up considerably. Through time, experience and motivation from her father and uncle, she works to overcome the lingering obstacles that the crash created.
“I have a fear of crashing,” said Alyx. “… It took me a while to get used to being in the middle of a big group of karts. I’ll get over that with a bit more experience though.”
For now, Alyx is excited to take the next step in her racing career. Her racing role model is her father, who she looks up to in the sport. His support and guidance have meant everything to the young driver, who is eager to follow in his footsteps and make him proud.
“My dad is my racing hero. People at the track are always telling me they remember him racing when he was younger and tell me stories about when they raced against him so I really want to be as good as he was. I think my biggest fear is coming in after a bad race and having to face my dad and explain to him what went wrong!”
With a bright future in front of her, Alyx Coby is determined to carve out a career in motorsports. She is putting in the work to improve as a driver, with ultimate hopes of a future in Formula 1 racing.
“When I’m older I would love to race cars and maybe go all the way to F1 but for now I’m focusing on karting and the main goal is to win the Motorsport Ireland Karting Championship at least once.”
One thing is certain, we have just seen the start of a bright career for Alyx Coby.
18-year-old Madeline Crane, a native of Meansville, Georgia, has just been instated into the 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity roster. She will drive for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series as part of the program.
Crane was originally named the first alternate after her performance in the October combine. She joins the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in place of Juan Garcia, who will pursue opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Madeline and Ali Kern now make up the two female drivers on the 6 racer roster.
Madeline Crane – NASCAR Ambitions
Madeline Crane began her racing career in Bandoleros at 10-years-old in the Thursday Night Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. She picked up two consecutive wins in her first season, quickly moving into Legend cars, and by the time she was 14 she had already garnered 59 top-5 finishes in just 82 starts, finishing the year as the Pro Division Winter Flurry Champion.
At the age of 15, she moved up again, racing Crate Late Models at Dixie Speedway. Madeline Crane finished her first season in Late Models second in points, before turning her focus to Super Late Models.
We are excited to have Maddie join our program,” said Max Siegel, Rev Racing team owner. “Crane has continued to show growth year-after-year during her combine evaluation. We are ready to get her in the car and prepared for the season ahead.”
Madeline Crane and her teammate Enrique Baca will hit the track on Saturday, March 19th at Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season opener for Rev Racing.
19 year-old Kennady Jones is trucking along in her 4th season of racing the NMRA Truck & Lightning class.
She was first introduced to drag racing by her grandfather years ago, and the racing has become a family affair that has rubbed off on the younger generation. Seminole, Florida resident, Kennady Jones began racing before she was legally able to drive, but it was on her 16th birthday that her racing career would really take off – after her grandfather gave her the truck she races in NMRA Truck & Lightning today as her 16th birthday gift.
Kennady Jones – NMRA Truck #5
In the beginning, the truck was kept stock – allowing Kennady to practice and learn while she took on her rookie season of NMRA Truck competition. In 2013, she would earn the 2013 Rookie of the Year recognition from the NMRA – a huge honor awarded to one rookie racer in the series at the annual year-end banquet.
Now, a full time student at St. Petersburg College, Kennady Jones stays busy studying for her Business / Marketing degree. She also works full-time as a member associate at the YMCA. But on the weekends, she is ready to hit the track to perfect her skills at the tree and down the track. Her truck has evolved too, now featuring a GT500, Kenne Bell Supercharger, Kooks Custom Headers and other modifications that help the truck into the low 12 second zone on the track.
Though she has yet to see her first Truck event win, Kennady has one runner-up finish and two semi-final appearances to her credit. She finished the 2015 season in 5th place for the NMRA truck points championship, and hopes to improve on that standing in 2016.
I love the Truck class. I’m comfortable here, but still have lots of room to improve,” says Kennady of her racing ambitions.
Double-Duty | NMRA Bradenton
At the 2016 season opening NMRA race, the 22nd Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout, Kennady decided to pull double-duty by not only entering her truck into Truck & Lightning competition, but would also jump into an 2014 Escape for the Ford Muscle class.
In her SCT sponsored truck, she qualified No. 13. She would end up running a 12.119 @ 113.80 mph in Rd. 1 of eliminations on her 12.05 index, but would not advance to the second round.
Kennady fared better in Factory Muscle, qualifying No. 9. In Rd. 1, she would run a 15.586 @ 89.11 mph on a 15.50 index, advancing over Stephanie Davies. But she would fall in round 2, running a 15.917 @ 89.12 mph to Danny Towe, who went on to win the event.
The season has only begun, but Kennady Jones hopes for another great year in the truck class. She next travels to the 8th Annual Borla NMRA/NMCA Nationals at Atlanta Dragway on April 7-10, 2016.
Best of Luck to NMRA Truck racer, Kennady Jones!
We hope to see you in the Aerospace winner’s circle soon!
The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster was the car to beat all day long. Brittany posted the quickest passes in every round of eliminations, leading up to the final.
Brittany would face rookie Tripp Tatum – the 26th competitor she has faced in Top Fuel, and although the Monster Energy dragster dropped a cylinder at launch, Brittany would keep it in the groove through to the finish, running a 3.808 second, at 311.05 mph. Tatum would run a clean 3.890 at 320.05 mph, but it wasn’t enough for the win.
The final round would see the addition of a 102nd different winner in the history of Top Fuel to the books. McMillen was vying for his first at his longtime sponsor, Amalie Oil’s title event, while Brittany hoped to bring home the first Top Fuel win for John Force Racing. Brittany has appeared in eight previous finals, against six different opponents. But wait no more, as Brittany Force lands her first career Top Fuel win – running a 3.772 at 318.77 mph against McMillen’s 3.981 second, 266.90 fireball, engine expiring effort.
