Blog – Page 13 of 73 – Horsepower & Heels

Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

May 17, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Six-time event winner and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car class competitor Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend. Her Shea Racing team will compete in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships May 19-22 at the Durham, ON race facility.

The Shea Racing team has seen both success and defeat at the high-speed 10-turn road course. Both Shea Holbrook and teammate Jason Fichter have made podium appearances previously at the daunting track, and hope for repeat performances in the Touring Car class this weekend.

Cool Jobs in Sports – espnW feature

Holbrook was recently honored with a special feature in espnW Magazine’s “Cool Jobs in Sports” spotlight. Shea shared her career path in motorsports, including her start as a competitive water skier, and how a NASCAR ride-along changed her direction.

She also shared her experiences as a cross-over driver into the IHRA Drag Racing scene, and what driving a jet-powered dragster to her first win was like.

In addition to her responsibilities as Shea Racing team owner and driver, the University of Central Florida graduate also is an instructor for the SCCA Track Night in America program. The program is an easy and inexpensive way for nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a racecourse in their own vehicle on a weeknight. As Track Night coordinator, Holbrook provides driving advice to participants, coaching them to improve their skill and performances.

Second round exit for Alexis DeJoria

May 17, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

The 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals resulted in a second round exit for Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. The 4 time Funny Car winner started the 2016 season off slowly, before a chassis change turned their luck around with a Vegas win.

With strong and consistent performances since, the Patrón team entered Atlanta hoping to regain some ground in the NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car points standings. They qualified in the No. 4 position with a 3.949 second E.T at 318.69 mph.

We did pretty well in qualifying here in Atlanta at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals,” said Alexis on her qualifying position. “We made it down the track three times out of four and qualified fourth. We are headed into Sunday feeling pretty pumped and hopefully we can collect some more round wins tomorrow.”

This placed her against No. 13 qualified Dave Richards for the opening round of Eliminations on Sunday. Alexis would defeat Richards with a 3.950 second E.T. at 324.05 mph to his losing 4.355 second, 213.57 mph effort.

DeJoria advanced to Round 2, where she would have lane choice against Tommy Johnson, Jr. Unfortunately, her stellar 3.942 second, 322.11 mph performance would be all for naught, as DeJoria’s red light foul handed the win to Johnson, Jr. at the tree.

It was a really tough loss today in round two. We had a car to beat all weekend. Our Patrón Toyota Camry was very consistent getting down the race track. It was just one of those things today. I was up against Tommy [Johnson Jr.] at the last race and he cut a better light than me and we ran the same so I got beat on a holeshot. I just wasn’t going to let that happen today. Unfortunately I guessed a little too soon on the light and had a red light start and that was the end of our day. I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made as a team. Our car is running very well and I cannot wait for Topeka.”

Alexis leaves Atlanta currently in the No. 9 position in NHRA Funny Car Mello Yello Points standings.

Semifinal finish in Atlanta for Force

May 17, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Semifinal finish for Courtney Force in Atlanta — Photo: Gary Nastase, JFR

NHRA Funny Car driver, Courtney Force, ended a six-round consecutive win streak with a semifinal finish in Atlanta at the 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.

It was a great race day for our team. We didn’t go home with the win here in Atlanta but definitely made some really strong passes out here this weekend in the heat and in cooler conditions. Those kind of runs really excite this Traxxas team. We have a good car and we had some tough competitors today,” said Force.

Force, the 2012 rookie of the year, qualified in the No. 3 position for the second race in-a-row, entering eliminations with the Funny Car class points lead. This was the highest starting spot for the Traxxas Chevy Camaro team at Atlanta Dragway.

Force lined up beside her 32^nd different Funny Car opponent, Jeff Diehl, in the opening round. She posted a 3.915 ET at 327.74 mph. She took the win, but this unfortunately paired her against teammate Robert Hight in the second round. She advanced over Hight with a 3.950 ET at 327.35 mph to his tire-smoking 8.205 ET at 88.55 mph.

Semifinal finish in Atlanta for Courtney Force — Photo: Gary Nastase, JFR

Force matched up against Matt Hagan in the semifinals without lane choice. Her Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car smoked the tires and Hagan advanced.

Force is leaving Atlanta with the points lead for the second race in-a-row.

“We laid down some pretty solid numbers but then lost lane choice going into the semifinals. We hit a bump in the left lane and spun the tires against Hagan. We were a little worried about it but we tried to put the same set-up we had for qualifying,” said Force. “We are going to just have to try and figure that lane out next year. We are going to move on to the next race in Topeka. We are just excited we are going home with the points lead and we learned a lot this weekend. I am really proud of how this Traxxas Chevy went down the track every run except for one this weekend.”

The winningest female Funny Car driver was tied with veteran Tim Wilkerson for the lead in the Funny Car point standings coming into the weekend, but was able to take the lead via bonus points on Friday. Force picked up a total of seven bonus points throughout qualifying for being the quickest of Q1, third-quickest of Q2, and quickest of Q3.

The 27-year-old driver went to the final round at Atlanta Dragway in 2014 after qualifying No. 8. It was her ninth career final round in Funny Car.

Brittany Force celebrates 1 year with Monster

May 12, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Brittany Force unveils new Monster TF — From last year’s unveiling, Brittany Force celebrates 1 year with Monster this weekend

This weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Brittany Force celebrates 1 year with Monster Energy backed Top Fuel Dragster. Since that announcement last year, Force has been on a meteoric rise through the Top Fuel ranks and comes into this weekend’s race as the Top Fuel points leader and the category’s only two-time winner in 2016.

I am so proud of this team. When we announced Monster Energy as the sponsor last year we just got such a big push of momentum and excitement. We finished in the Top Ten and we are as high as the top three in points last year. I have been lucky to have a great crew for my whole career,” said Force.

At the beginning of this season, Brittany’s Monster Energy team made another significant alliance – with the addition of Alan Johnson as Top Fuel consultant and the appointment of Brian Husen as crew chief. This change has proven to be a game-changer, as Force quickly moved to championship contender. A final round finish in Phoenix was followed by her first breakthrough win at the historic Gatornationals, the class points lead, and another victory in Charlotte. The momentum this season by the Monster Energy team has Force more motivated than ever.

The win in Gainesville was unbelievable. I have dreamed about getting that first win and when it happened I couldn’t believe it. My whole family was there which was great and we got the first John Force Racing double-up win since Robert (Hight) won in Funny Car right in front of me. It was just a perfect day,” added Force.

It may have taken the four year professional 75 Top Fuel starts to get her first win, but just two races later she was hoisting her second Wally as the winner of the tough NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. She was the first female nitro winner at zMAX Dragway and the first female to win the unique Four-Wide race in any category.

I think the Four-Wide win showed how strong this Monster Energy team is. I screwed up in the last qualifying session. Alan and Brian just told me to forget about that and concentrate on race day. That really helped and we had a great racecar. We had lane choice all day and I did my job. It was another great team win for this Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster. This is a long season so we are just focusing on each race as they come along,” said Force.

The 36^th annual Southern Nationals kicks off a marathon tour for the NHRA Mello Yello Series competitors. After Atlanta, they embark on a 5 race stretch in six weeks, and Brittany Force and the Monster Energy team will be looking to continue to go rounds and fine tune their racecar for the Countdown and the Traxxas Shootout.

We are locked into the Traxxas Nitro Shootout which is great and I am just looking forward to getting into the summer and racing a lot. I feel the most comfortable when I am racing every weekend. I will always have butterflies in my stomach on every run but you just stay more focused when you are racing all the time,” summed up Force.

Alexis DeJoria accepts Sustainable Food Changemaker Award

May 11, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Funny Car Drag Racer, Alexis DeJoria accepted the Sustainable Food Center’s prestigious Sustainable Food Changemaker Award today during the 9^th annual Farm-to-Plate fundraiser at Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas.

2016 Sustainable Food Changemaker Award

The 2016 Sustainable Food Changemaker Award is being presented to the Austin-based Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, established by Alexis DeJoria’s father and fellow Austin resident, John Paul DeJoria.

Alexis DeJoria, a recent Peace, Love & Happiness board inductee, proudly accepted the award on behalf of her father and his renowned organization. Since its establishment in 2011, the organization has committed to developing a sustainable planet through protecting animals and conserving the environment. Projects range from Grow Appalachia, the largest gardening project of its kind in the U.S., to Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a community village for people struggling with homelessness in Austin.

According to Ronda Rutledge, Director at the Austin based Sustainable Food Center, the award signifies and honors the DeJoria family’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and food production and security.

We chose JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation because of John Paul’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, understanding the huge role that food production has in environmental stewardship,” said Rutledge.

The Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation has partnered with the Sustainable Food Center since 2012, sponsoring their teaching garden as part of their capital campaign. In the garden, school children join with the community to learn sustainable agriculture practices and gardening tips.

Alexis recently joined our board, and she has already been very involved in our projects — from volunteering on the ground level to conceptualizing new directions for investment,” said Constance Dykhuizen, Director of Peace, Love & Happiness. Dykhuizen added, “Her heart for protection of the environment fits in very well with John Paul’s long-standing commitment to sustainable food.”

DeJoria, a professional race car driver competing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, has adopted her father’s philanthropic credo of ‘giving back whenever possible.’ From her efforts with Sallie Latimer’s water tower restoration fundraiser to her Free Mammograms for the Fans program, DeJoria considers it an honor to be able to accept the Sustainable Food Changemaker Award on behalf of her family’s foundation.

“Our family has been involved with many charities over the years, and I’m very fortunate to sit on the Board of Directors of the Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation. We donate our time, as well as financially, to various charities all over the world. I’m honored to be able to accept this award on behalf of my father, right here in our hometown,” said the Dripping Springs resident.

Kayli Barker to Lucas Oil Modifieds

May 11, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Las Vegas NASCAR^® Whelen All-American Series Champion, Kayli Barker is set to run in the Lucas Oil Modifeds Military and Veterans Appreciation Night on May 21, 2016 at the Las Vegas Bullring thanks to a recently announced sponsorship by Las Vegas Car and Truck.

Las Vegas Car & Truck stepped up to support Kayli Barker’s career and continued success in April, and have committed to backing her run in the Lucas Oil Modified Annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Night.

Barker made her debut run in the Modified category in November of 2015 at the Las Vegas Bullring and has won nearly 50 main events and a Super Stock Championship on the track. In addition to running the Modified race, she will be pulling double-duty, also running in the Super Late Model main on the same evening. She currently is the lone female driver on the roster for the Modifieds in the 75 lap main event on May 21, 2016.

I’m looking forward to the challenge of running the two very different cars that night,” says Kayli. “The modified is about 350 pounds lighter than “Monster” my Super Late Model and also has a smaller harder tire which limits the amount of usable horsepower. The real challenge is good car control and tire management on my part, but I am confident and eager to get back in the Modified.”

With her aspirations set on racing in the NASCAR^® Truck Series, the eighteen year-old driver has already celebrated many milestones in her career, including being the 1st female driver to win three track championships in Las Vegas history and being the youngest female driver to win a NASCAR^® Whelen All-American series race. In addition to her accomplishments on the track, Barker has been awarded the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Leadership Award and NASCAR^® UNOH Youth Achievement Award.

Kayli’s championship performance and proven success as a Late Model Series Driver has shown that she is ready to step up to the Modifieds and we’re pleased to be able to provide that opportunity for her,” said Dan Walker, Principal Owner of Las Vegas Car & Truck. “Her aspirations include joining the ranks of NASCAR^®’s Truck Series and moving Kayli Barker to Lucas Oil Modifieds is a vertical step in helping her achieve that goal. Kayli is a positive role model for young racers alike and is an inspiration for all young adults who desire to win and conquer in life. One of our company’s core values is supporting our local Las Vegas community and people like Kayli that make a positive impression on our valley’s youth. As a Christian faith based business we’re proud to support that Kayli’s Christian faith is a strong moral compass throughout her life.”

Currently a freshman at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Kayli Barker made her NASCAR^® Whelen Series debut in 2012 and brings a strong resume to the 2016 season. Barker will be racing her Dana Stahl, 2014 Chevy SS NASCAR^® Super Late Model for the 2016 season and is hopeful for a continued slot on the Lucas Oil Modified H-Town Racing Roster for the remainder of the 2016 Lucas Oil Modified season.

Houston Semi Final for Megan Meyer

May 9, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

A three-race final round streak ended in a Houston semi final for Megan Meyer, the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Rookie sensation out of Kansas. Meyer and her Randy Meyer Racing team battled the soggy, hot and humid conditions at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, taking the Racer’s Evolved A/Fuel Dragster to a semi final finish before bowing out to event champion Lee Callaway.

Fresh off her first win at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Meyer, prodigy daughter of NHRA TAD champion, Randy Meyer, qualified No. 3 in the rain-shortened qualifying program, with a detuned first round effort of 5.35 seconds at 268 mph. Her Randy Meyer Racing team hopped it up for round two, and posted an impressive .907 second 60′ charge out of the gate, but it would prove a little more than the track could hold, and resulted in tire shake and a quick pedal job for a 5.40 at 274 mph effort. Round three would be forfeited, and the Top Alcohol Dragster class would charge into the opening round of eliminations on Saturday at the 29th Annual NHRA Spring Nationals in the Houston-suburb of Baytown, TX.

Houston was another first for me, my dad has competed at this race many times but I have never visited or raced at Royal Purple Raceway before. I did have a lot of pressure on my shoulders to repeat not only my success after winning Charlotte, but to also claim a 4-peat win for the Randy Meyer Racing Team. Despite the pressure I was very confident in my team and we had great results on track. With only two qualifying sessions we claimed third and had some tough weather conditions – a lot different than any we’ve had so far this year. Along with a brand new motor in the car, we slowed the tune up way down for the first qualifying pass to make sure it goes from A to B without smoking the tires or shaking. After having a fair pass we hopped it up quite a bit to try to claim that number 1 position, and had an amazing 60-foot time of .907, my second best of the year, but with too much power it shook the tires and I had to pedal it to slow it down some, but still ran fast mph on the top end.”

In Saturday afternoon’s opening round of eliminations, Megan Meyer would face No. 14 qualifier, Rob McKinley. At the tree, it was McKinley would would leave first, with a 0.020 reaction to Meyer’s 0.059 second R.T. But McKinley would quickly run into trouble, smoking the tires and fishtailing sideways as he aborts the run. Meanwhile, Megan improves on her qualifying efforts, running a 5.323 second, 271.35 mph pass for the round win.

On Sunday, eliminations for the Top Alcohol Dragster class would continue, with Megan carrying lane choice against No. 6 qualified David Brounkowski. The second round match up would be the first between the two racers, and Megan would quickly take the lead at the tree with a consistent 0.021 second R.T. en route to her event-best run of 5.280 seconds at 272.94 mph – just shy of the No. 1 qualified time slip. Brounkowski would also post his event-best E.T., but it would not be enough to upset the hot rookie in her quest.

Next up was the Houston Semi Final for Megan Meyer. She would face No. 2 qualified Lee Callaway for the first time in her young TAD career. Both were gunning for a trip to the finals: Megan for her third straight final appearance in her three starts this season, and Callaway for his first in 42 event starts. With looming chances of rain and a swing in weather conditions, Megan would take lane choice and the starting line advantage over Callaway, but his hard charge at the start made up for the slight advantage. Meyer’s Racer’s Evolved A/Fuel Dragster started reeling him back in, but just ran out of real estate at the stripe. Calloway’s 5.288 at 272.23 mph would take the win over Meyer’s losing 5.337 at 272.95 mph. The difference at the finish line was just 0.0397 seconds (approximately 16 feet). Callaway went on to score his first-ever event win in the Houston Top Alcohol Dragster final.

We took our data from qualifying to turn on the win lights in first and second round, but had some complications when it came to the semi-finals. With light sprinkles coming, we had to sit in the staging lanes for about 20 minutes – which probably cost us the run since our fuel got warm from the humidity. This, combined with a cooler track, made us slow down in third round just enough to let Lee get past me and get the round win.”

Meyer leaves the event holding the No. 2 position in NHRA Lucas Oil National Series Championship points. She next will take the home track advantage at Heartland Park Topeka’s 28th Annual NHRA Kansas Nationals event on May 20-22nd.

I’m very happy for Lee and the Callaway Collision Team for winning their first National event! It’s an amazing feeling and I’m very fortunate to be one of the few beginners to already have a National event win on my racing resume. We are pleased with our outcome at Houston, and we are very excited for our next outing at our home track of Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, KS for the Summer Nationals! I will be doing a couple displays and interviews around our community to help bring awareness of the reopening of the track, and to help NHRA have another sold-out crowd!”

2nd Round Eliminations – Megan Meyer

New 200 MPH Club Members

April 29, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Kerry Alter Land Speed Racing teammates, Lisa Taylor and Loretta Flores, became the most recent members of three different 200 MPH Clubs at the Mojave Magnum speed event April 8-10 in Mojave, California. The event has separate speed clubs based on distance raced. The Mojave Mile is for 1-mile runs and the Mojave Magnum is for 1.5-mile runs.

Retired Scottsdale motorcycle officer and event rookie, Lisa Taylor, earned membership in the Mojave Mile 200 MPH Club with stout run of 215.7 mph on her Kerry Alter prepared Suzuki Hayabusa. To top her new personal best one-mile speed, Taylor raced the same Hayabusa on the 1.5-mile course to a blistering new personal best 1.5-mile speed of 226 mph, earning her membership in the Mojave Magnum 225 MPH Club.

Loretta Flores, a 24-year old motorcycle technician from Tempe, set a new personal best top speed of 204.2 mph on Alter’s 2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale, earning her membership into the Mojave Mile 200 MPH Club. Flores top speed at last year’s event as a rookie was 195.6 mph.

Kerry Alter Land Speed Racing was formed in 2008 by Phoenix-resident and 17-time land speed record holder, Kerry Alter. The team races three different bikes tuned by Alter, including a Suzuki Hayabusa, Ducatti 1299 Panigale and a BMW S 1000 RR.

“I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of both Lisa and Loretta for their outstanding performances at one of the fastest race courses on the West Coast. Both worked hard and smart to meet their objectives,” said Kerry Alter, team owner and driver. “We set a lot of goals for this event and achieved all of a them. The bikes responded well to my tune-ups for both courses and we lucked out with the weather,” added Alter, who did not race due to recovery from injuries from a non-racing accident.

The next Mojave Magnum event will be held October 8-9, 2016 at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California.

Semi final 4-Wide finish for Enders

April 25, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Enders 4-wide — Photo: Geiger Media

The results may not be obvious, but Pro Stock driver Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge team continue to make progress in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. A semi final 4-Wide finish for Enders at the 7th Annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes on Sunday moved her up the standings in championship points to the No. 7 position.

The two-time Pro Stock world champion switched manufacturers for 2016, and combined with some NHRA-mandated rules changes, the Elite team has been playing catch-up through five races. Enders keeps battling and her team keeps improving.

We learned a lot this weekend,” Enders said. “We completely used this race as a test session for us. I’m glad we were able to learn some stuff, and we certainly made a move in the right direction. The things we figured out this week we’ll apply to Houston. Our rigs were supposed to go directly to Houston, but they’re going to go back to the shop and we’re going to work on our race cars and try to do our best to win in our hometown next week.”

Enders has won the last two races at Royal Purple Raceway, site of the Pro Stock race next weekend. She heads there with some momentum. Enders finished second in her quad in the first round, making a pass of 6.630 seconds at 209.88 mph and trailing only teammate Drew Skillman.

First round was a much better run for us,” Enders said. “But by no means was it a great run. That was encouraging.”

Enders then drilled her three competitors on the Christmas Tree in the semifinals with a .024-second reaction time. Had she matched her first-round elapsed time, Enders would have made it to the final, but the Dodge Dart shook the tires and she had to lift.

With her first-round light of .027, Enders remains one of the top drivers in the class at the starting line.

To me, that part’s easy,” Enders said. “That’s my job, to be focused. I really pride myself on my driving techniques. I try to perform as perfectly as possible every time. There are a lot of extra distractions here at this event, and I feel like we’re the best in the world. We proved it two years in a row, and we’re just going to keep getting better.”

4-Wide Win for Brittany Force

April 25, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Top Fuel driver, Brittany Force, may have waited a few seasons to earn her first win in the class, but she didn’t waste any time getting a second victory under her belt. The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team delivered consistently all day on Sunday, resulting in a 4-Wide Win for Brittany Force.

Over the course of three elimination rounds of Four-Wide racing, Force had the quickest Top Fuel dragster in all three quads she raced. When it mattered the most, Force was able to keep focused and used stellar reaction times to secure her second win in three races.

The format for the 7th Annual Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods confuses the most veteran of drivers. In the chaos, drivers crossing the finish line at nearly 320 mph don’t know whether to celebrate or suffer in defeat.

“I didn’t see (the win light) and didn’t even know we won until they pulled me in to where all the Fox Sports 1 cameras were. I asked them to make sure. I said, ‘Did we win?’ So I didn’t even know until I got out of the car and that was very exciting. No one could probably see, but we thrashed to get up here and I didn’t think we were going to make it up to the lanes in time to run here,” said Force. “Our belts got pulled back when they put the car back together and we had to unbolt the car and then re-buckle me in and I wasn’t sure we were going to make it. But we did and I guess it’s good because under pressure we all figured it out and got the car down the track.”

The Monster Energy team is hitting its stride to start the season thanks in part to the technical alliance with Torrence Racing and the oversight of Top Fuel tuner Alan Johnson and crew chief Brian Husen. Brittany has raced to three final rounds in the last four races.

“I just want to say thank you to Alan Johnson and Brian Husen and the entire team because I am just so proud of everyone,” added Force. “That is just incredible to know that Alan Johnson and Brian Husen can put a car together that is that consistent every single run and run like that. It’s insane and I am so proud to be teamed up with them. It really shows and it really builds my confidence up for the season. The season is still getting started but we are definitely off to a really good start.”

Force earned her first victory at the Gatornationals, and has won a total of twelve rounds of racing this season. In the previous two seasons, it took Force twelve races to capture twelve rounds wins and her career best final round total in one season is four. It took the Monster Energy team 75 races to get their first win but only two races to pick up win No. 2.

People say that the first win is the toughest and it was because it took me ’til my fourth season. My second one came easier but I wouldn’t say easiest because it is still tough. These guys on my team are the hardest workers that I have seen and they have dedicated everything into this car. Now I get to celebrate with them in the winner’s circle,” added Force.

The win was Force’s first at zMAX Dragway, and marked the first win by a female in the Four-Wide format. The only racetrack that features four lanes of action, Charlotte’s 4-Wide Nationals are tricky for even the most seasoned drivers. Many struggled with staging mishaps and were distracted by the chaos that ensues with 40,000 HP all taking the starting line at the same time.

“I am still just trying to get over that Four-Wide deal where I got so screwed up in qualifying and just not coming in with a clear head. I was just trying to find my focus and it’s tough and to be able to win four wide is amazing. To be the first female, that is pretty awesome.”

Force had to out run two-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown in every quad of eliminations to score the victory. In the first session, Force was the first to the finish line with an event-quickest elapsed time of 3.734 seconds. In the second quad, she was able to pick her lane again and had to face off with Brown, Richie Crampton and JR Todd. Again Force got to the finish line first with Brown on her heels.

In the final quad, Force had her best reaction time of the day, .042, to leave first on Doug Kalitta, Brown and Clay Millican. The winning elapsed time of 3.764 seconds at 319.98 mph was enough to edge out Brown’s runner-up time of 3.779 seconds.

But before that final run, Force’s team had to thrash in the staging lanes and the 2013 NHRA Rookie of the Year was afraid they might not make the call.

You know, sometimes drivers just do better under pressure and I always wondered what type I was. It wasn’t just me, it was the entire team. I don’t know if everyone could see but I was coming up here there was a problem with the belts. But they unbolted the car and we got it figured out and we got the win,” explained Force in the pressroom.

While Force was focusing on beating some of the toughest competition in recent Top Fuel history the crew chiefs were battling twice as many lanes as normal and tricky track conditions. This resulted in several rounds of lane swap shuffling that often resulted in 4 cars being backed out and moved several times before the round would begin.

The thing is that it’s the most challenging about this place is that there are four lanes. And you have to have lane choice and there are four to pick from and this place is so challenging because there are four to pick from and the starting line is tough. Our goal of the day was maintaining lane choice every round and we did a good job of that,” said Alan Johnson outside the winner’s circle celebration.