First nitro win for Mendy Fry

July 1, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Mendy Fry Saturday Night Nitro — Photo: Dave Kommel

Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry would earn her first nitro win Saturday at Auto Club Famoso Raceway’s Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro event, but the celebration was short lived with sad news of a fellow competitor’s fatal crash.

Photo Credit: Dave Kommel

Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro

The Saturday Night Nitro event features a unique one-night format for racers: each of the competitors only has one qualifying opportunity in which to secure a spot in the Quick 8 race format. Those top 8 then battle in a single round for the the fastest pass of the night to take the win.

Mendy Fry and her Smokey’s Darkside 1978 Challenger Nitro Funny Car crew were able to post a 5.97 second quarter-mile elapsed time at 236.46 mph. This was good for the No. 6 qualified position, earning her a spot in the show out of the dozen-plus entrants vying for the top 8 positions.

The Darkside team would scramble to make some tuning changes between rounds to their Arias Hemi Chevy program, adding timing and increasing the nitromethane percentage.

The first pair in the Quick 8 program would be Roger Garten in the War Horse Funny Car against Matt Bynum in the Nitro Nick Funny Car. Tragedy would strike shortly off the line when Roger crossed the centerline, crashing into Bynum. Bynum was uninjured, but emergency personnel at the track worked to extract Roger from the wreckage, and transported him to the hospital.

When racing resumed, Smokey Alleman’s tuning calls would net an impressive two-tenths improvement, catapulting Fry and the Darkside Challenger straight to the top with a 5.72 second performance at 252 mph. This was a career-best pass, not only for Fry but for the Darkside team and the Arias Hemi engine program. Mendy’s nearest competitor, the California Hustler, posted a 5.81 at 253 mph, netting her the first nitro funny car win of her career by over a tenth of a second.

The team was elated with the win, receiving the AA/FC Good Vibrations trophy and an outpouring of support from the community congratulating their success.

Wow, what a movie. We come dragging up to our front doorstep after 4 am, trophy in hand as evidence of my first nitro win EVER, full of elation and pride in my crew chief and crew.”

But the celebration would be short-lived, as the following morning came news that fellow competitor Roger Garten had succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the crash during the event. The entire racing community was stunned and saddened by the news.

There really are no appropriate words. I am stunned that Roger lost his life in that crash, and offer my deepest condolences to his family.”

For Mendy, the win is bittersweet. Though she did not know Roger personally, she was crushed by the news of his passing. Understandably, her previous evening joy and excitement was instantly deflated at the unfortunate dangers of racing and the loss of a fellow competitor.

“Drag racing sure is a sport of contradictions,” she said of the sport’s risks and rewards.

Mendy Fry in Smokey’s Darkside

Erica Enders nominated for ESPY Best Driver

June 24, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Reigning NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Erica Enders was just recognized as an ESPY nominee for the Best Driver category. Awarded by sports network giant ESPN, the ESPY awards recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding at the annual ceremony.

Enders nominated for ESPY in Best Driver category

Enders is in the running against Kevin Harvick from NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya and Wil Power from IndyCar and Lewis Hamilton from Formula One for the Best Driver award. The official nominee announcement was just released today.

Everyone always says it is an honor to be nominated for an award like this, and that is absolutely the case,” Enders said. “I am truly humbled to see my name alongside the greatest in the world, and I am honored to represent my Elite Motorsports team and NHRA at the ESPYS.”

Enders had a remarkable 2014, earning her nomination by winning the Pro Stock championship in thrilling fashion in the final round of the final race. In winning, she became the first female to win the title in drag racing’s ultra-competitive Pro Stock class, and she did it in clutch fashion, coming from behind in the points standings and winning the last two races of the season.

For her efforts in 2014, she has also been honored with Racer Magazine’s prestigious Racer of the Year Award, beating out competitors across all forms of motorsports. She won the magazine’s Drag Racer of the Year, and All-American status from the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association.

Enders joined Elite Motorsports, owned by Richard Freeman, for the 2014 season. Led by crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones, Enders won six races and was fastest qualifier six times in 2014. She led the points standings for 15 of 24 races and set the national elapsed time (6.464 seconds) and speed record (215.55 mph) in Englishtown, N.J.

My guys are absolutely incredible,” Enders said. “They never cease to amaze me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. This is the first team I’ve ever worked for where we’ve had a unified front and they have my back. I’m blessed to have an incredible group of men, and the chemistry is there. It’s always a positive environment.”

Fans can vote for Enders in the ESPY Best Driver category here: http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/

The 2015 ESPYS awards show will be broadcast live on ABC July 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern time from the Nokia Theater L.A. in Los Angeles. Enders will attend the ceremony, which will be hosted by comedian Joel McHale.

Enders defends Bristol event title in Pro Stock

June 22, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Pro Stock driver Erica Enders entered the 15th Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as the reigning event champion, and successfully defended that title Sunday at Bristol Dragway. The 2014 World Champion fought her way to her fourth final round in five races, ending in the winner’s circle for her 16th career win, the fourth of the 2015 season.

It’s always been good to me,” Enders said. “I guess every driver has tracks where they go that no matter what you do wrong, it ends up right. But today we earned it. We made really good runs for the heat; it was really hot and tricky out there.

With temperatures in the low 90’s all weekend and an altitude adjustment for the naturally aspirated category Pro Stock class, crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones and Mark Ingersoll had their hands full as they guided Enders to four quick passes.

My crew chiefs were stressing, but they have this cool, calm, collected attitude, and their confidence comes over the radio in my ears. That in turn gives me the confidence I need to go out there and drive to the best of my ability.”

Enders started off by grabbing the No. 1 position in qualifying, running a 6.632 second elapsed time (E.T.) at 207.59 mph in her Elite Motorsports Camaro. This would be her 16th career pole, and would match her against John Gaydosh Jr. in the opening round of eliminations.

In round one, Gaydosh Jr. would take the slight starting line advtange with a 0.010 second reaction time (RT) to Erica’s 0.027 second RT. But Enders would regain the lead by the 330′ clocks, crossing the stripe with a 6.695 at 206.51 mph to his losing 6.787 at 196.27 mph. She just missed the quickest pass of the round by 0.001 seconds to Chris McGaha, but would earn lane choice over Jason Line entering the round two match-up.

Enders and Line have a tough rivalry going, with Erica holding a 13-12 career advantage over Jason in previous meetings. Both drivers know they have to bring their A-game to the starting line, adding to the pressure. But Line would jump just a fraction to quick, turning on the red light with a -0.027 RT and handing Enders victory. Her 0.017 RT on the way to a solid 6.698 second ET at 206.64 mph, again just missing the quickest pass of the round by 0.001 seconds to McGaha, but maintaining lane choice into the semi-final round.

She would face Shane Gray in round three, cutting a stellar 0.007 light against him and never trailing for the win, 6.703 at 206.45 mph to his 6.724 at 206.20 mph. This time, she was able to capture the fastest pass of the round and critical lane choice into the final against McGaha, who was able to best her performances in each prior round by a mere fraction of a second.

As expected, it was a close race in the final against McGaha. But Enders handled the pressure like a true champion, posting a 0.025 second RT against his 0.055 second RT, as they both ran side-by-side, her 6.685-second pass at 206.95 mph to his 6.689-second run at 207.46 mph. At the finish line, it would be Enders with the win, the margin of victory 0.0349 seconds (approximately 11 feet).

You have to learn to win, and that’s something I never understood until we did it,” Enders said. “Greg Anderson and Jason (Line) had mentioned that to me when I was first starting, and I didn’t get it until we finally did it. You just learn how to handle yourself in those high-pressure situations. It’s a challenge, for sure, and you’ve got to remain positive in your thoughts, and that’s been a huge part of our success.”

Securing the back-to-back Bristol victory would propel her into the No. 1 position in the Pro Stock points chase leaving the event. She holds a 14-point lead over rival Greg Anderson heading into the next event on the tour: the upcoming Independence Day weekend 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

My guys are absolutely incredible,” Enders said. “They never cease to amaze me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. This is the first team I’ve ever worked for where we’ve had a unified front and they have my back. I’m blessed to have an incredible group of men, and the chemistry is there. It’s always a positive environment.”

Female Racer: Sondra Leslie

June 22, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Dating back to when she was just a teenager, 28 year-old Sondra Leslie has followed in the family drag racing tradition. The sister of NMRA Factory Stock racer John Leslie Jr and Street Outlaw Crew Chief Melissa Urist, the Munster, IN native began her racing experiences over 15 years ago, learning the family racing habits. Since then, she’s graduated to her own NMRA Factory Stock race operation, adding another accomplished driver to the family tree.

Racing in the Blood

I was almost inevitable that Sondra would follow in the family footsteps. Much like her other siblings, Sondra would spend her teenage years at NMRA events across the country, helping and learning from her brother. Before she was even old enough to drive, Sondra knew that she wanted to race herself. She was dedicated to learning everything it took to be successful- from the upkeep and mechanical aspect, to the responsibilities of being a team owner and driver.

Breaking into the sport wasn’t always the easiest for Sondra, who despite years of experience at the races, still had to overcome some skeptics within the community.

It’s very hard to get your start in this sport as a women because you are not taken very seriously at first. It’s been a unique experience showing everyone I’m just as dedicated as the next person,” she said of the early critics.

Her big break would come in 2009, when best friend and current crew chief, Ken Bjonnes handed over the keys to his supercharged 2005 Mustang GT and offered her a dream-opportunity: a chance to compete in the NMRA Super Stang class for the entire 2010 season.

Ken Bjonnes has been my teacher since day one. He knew I was a fast learner and with his years of experience behind this sport he was eager to teach me the ins and outs of drag racing,” said Sondra of the valuable coaching he provided.

Sondra wouldn’t let him down, indeed proving to be a fast study that would end her rookie season in the No. 5 position overall in the class. She spent 2011 in the Super Stang class as well, finishing just outside the top ten.

Moving Up- Factory Stock

At the end of her sophomore season, Sondra had the urge to move away from the index racing format of Super Stang and into a heads-up category. With so much family experience in the Factory Stock class, she felt it would be a fitting match. Together with her team and family’s input, the car was completely rebuilt for the 2012 season meeting the Factory Stock rule requirements.

Not all competitors were as supportive of her move into heads-up racing. She was met with vocal critics that unfairly questioned her abilities, and as a result had to learn how best to manage these antagonists.

Several people would give me a hard time because I was a female entering ‘their’ class and would always try to discourage me and question my ability to race, say things like ‘I will never be competitive – I should not even try and come run with them.’ It was difficult at first to handle but you develop some tough skin being in this industry and you learn to just keep at it and always strive to do your best to prove the non-believers you are just as capable as them.”

She has been a staple of the class for the past four seasons, finishing in the top ten every year since her 2012 debut. Her rookie Factory stock season, Sondra would finish No. 7 for the year, improving every year with a 6th place finish in 2013, and up to the No. 4 position at the end of 2014. Much of this she attributes to her family.

So many times my family has stepped up to help me when I needed it the most. My parents for trailering my car to the events, my dad for cooking for us and making sure we ate throughout the day and making sure the car was always clean, my mom for video recording every pass I have ever made, my sister for filling in as crew chief when Ken was not able to make the event and always cheering me on, my brother for all his assistance and advise.”

This season, Sondra and her team upgraded her Factory Stock Mustang with a MPR Racing Engines built Coyote powerplant and C4 transmission. Crew chief Ken and Lund Racing provide all the tuning, and Power by the Hour helped to assemble the car for its season opening debut in Bradenton, Florida for the NMRA Spring Break Shootout. Strange Engineering, her largest sponsor, has been on-board with the program for the past 5 years, and Pappa Shine provides all the cleaning and detailing supplies to ensure the car is always photo-ready. She is currently in the No. 2 position for points in the 2015 season, with 2 events remaining.

Future Goals for Sondra Leslie

Sondra plans to continue working on improving her Factory Stock program, fine-tuning the combination and improving her race day results. Her goal is to put the car into the winner’s circle this season, and is constantly working on ways to improve as a driver.

Most challenging thing about racing for me: Not being so hard on myself. I am always looking for ways to become a better driver and even after having an awesome season opener weekend, there is always that ‘if I didn’t do this…’ or ‘I could have done this better…’ that plays over and over in my mind. My ultimate goal in racing is to be as successful as my brother-in-law, John Urist, and my brother, John Leslie Jr. I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but with their guidance I know I can achieve that goal.”

One of the most important aspects she has learned being a female driver in the sport is to work with people you can trust and always staying humble. There are always people out there who don’t have the best intentions in mind, and this can put a racer in a compromising situation.

Work with people you trust. That’s good advice for anyone, but being a woman in this sport opens you up to certain issues that I’m sure you can imagine.”

For Sondra, continuing the family tradition of drag racing has been a rewarding adventure she cherishes with her family. Not only has she added another branch to the Leslie family racing tree, but she also gets the pleasure of teaching the next generation of racer the ropes, involving her two nieces as much as possible at the racetrack.

Many people dream of following a race circuit and competing in it, I actually live that dream and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”

We can’t wait to see where Sondra Leslie will go in the future!

New Gumout Dragster Livery unveiled

June 19, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett and her Dote Racing team unveiled the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster Friday afternoon prior to this weekend’s 15th Annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

The new gold livery will adorn the dragster for the next three NHRA national events – this weekend’s Bristol, Tenneesee event, Norwalk, Ohio (NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals July 2-5) and Joliet, Ill (NHRA Route 66 Nationals July 9-12).

Solid Gold Gumout Dragster

The new livery is representative of the Gumout Expert Series, with its signature gold packing, an exclusive line of Gumout premium performance additives and kits available only at AutoZone. The Expert Series includes products formulated with the most advanced cleaning and conditioning agents on the market. From single use products to specialty kits, the Gumout Expert Series lineup offers solutions to drivers looking to maintain newer vehicle performance as well as those with older vehicles who wish to restore lost engine performance.

We, at Gumout, are very excited to debut the new “Solid Gold” Gumout dragster Friday for Leah and the Dote Racing team at Bristol,” said Rusty Waples, Global Group Brand Manager at ITW Global Brands. “When we discussed our idea with Leah, she asked if we could really go gold and we told her, “absolutely!” That said, it’s about as gold as you can get and it mimics our new packaging for the Gumout Expert Series. We’re enthusiastic to see the reaction of the NHRA racing fans as they get the chance to see the car close-up in the pits.”

For nearly 70 years, Gumout has been vehicle owners’ trusted source for automotive performance products and made a successful return to NHRA professional drag racing in 2014.

“We went back and forth on how to do this gold dragster and finally just decided lets be all-in and go big – and gold, bullion-style,” laughed Pritchett, recent runner-up at the NHRA Southern Nationals. “I love the red dragster, but this, this is going to be fun to roll out to the lanes the next three events for Gumout. Even more fun to roll out of Bristol with a Wally!”

Pritchett enters the event after recording the quickest elapsed time of her 18-year racing career with a sensational 3.736-second clocking at Englishtown. This is on the heels of advancing to her first Top Fuel final round at Atlanta Dragway last month.

Qualifying for the 16-driver Top Fuel field will begin tonight with two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is scheduled Sunday (June 21) at Noon EDT. The ESPN telecast of the eliminations will be live on June 21 starting 3 p.m. EDT.

Haley James picks up second career win

June 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Haley James Norwalk — Photo: NMRA Digital

Norwalk Coyote Modified Victory for rookie James

National Mustang Racers Association Coyote Modified drag racer Haley James picked up the second win of her career at the 12th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford SUPER Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio this past weekend. The 18 year-old recent high school graduate began this season in Bradenton, FL as a complete drag racing rookie. Since then, she has made quite a statement, securing the top spot in the ultra-competitive Coyote Modified class.

Weather would prove to be a big factor in the weekend’s events, as Haley and the Hellion Racing team would fight hot and muggy tuning conditions, with frequent racing rain delay interruptions. Friday’s first test pass resulted in no-traction, and Haley blew the tires off in an aborted run. Round one of qualifying, she was able to post an off-paced 8.483 second elapsed time at 162.18 mph, but rain would stop the round before the class completion and end the day’s racing action.

When racing resumed Saturday, Haley improved her position slightly, earning the No. 1 qualified position with an 8.400 second E.T. at 162.12 mph. This would give the rookie a competition bye in round 1 of eliminations on Sunday. She would use the round to blast off an 8.524 second at 161.44 mph performance, securing lane choice for round number two.

For the next pairing, James would face the 2014 Mustang of No. 4 qualified Ronnie Reynolds. Reynolds had ousted Haley in the previous Maryland race during a staging battle that saw her ‘creeper button’, the button used to initiate the staging sequence for the turbocharged car, malfunctioned. Haley was anxious to avenge the loss, and earn her way into the final. Both racers would leave the starting line together, but Haley quickly powered her way out front to a 8.442 second E.T. at 161.96 mph to his losing 9.389 at 151.14 mph.

Norwalk Coyote Modified Final

The win in round two would pair her in the final round against veteran racer Johnny Lightning, the number two qualifier. Rain continued to plague the event, but between rain clouds, the two top-ranked competitors were able to face off and complete the final round. Johnny Lightning would leave with a slight starting line advantage, and the two were side by side until the eighth mile marker. But a faulty throttle cable would cause Lightning to abort, and Haley thundered on to the win with a 8.463 at 162.16 mph to his losing 9.051 at 120.32 mph.

Watch Haley James vs Johnny Lightning in the CM Norwalk Final

Haley James leaves the event with the No. 1 position in NMRA Coyote Modified championship points. The next event for the team will be the 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois on July 30th-August 2nd, 2015.

Transmission failure ends Enders day in Epping

June 16, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Elite Motorsports driver Erica Enders is no fan of the Grateful Dead, and after the 3rd annual NHRA New England Nationals on Sunday at New England Dragway, she’s even less so. In drag racing, the term “deadhead” refers to a mis-alignment of gears inside the transmission, resulting in a failed pass down the racetrack. And that’s exactly what happened on Sunday in the semifinals after Enders had the quickest car on the property in the previous two rounds.

The 2014 Pro Stock champion, Enders had the dominant car on Sunday in Epping. She qualified No. 4, but crew chiefs Rick and Rickie Jones and Mark Ingersoll tuned the red Chevrolet Camaro to a pass of 6.513 at 214.69 mph in the first round against V. Gaines. That was the quickest and fastest pass of the round, and the speed broke Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s year-old track record.

She went even quicker in the next round against Vincent Nobile. While Nobile made a pass of 6.546 seconds at 213.47 mph, Enders blistered the track with a 6.506-second run at 214.66 mph to advance to the semifinals.

But round number three is where her luck would run out. Fellow competitor and good buddy Allen Johnson made a pass of 6.537 second at 213.33 mph, a run that Enders could have easily covered if she had matched her first- and second-round runs, but during her normal shifting procedure, Enders’ transmission deadheaded and her pass was 6.540 seconds at 214.21 mph. That gave Johnson a narrow victory to the final round.

It’s disappointing, for sure,” Enders said. “Instead of the gears lining up and going into the right gear, it just misses when it’s supposed to align and it doesn’t shift. It’s no one’s fault and it happens every now and then in Pro Stock, but that doesn’t take the sting out of it.”

Next on the NHRA schedule is the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals next weekend at Bristol Dragway.

It just wasn’t our day, but we had the quickest car on the property today thanks to my guys,” Enders said. “They’re the best guys out here, and I have complete faith in them all. We’ll be back in Bristol next week, and we’re the defending champions there, so our heads are held high.”

Strong run continues for Brittany Force

June 15, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Top Fuel driver Brittany Force continued her strong run in her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster at this weekend’s 3rd annual NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire. For the third straight event, the Monster Energy team advanced in rounds, coming just short with a 1/100th of a second loss in the semi-finals.

Brittany Force qualified in the number 10 position. First round of eliminations, this would match her up against the number 5 qualifier, Doug Kalitta. With Doug holding the winning record at 6-3 against Force, and having been to the finals of this event the year before, Brittany would need to be at the top of her game in the first round to defeat the veteran. She took the starting line advantage and never trailed, finessing the throttle when the dragster teetered on losing traction and salvaging the pass to a 4.287 second elapsed time at 211.03 mph performance.

Pedaling the car happens so fast and it comes with experience. I am still learning and every run is different. I think I handled that run pretty well. I got out of it and let it settle down and then I got back on the throttle nice and smooth,” said Force. “It hooked up again and got us far enough down the track to get the win over Kalitta. I don’t mind pedaling this Monster Energy dragster and I am getting better at it.”

Though pedaling would get her the win out of round one, she would give up lane choice in the next round to number 2 qualified Richie Crampton. The drivers are even at 3-3 in previous encounters. But it would be Brittany this time, taking the win with a superior 3.885 second pass at 316.08 mph as Crampton hazed the tires. The run was the second-fastest of the session, and gave Force lane choice into the semi-finals.

Now in her third consecutive semi-final round, a personal best for Force, she was paired with three-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon. Hoping to propel herself to her first back-to-back final round finish, and another shot at her elusive first win, Force was ready to turn the tables on the veteran, who held a 2-0 record against her. Though it would be Brittany out of the gate first, Dixon overcame a starting line disadvantage (.100 to .081) to get the win, with a 3.855 second E.T. to Force’s 3.894 second performance. The margin of victory was just 0.0105 seconds (approximately 5 feet).

“Looking back at the last three races I think this Monster Energy team is on fire right now. We have never performed like this. It is more than just performance this whole team has pulled together. We are pushing our dragster during qualifying and then showing up on race day and going rounds. I am very proud of the entire team especially my crew chiefs Todd Smith and Ronnie Thompson. They had to be patient all year long because we couldn’t push the car because we didn’t have the funding. Now with Monster Energy we can really press it. Overall it was a great weekend and you can’t complain about going to two semi-finals and a final in the last three races. We are ready to get to Bristol and that is one of my favorite tracks.”

Brittany leaves the event No. 8 in NHRA Mello Yello Championship Points heading into this coming weekend’s 15th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.

Leah Pritchett Golden teaser

June 15, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

The Dote Racing Gumout Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett is undergoing a mid-season makeover. The team promises a “Golden” experience, offering this sneak-peak teaser photo:

The shiny new look will be debuted Friday, June 19 at the 15th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.

Brittany Force runner-up in Top Fuel

June 10, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Brittany Force falls just short of first win

Brittany Force runner-up Englishtown — Brittany Force Photo: Gary Nastase, John Force Racing

For the fifth time in her career and the first time this season, Brittany Force raced to a runner-up finish in Top Fuel at the 46th Annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. Her bid to become the eighth woman to win in drag racing’s Top Fuel class fell just short to New Jersey native Antron Brown in the final round. Force qualified No. 6 and worked her way to the final round by defeating Richie Crampton, Tony Schumacher and Terry McMillen.

Overall this was an awesome day for this Monster Energy team. I am so proud of every one of my guys. They put everything into this dragster this weekend. We went all the way to the final and I don’t even know how that happened it was just a blur today. You can tell they are bummed and they really wanted to take home that win but I am so proud of them and especially my crew chiefs Todd Smith and Ronnie Thompson,” said Force.

Force and the Monster Energy team faced Richie Crampton in the first round, hoping to avenge the semi-final loss against Crampton in Kansas. Both former Rookie of the Year recipients were quick off the line, but Crampton lost traction immediately and aborted, while Brittany thundered through to a 3.848 second elapsed time at 316.01 mph. The win was critical for the team and would move Brittany into round two with lane choice against 8-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher.

Again, the pair would leave the line together, but Schumacher would also go up in smoke instantly, allowing Brittany to take the win with another consistent 3.838 second E.T. at 314.02 mph. For the second race in a row, Force bested the former World Champ, evening her career head-to-head record against ‘The Sarg’ at 3-3.

It always helps when you get multiple round wins against anyone. We just use that to keep moving forward and to keep pushing a little bit harder. Really now having Monster Energy on board we now have the power to push harder. We can be more aggressive and push the performance,” said an excited Force.

Brittany Force runner up — Brittany Force launch Photo: Gary Nastase, John Force Racing

Force moved on to face Terry McMillen in round number three. She would again reach the finish line first with a 3.899 at 314.09 mph, but would lose a fuel line at the top end and upset the blower. This would cost her lane-choice in the final against Antron Brown. Though she would leave first, Brittany shook the tires shortly after the launch. She tried to pedal, but seeing the hometown boy was out ahead she clicked off. Antron drove straight through the finish, with a solid 3.843 at 318.47 mph.

We pushed it all the way to the finals this weekend. Earlier in the season we were playing it safe because we didn’t have a sponsor and we couldn’t press as hard on the parts. We are a lot more confident and we are proud to be teamed up with Monster Energy.”

Brittany Force Top Fuel — Brittany Force Photo: Gary Nastase, John Force Racing

Two weeks ago, Force raced to her first semi-final finish of the season, and her advance to the final round of Englishtown moves her up in the Mello Yello point standings from 11th place to 8th place. The runner-up finish marked the first final for her new sponsor Monster Energy, who last saw the final round with Kenny Bernstein’s Funny Car team, where they lost to John Force at Brainerd August 2007.

Brittany Force, in her third professional year of Top Fuel, is only 29 points out of 7th place with nine races left in the regular season, and is now headed to Epping, New Hampshire for the 3rd Annual NHRA New England Nationals this weekend.

I love having back to back races. That is the best part about having some momentum. We ended on a good note and we went to our fifth final. We only have a few days off and we go right back into the next one. I like to get into that groove and so does my team,” said Force, on the prospect of racing three weekends in a row.