History was made Sunday, when the Godfather of Funny Car shared the podium with his daughter at the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, KS. Although John and Brittany Force had shared Number One qualifying positions at past events, Topeka was the first time in history a father and child posted wins the same NHRA Nationals event. To no one’s surprise, John Force knows all about breaking records and, as one of the most dominant drag racers in the world, he reached his 260th final round at the House of Speed. “We doubled up, we doubled up,” shouted an exuberant John Force as he watched live on a runoff area monitor as Brittany claimmed victory in Top Fuel. It was daughter Brittany’s first Wally of the 2021 season. As the driver of the Monster Energy top fuel dragster, she had been dominant in qualifying all year but had failed to put it all together on Sunday for a final round.
Dallas Green Posts a Perfect .000 Reaction Time
Standing alongside the Tour de Force on the podium at the 32nd annual Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmour was an elated Dallas Green. A candidate for the NHRA Camping World Drag Series Rookie of the Year, Green had a perfect .000-second reaction time leaving the tree in the final round Sunday against Kyle Koretsky. Moreover, the rookie standout earned his second victory of season in his third final driving the RAD Torque Systems/KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
It was Koretsky’s second career final round with wins against Rodger Brogdon, Greg Anderson (points leader in Pro Stock), and defending NHRA world champion Erica Enders. Koretsky was also fast leaving the line with holeshot victories over Anderson and Enders. Glenn advanced to Sunday’s final by defeating Deric Kramer, Matt Hartford, and number one qualifier Troy Coughlin Jr. Green became the sixth NHRA driver to execute a perfect start at a major event.
Brittany Force Claims Her First Win of Season
Brittany Force earned her way to the final round at Topeka by starting the weekend as the number one qualifier in Top Fuel. After qualifying on top six times during the NHRA Camping World season, including a string of four straight races, B. Force defeated Scott Palmer in round one and points leader Steve Torrence in the semifinals in her 11,000 horsepower Monster Energy dragster.
The sister of retired NHRA racers Ashley Ford Hood and Courtney Force Rahal, Brittany won the Top Fuel World Championship during the 2017 NHRA drag racing series. Veteran Top Fuel driver Clay Millican raced to his first final round of the season at Heartland Motorsports Park by beating Doug Kalitta, Mike Salinas, and Shawn Langdon. Force left Millican sitting at the start with a .076 RT and never looked back on her way to victory. The Monster Energy driver also posted Low ET for the event with an earlier pass at 3.716 seconds and Top Speed at 329.42 mph.
John Force Claims 154th Wally in Nitro Funny Car
There is a reason that sixteen-time Funny Car Champion John Force is the holder of more all-time records than any other driver in NHRA history; he is one of the most competitive people to walk the planet. Moreover, after beginning his career in the NHRA with ten winless seasons and nine runner-up finishes, the 72-year Funny Car driver is as tenacious as a honey badger.
After rumors spread last year that the legendary Force might be done when he parked his team during the coronavirus epidemic, Force responded by winning his 152nd Funny Car national in May, his 153rd Funny Car national in June, and now his record-setting 154th Funny Car national final in August. Force was consistent all weekend and capped it off with a 4.019 ET at 321.04 mph in his PEAK Blue DEF Chevrolet Camaro to beat number one qualifier J.R. Todd who lost traction at the 60-foot marker. The victory gave Force the points lead for the first time since 2014. He also became the first driver in Funny Car to reach three wins for the 2021 NHRA season.
Photo of John Force courtesy of Photos by Keith
UP NEXT:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns Aug. 18-22 with the 39th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. The Lucas Oil Nationals also marks the return to action for the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.
