During the NHRA Northwest Nationals held in Kent, Washington, Brittany Force made history by setting a new NHRA speed record. Although she did not win the Top Fuel final against Shawn Langdon on Sunday, Force’s semifinal run at Pacific Raceways recorded an astonishing 341.85 mph, making her the fastest driver in NHRA history.
This remarkable achievement surpassed her previous record of 341.59 mph, which she set earlier this season during the Four-Wide event in Charlotte. Force’s milestone also exceeded the 341.68 mph speed reached by her teammate Austin Prock in the Funny Car class last fall at Pomona, though that remains the top mark for Funny Car competitors.
Details of Force’s Record-Breaking Performance and Race Weekend
Force’s semifinal run clocked in at 3.659 seconds, setting a new standard for Top Fuel speed. Throughout the weekend, Force and her HendrickCars.com team demonstrated strong consistency, qualifying third and managing three separate passes exceeding 340 mph. Despite their impressive efforts, the final round took a disappointing turn when pan pressure cut engine power, causing Force to lose momentum and ultimately concede the win to Shawn Langdon.
Reflecting on the event, Force said,
“Overall it was a pretty solid outing for this HendrickCars.com team here in Seattle. We came out and qualified third and laid down three passes over 340 miles per hour this weekend. We were able to make our way to the final round but unfortunately came up short to Shawn Langdon. Pan pressure automatically shut us off in the final. I had no power and was just coasting to the finish line and I saw Shawn (Langdon) go around me.”
Significance of the Record and Future Prospects for John Force Racing
The highlight of Force’s weekend was unquestionably the semifinals record run, which not only set a new Top Fuel speed benchmark but established her as the fastest person in NHRA history. She expressed pride and excitement for her team’s accomplishment, emphasizing the collective effort behind the record.
Force added,
“But obviously the highlight of our weekend was in the semifinals when we made a killer run and went even faster than our current national mile per hour record at 341.85 mph, fastest all time. It’s really exciting for this whole team to do that and be a part of something so prominent in our sport.”
She also noted the importance of both victories and record-setting performances as the season progresses towards the Countdown to the Championship.
“We work really hard to turn on win lights and put the best numbers up on the board and we’re hoping that record will hold for a while. We reset the Top Fuel speed record back in Charlotte, but our teammate Austin Prock still had us beat overall, so to step up and outdo our run from Charlotte and not just be the fastest Top Fuel driver but to be the fastest person in our sport, that’s such a huge accomplishment for our team. Wins are important but setting records is pretty awesome too. The Countdown is quickly approaching and if we can keep putting together performances like this, we’re going to be in a pretty good spot.”
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What does NHRA stand for?
A. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) creates rules for drag racing and organizes events throughout the U.S. and Canada. It has more than 40,000 drivers and calls itself the largest motorsport sanctioning organization globally.
Q. What’s bigger, NHRA or IHRA?
A. The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) ranks as the second-biggest group for drag racing in North America, following the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
Q. What does an NHRA stand for?
A. The National Hot Rod Association, started by Wally Parks in 1951, is now the biggest auto racing group in the world. Despite its growth into a global sports-entertainment company, it still focuses on Parks’ original aim: giving racers a place to compete.
Q. Does NHRA stand for?
A. NHRA stands for the National Hot Rod Association. It started in 1951 to move hot rod enthusiasts into safer settings off the streets. Now, the NHRA is the biggest global authority on motorsports and is the leading promoter of drag racing worldwide.
