Brittany Force Bio
Brittany Leighton Force, born July 8, 1986, in Yorba Linda, California, is an American NHRA drag racer and two-time NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel dragster champion. She currently holds the record for the fastest run in Top Fuel history at 343.16 mph. Force competes for John Force Racing, the family-owned team led by her father, legendary drag racer John Force, and has been sponsored by Monster Energy throughout her professional career. Since making her Top Fuel debut in 2013, she has become one of the most successful female drivers in the history of the NHRA.
Early Life and Background
Brittany Leighton Force grew up in Yorba Linda, California, immersed in the world of drag racing from an early age. She is the daughter of John Force, a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in drag racing history, and the sister of fellow competitors Courtney Force and Ashley Force Hood. Growing up around the team garage and race tracks gave her a deep familiarity with the sport long before she ever stepped into a dragster cockpit.
Force attended California State University, Fullerton, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English along with a teaching credential. Although she was trained as a teacher, her passion for motorsports eventually drew her back to the family business. Her educational background remains a point of pride, reflecting a well-rounded path before committing fully to a professional racing career.
Path to NASCAR
Brittany Force did not follow a traditional NASCAR ladder series path. Instead, her professional trajectory led her to the NHRA Top Fuel category, the premier class of drag racing. In 2013, she became the first John Force Racing driver to compete in the Top Fuel class, a significant step for both the team and the Force family legacy. Her entry into Top Fuel marked the beginning of a career focused on straight-line speed and precision rather than the oval-track format of stock car racing.
Brittany Force Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Force began her NHRA Top Fuel career in 2013, joining John Force Racing as a rookie in one of the most demanding classes in motorsports. Her early years were focused on learning the complexities of tuning, traction, and reaction time required to compete at the elite level. During this developmental period, she earned the Auto Club Road to the Future Award in 2013, recognizing her as the top rookie in the NHRA. The award signaled the arrival of a serious competitor and laid the foundation for future success.
Top Fuel Breakthrough (2016-2017)
Force’s breakthrough came in 2016, when she became the first woman ever to win the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, a milestone victory that put her in the national spotlight. That same year, on May 20, 2016, she set a new NHRA Top Fuel record with a run of 3.676 seconds over 1,000 feet at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas. Her performance that season demonstrated a combination of speed and consistency that few in the class could match.
In 2017, Force captured the NHRA Top Fuel Championship, becoming only the second woman in history to win a Top Fuel title, following in the footsteps of Shirley Muldowney’s 1982 championship. She clinched the title in the quarterfinals of the final race of the season and then went on to win the event itself, finishing the year with four victories, the most she had recorded in a single season. Three of those wins came during the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, reinforcing her reputation as a clutch performer under pressure.
John Force Racing Era (2019-Present)
Throughout her career, Force has remained a central figure at John Force Racing, the team her father built into a drag racing powerhouse. In 2019, she became the first woman driver to earn the Number 1 qualifier position in Top Fuel at the prestigious U.S. Nationals, further cementing her status as a trailblazer for women in the sport. Her sustained performance with the team has helped solidify John Force Racing’s presence in the Top Fuel category.
On October 2, 2022, Force set a new national record for the fastest Top Fuel run in history at 338.17 mph during the NHRA Midwest Nationals. She went on to win her second NHRA Top Fuel Championship that year, resetting the speed record to 338.94 mph and also setting the E.T. national record at 3.623 seconds. As of late 2022, she had accumulated 16 career NHRA victories, placing her among the most accomplished drivers in Top Fuel history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Force is known for her composed demeanor at the starting line, sharp reaction times, and ability to perform under championship pressure. Her partnership with her John Force Racing crew has produced consistent performance in both qualifying and eliminations. She has repeatedly demonstrated the capacity to push her dragster to record-setting speeds while maintaining the consistency required to contend for season-long titles.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Force’s signature achievements are her 2016 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals victory, her 2017 and 2022 Top Fuel championships, and her multiple speed and E.T. national records. Her run at Heartland Motorsports Park in 2016, her 2019 U.S. Nationals pole, and her record-breaking performances in 2022 all stand as defining moments in her career. She also broke her own speed record on July 20, 2025, with a 341.59 mph pass at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Washington.
Brittany Force Career Wins
Brittany Force has built an impressive résumé in the NHRA Drag Racing Series, highlighted by two Top Fuel championships and 16 career national event victories as of 2022. Her wins include some of the most prestigious stops on the NHRA calendar, with her versatility and record-setting pace making her a consistent threat in any condition.
Top Fuel Highlights
Force’s first major Top Fuel win came at the 2016 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, a historic event where she became the first woman to reach victory lane. She added four wins during her 2017 championship season, with three of those coming during the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Her most recent championship in 2022 was accompanied by additional victories and the resetting of both the national speed and E.T. records, underscoring her dominance at the peak of her career.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to her national event victories, Force has earned the Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the NHRA’s top rookie in 2013. She has also been a qualifying force, earning pole positions at major events including the U.S. Nationals in 2019. Her record-breaking speed runs at tracks in Topeka, Kansas, and St. Louis have become benchmarks in the evolution of Top Fuel performance.
Brittany Force Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brittany Force comes from one of the most prominent families in American drag racing. Her father, John Force, is a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and a central figure in the sport’s modern era. Her sisters, Courtney Force and Ashley Force Hood, are also accomplished competitors, with both having competed at the national level in the NHRA. The Force family’s combined contributions to drag racing have made them one of the most influential dynasties in motorsports.
Personal Life
Force holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton, reflecting her commitment to education alongside her racing career. She continues to represent John Force Racing and Monster Energy, maintaining a strong presence in the NHRA paddock and a growing legacy within the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NHRA season has been historic for Brittany Force, highlighted by her continued pursuit of the Top Fuel speed record. On July 20, 2025, she broke her own previous record with a 341.59 mph pass at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Washington. Just days later, on July 28, 2025, she reset the mark once again, recording the current Top Fuel speed record of 343.16 mph and reinforcing her standing as the fastest driver in the history of the class.
With John Force Racing continuing to support her program, Force has remained a fixture at the front of the Top Fuel field, combining record-setting qualifying performances with consistent race-day results. Her ability to push the dragster to new speed benchmarks while remaining competitive in eliminations has kept her in championship contention throughout the year.
Heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season, Force is positioned as one of the leading contenders for the Top Fuel title. The combination of her proven championship pedigree, her team’s technical resources, and the performance gains reflected in her 343.16 mph run all point toward another strong finish. Her ongoing dominance continues to add to the Force family’s storied legacy in the NHRA.
