Brittany Force shattered the NHRA fastest drag racing record during Friday night’s Top Fuel qualifying at the Denso Nationals held at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. She reached an astonishing speed of 343.16 mph, establishing a new high mark in drag racing history.
This remarkable feat came less than a week after Force had broken the national speed record with a 341.85 mph run at the Northwest Nationals in Seattle, where she had also recorded two other passes exceeding 340 mph. With this latest performance, she has completed her seventh run over 340 mph and now holds nine of the ten fastest Top Fuel speeds ever recorded in NHRA competition.
Record-Breaking Elapsed Time Complements Top Speed
In addition to her top speed, Force posted a 3.645-second elapsed time (E.T.) over the 1,000-foot course, setting a new track record at both ends. This effort surpassed the previous elapsed time record of 3.649 seconds set by Doug Kalitta by four-thousandths of a second.
Dave Grubnic, the crew chief for Force’s Monster Energy Dragster, attributed the record-breaking performance simply to “The engine,” but remained focused on the bigger goal. He commented,
We’re happy with that. But I was looking for more E.T. (elapsed time) out of it. What’s important to us is winning rounds and getting another championship for Brittany. But that’s a little icing on the cake.
—Dave Grubnic, Crew Chief
During the run, Force also achieved a speed of 304.94 mph at the eighth-mile mark, an accomplishment that further underscored her incredible pace on the track.
Force’s Reaction and Team’s Perspective on the Historic Run
Force revealed that she initially doubted the speed results communicated over the in-car radio. She said,
I thought I must be hearing this wrong.
—Brittany Force, Driver
Despite the car moving around on the track during her run, she remained focused on maintaining control through the finish line.
Fox Sports announcer Brian Lohnes reacted to the record, proclaiming,
Holy Christmas! Where does it end? How deep is this pool?
—Brian Lohnes, Fox Sports Announcer
Force’s father, John Force, a team owner and renowned Funny Car legend, expressed both pride and a bit of nervousness, stating,
Makes me a little nervous. The girl got it done.
—John Force, Team Owner and Former Driver
Overview of Friday Qualifying Leaders at Sonoma Nationals
The qualifying rounds on Friday marked the first two of four sessions for the 37th annual Denso Sonoma Nationals, the 12th event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Racing will continue Saturday, leading into Sunday’s final elimination rounds at Sonoma Raceway.
In the Top Fuel category, Brittany Force led the field with her record-setting 3.645 seconds and 343.16 mph. Following her were Doug Kalitta with a 3.661-second run at 335.73 mph, and Clay Millican, clocking 3.699 seconds and 335.15 mph. Other notable Top Fuel qualifiers included Antron Brown, Tony Stewart, Josh Hart, Ida Zetterstrom, and Justin Ashley, filling out the top eight positions.
The Funny Car division saw Matt Hagan top qualifying with a 3.861-second run at 332.59 mph in his Dodge Charger. Spencer Hyde, Paul Lee, Austin Prock, Jack Beckman, Hunter Green, Ron Capps, and Chad Green also secured positions within the top ten qualifiers in Funny Car.
Pro Stock and Motorcycle Qualifiers Stand Out
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson showed leadership with a 6.472-second elapsed time and a speed of 210.41 mph in his Chevy Camaro. The category featured a close competition with racers like Dallas Glenn, Greg Stanfield, and Aaron Stanfield following closely behind.
The Pro Stock Motorcycle category was led by Richard Gadson on a Suzuki with a 6.702-second run at 200.77 mph. Matt Smith, John Hall, Gaige Herrera, and Angie Smith completed the top five qualifiers, demonstrating competitive performance in their respective bikes.
Significance of Force’s Record and Next Steps
Brittany Force’s achievement at Sonoma Raceway marks a significant advancement in the NHRA fastest drag racing record and reflects her dominance in the Top Fuel category. Holding nine of the ten fastest times in NHRA history positions her as a formidable force in the sport and raises expectations for her continued success this season.
Looking ahead, the Sonoma Nationals will proceed with qualifying rounds on Saturday, culminating in the final eliminations on Sunday. Force and her team continue to focus on progressing through the competition, while also maintaining the high standards that set her apart as one of drag racing’s premier athletes.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What does the NHRA stand for?
A. NHRA stands for National Hot Rod Association. It started in 1951 to move hot-rodders from streets to safer places. Now, NHRA is the biggest motorsports group globally and a top drag racing promoter.
Q. Can I bet on NHRA?
A. Yes. You can bet on NHRA events live on sites like DraftKings. During the race, you have the chance to change your bets to improve your results.
Q. What does an NHRA stand for?
A. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the biggest auto racing group globally, started in 1951 by Wally Parks. Though it has evolved into an international sports and entertainment company, it still focuses on Parks’ initial aim: offering racers a platform to compete.
