BRISTOL, Tenn. – Brittany Force powered to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at historic Bristol Dragway in round five of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Playoffs.
Force, who is battling Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley for the Top Fuel championship, covered the distance in a track record time of 3.682 seconds at 328.94 mph in her John Force Racing-owned dragster. If the time holds in Saturday’s scheduled two rounds of qualifying (1 and 4 p.m.), it will be Force’s 12th No. 1 of the season and her 10th No. 1 in the last 11 races.
“Our mindset is we are excited, we are in the hunt for this championship, we are motivated and we want it just as much as any other team,” Force said. “This team is an incredible group and I enjoy working with them. I am anxious to see what we can do over these next three races.”
Force has an incredible streak of No. 1's going that dates back to the Denver race in July. She has been No. 1 at every race since then with the exception of St. Louis.
"Twelve No. 1 qualifiers is an accomplishment for our entire team,” said Force, who is after her 32nd career No. 1 qualifier. “That’s huge and it’s hard work from every one of our guys. It’s not easy to pull that off and we’ve done a good job at it, and now our focus is hopefully on two rounds on Saturday and then raceday."
Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were top qualifiers in their respective categories in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series action.
Wilkerson led Funny Car qualifying with a performance of 3.965 at 295.27 in a Ford Mustang, while Robert Hight was second in his Chevy Camaro with a run of 3.968 at 323.50 and four-time Bristol winner John Force was third in his Camaro with a 3.968 at 322.73.
Funny Car championship contenders Matt Hagan and Ron Capps sit 14th and 10th, respectively, in the 16-car qualifying order after Friday’s session.
Four-time world champ Smith was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a track record run of 6.900 at 197.51 on a Buell. Smith entered this event eight points ahead of series rival Steve Johnson, who qualified third and Angelle Sampey, who qualified 12th.
In the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series, Legend of Thunder Valley member Rickie Smith led the way with a 5.834 at 248.71 in a Chevy Camaro.
NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS CAMPING WORLD SERIES QUALIFYING RESULTS FRIDAY:
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.682 seconds, 328.94 mph; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.726, 329.50; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.727, 323.12; 4. Clay Millican, 3.747, 326.87; 5. Leah Pruett, 3.752, 321.42; 6. Billy Torrence, 3.777, 297.61; 7. Josh Hart, 3.779, 323.74; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.791, 320.58; 9. Lex Joon, 4.271, 199.64; 10. Doug Kalitta, 6.323, 94.00; 11. Antron Brown, 7.275, 86.08; 12. Spencer Massey, 7.425, 85.03; 13. Mike Salinas, 8.337, 68.40; 14. Cameron Ferre, broke.
Funny Car -- 1. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.965, 295.27; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.968, 323.50; 3. John Force, Camaro, 3.968, 322.73; 4. Jim Campbell, Dodge Charger, 4.004, 303.16; 5. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.109, 302.21; 6. Cory Lee, Mustang, 4.195, 282.95; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 5.469, 131.52; 8. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.653, 124.13; 9. J.R. Todd, Camry, 5.703, 122.17; 10. Ron Capps, Charger, 5.752, 122.36; 11. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.006, 112.69; 12. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 6.495, 99.71; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, broke; 14. Matt Hagan, Charger, broke.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.900, 197.51; 2. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.927, 193.27; 3. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.942, 193.60; 4. Andrew Hines, Buell, 6.957, 194.60; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.964, 194.58; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Buell, 6.966, 196.36; 7. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.975, 193.82; 8. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.989, 193.35; 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.086, 191.67; 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.181, 188.65; 11. Ron Tornow, Victory, 7.240, 183.94; 12. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.262, 169.66; 13. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 7.317, 190.70; 14. Angie Smith, EBR, 8.952, 102.32; 15. Lance Bonham, Buell, 9.005, 98.11.
