By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being parked the bulk of the 2020 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series due to COVID-19, former Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force has returned with a very solid '21 campaign.
On Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park Force will be looking to take the next step and parlay Saturday's No. 1 qualifying effort, her fourth straight, into her first victory of the year in the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"We've come close a few times,'' Force said. "We have a number of No. 1 qualifiers (six on the season), but the ultimate goal is wins and championships so we're hoping to do it here this weekend at Topeka and I'm just really proud of this Montster Energy team. We've put a lot of hard work in so we're looking to get to that next step and into the winner's circle.''
"I've never won here. Courtney (Force) won here and I've had two No. 1 qualifiers, not a win though, so we're looking to do it this year.''
Top Fuel star Brittany Force took over the No. 1 qualifying spot for Sunday's eliminations in the Menards NHRA Nationals in Saturday's final qualifying session. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Force was sitting in the No. 2 spot after the first two rounds of Top Fuel qualifying behind Billy Torrence and moved into the No. 1 spot in the final round of qualifying when she clicked off a run of 3.716 seconds at 329.02 miles per hour.
Force will face veteran Scott Palmer in the first round of Sunday's eliminations (11 a.m.)
Billy Torrence ended up No. 2 in qualifying while Mike Salinas, Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley rounded out the top five.
Brittany Force, the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel, signs autographs for fans Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Force is happy with the way her Monster Energy car has performed all season and is now looking to use the next couple of races to get ready for the Countdown to the Championship.
"I think we're off to a great start right now,'' Force said. "We're currently sitting three in points, which is a great spot to be. Our plan going into the Countdown was we wanted to be top three and right now that's where we're at.
"We still want to move up, we're looking for our first win of the season, but overall, especially after taking a step back last year, we came back stronger than ever. We've had a few mishaps here and there which is the reason we didn't advance to the next round and we're making sure we clean up those mishaps, those mistakes before getting into the Countdown when it really matters -- every point, every point, everything matters. We're definitely inching our way closer.''
Force said she making sure to savor every moment this season after being forced to live without drag racing in '20.
"It made realize just how much I love my job,'' Force said. "I knew I already loved it, but taking a year away from it made me realize how much I missed it, how much I wanted to be back with my team, at a dragstrip, doing what I love.''
MENARDS NHRA NATIONALS
Sunday's pairings
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.716 seconds, 329.02 mph vs. 14. Scott Palmer, 4.223, 215.10; 2. Billy Torrence, 3.717, 322.27 vs. 13. Terry Totten, 4.161, 244.03; 3. Mike Salinas, 3.739, 316.08 vs. 12. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.904, 305.84; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.747, 324.36 vs. 11. Leah Pruett, 3.897, 314.31; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.769, 324.05 vs. 10. Alex Laughlin, 3.846, 317.34; 6. Clay Millican, 3.798, 316.38 vs. 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.815, 289.63; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.805, 311.34 vs. 8. Antron Brown, 3.808, 322.34.
Funny Car -- 1. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.884, 332.67 vs. Bye; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.894, 329.67 vs. 15. Chris King, Toyota Camary, 5.776, 118.37; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.905, 328.86 vs. 14. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 5.004, 153.25; 4. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.911, 325.14 vs. 13. Jack Wyatt, Charger, 4.319, 226.43; 5. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.920, 332.92 vs. 12. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.070, 293.98; 6. John Force, Camaro, 3.944, 325.92 vs. 11. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.013, 277.60; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.962, 322.19 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.969, 301.67; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.962, 320.05 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.968, 324.36.
Pro Stock -- 1. Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.600, 205.07 vs. 16. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.672, 206.23; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.606, 206.67 vs. 15. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.668, 205.38; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.612, 207.18 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.644, 204.17; 4. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.617, 207.82 vs. 13. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.644, 208.10; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.621, 206.61 vs. 12. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.641, 206.73; 6. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.622, 207.24 vs. 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.640, 206.61; 7. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.622, 206.01 vs. 10. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.640, 206.67; 8. Bruno Massel, Camaro, 6.639, 202.58 vs. 9. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.640, 207.24.
