Brittany Force became the second woman in a row to win at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida and brought home her first-ever event trophy in eight NHRA Top Fuel Final appearances. Force powered her Monster Energy dragster to a speedy 3.772 second run at a recorded speed of 318.77 miles per hour. That would prove to be enough against fellow competitor Terry McMillen in his Amalie Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR hot-rod. McMillen traveled the quarter mile distance in 3.981 seconds at a much slower 266.90 miles per hour due to his engine malfunctioning in the half of the run.
“It feels good to finally bring home the win,” said Brittany Force, daughter of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force. “Our car was on fire all weekend. It went down there and had great runs. This is a very proud moment for me and the John Force Racing team, the Monster Energy team. It took everyone to get us here.”
Brittany Force not only took home the gold at the drag strip in Gainesville, but became only the second female drag racers to get to back-to-back finals since speedster Melanie Troxel accomplished the feat in 2006. Brittany Force qualified fifth to start off the event on Sunday, but outlasted Morgan Lucas, Tripp Tatum and then Dave Connolly in the semi-finals to race for it all against Terry McMillen. McMillen was also attempting to reel in his first ever NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series title.
Sunday was an all Team John Force Racing kind of day. Robert Hight sped his Auto Club SS Camaro Funny Car to victory, giving John Force Racing its first duel event titles on the same pavement. Hight out-ran veteran driver Ron Capps in the Funny Car finale with a 4.429 second run at 280.95 miles per hour.
Capps also experienced engine trouble from the get go and crept across the finish line in a paltry 7.047 seconds at 89.05 miles per hour. Robert Hight qualified third to start off the day and bested fellow racers Terry Haddock, Matt Hagan and Chad Head on the way to his final showdown with Ron Capps.
“We’ve had a great race car the first two races, so we actually felt that we let a couple slip by that we actually could have won,” Hight said. “To come in here and actually get it done, and get it done with Brittany, both of us leaving with the points lead, man it doesn’t get any better than this. It’s been a lot of hard work and it’s finally paying off.”
In the NHRA Pro Stock Division, speedster Greg Anderson won with a hole-shot win after a 0.009 reaction time over Jason Line in the Pro Stock final. Anderson had a 6.590 second run at 210.01 miles per hour. Anderson collected his second win in the NHRA sanctioned series of the year, beating Jason Line in the final at the first contest of the year at the Winternationals. Anderson had to beat V. Gaines, Jeg Coughlin and Andrew Jackson on his way to face Line in the final. Anderson pulled within six points of Line for the NHRA Funny Car Series lead.
“The whole weekend was great for KB Racing,” Anderson said. “These races are not decided on paper, they’re decided on the racetrack every time. We are human and things happen different on the starting line. Somehow, I overachieved in the final and stole a victory from Jason. Good for me, but it’s still great for KB Racing. No matter had happened in the final round, it was a victory for the team. I can’t be prouder of the race team I’m on.”
NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series Point Standings:
Top Fuel:
1. Brittany Force – 251
2. Clay Millican – 210
3. Doug Kalitta – 205
4. Steve Torrence – 199
5. Terry McMillen – 178
6. Leah Pritchett – 166
7. J.R. Todd – 157
8. Tony Schumacher – 155
9. Richie Crampton – 153
10. Antron Brown – 149
Funny Car:
1. Robert Hight – 280
2. Ron Capps – 279
3. John Force – 221
4. Jack Beckman – 205
5. Courtney Force – 201
6. Del Worsham – 189
7. Tim Wilkerson – 183
8. Chad Head – 162
9. Alexis DeJoria – 119
10. Matt Hagan – 118
Pro Stock:
1. Jason Line – 337
2. Greg Anderson – 331
3. Bo Butner – 233
4. Drew Skillman – 205
5. Chris McGaha – 161
6. Andrew Johnson – 160
6. Jeg Coughlin Jr. – 160
8. Vincent Nobile – 138
9. Alex Laughlin – 121
10. Erica Enders – 97
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