CHANDLER, Ariz. – John Force won the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season-opening race Sunday in Pomona, Calif. However, the huge smile on his face wasn’t there simply because he added the 134th Wally to his vast trophy collection. He was beaming with pride because his youngest daughter Courtney, a 23-year-old rookie in the 7,000-horsepower Funny Car class, made a successful debut.
After qualifying 12th at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Courtney won her opening round against fellow Ford driver Bob Tasca. She powered her Traxxas Ford Mustang to her first career round win with a performance of 4.204 seconds at 309.27 mph. She posted a career-best performance of 4.143 at 313.88 in a quarterfinal loss to teammate Mike Neff.
“I am proud of Courtney and the sport needs these women,” her father, the 62-year-old 15-time NHRA world champ said. “I told Courtney there are five things she needs to keep in mind. Love your sponsors, love your team, love the media because they are your lifeline, love the competition, and love the fans. The rest will take care of itself. She works it hard. She told me she always wanted to be with me and racing me. I told her she was going to get that chance. We’ll see what happens.”
Courtney will try to become the third female driver in NHRA history – joining her older sister Ashley Force Hood and versatile driver Melanie Troxel – to win a Full Throttle Series race in Funny Car. She will head to Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix in sixth place in the standings and will try to improve her position at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) were winners last year at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2 HD.
“It went better than I expected,” the younger Force said of her first official Funny Car start. “Qualifying alone was a big accomplishment. I just have so much confidence in my team. We realize it is the big leagues, but we are capable of having a good car. We are up there with them (tough competitors) and I think we can be a competitive car. We can be a great team if we all stick together. We just want to learn from every run and try and make it go quicker. I think we can definitely have a good car in Phoenix.”
In addition to the slew of veteran drivers in the category including her father, Neff, Robert Hight, Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, defending winner Beckman and Tim Wilkerson, Force will receive competition from fellow rookie driver Alexis DeJoria, who also is a candidate for the prestigious Auto Club Road to the Future Award this season. Also a high-profile rookie driver, DeJoria is the daughter of famed entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, and she drives the green and black Tequila Patron Toyota Camry.
Despite all of the pressure and expectations swirling all around her, Force says she just wants to enjoy the experience. She says her list of goals for her first season behind the wheel of a Funny Car is very realistic.
“Coming out as a rookie driver I didn’t set my expectations too high for myself,” she said. “This is something I have always dreamed of. I always came and watched my dad so it is surreal to say now I am participating in that race with all these big hitters out here. I always dreamed of going three hundred miles per hour. It is just awesome to be here.”
In Top Fuel, Spencer Massey will try to avenge his visit to FIR from last October when he failed to qualify during the Countdown playoffs. He enters the race as the points leader fresh off a season-opening victory in Pomona. His teammates, Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher, along with Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta and Bob Vandergriff are among the pre-race favorites to win.
Four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson leads the way in the 200 mph factory hot rod category, along with arch-rival Jeg Coughlin, also a four-time series champ. Defending world champ Jason Line, Mike Edwards, Allen Johnson, defending winner Nobile, Shane Gray and Kurt Johnson will all be among the challengers for the victory.
* SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.
* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals. For tickets, please call (602) 268-0200 or visit www.FirebirdRaceway.com.
* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 18. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 9 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 19.
* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals also will feature competition in five categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series are born. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 17. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8 a.m. on Feb. 18 and continue Feb. 19.
* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, the second of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located off Interstate 10 at exit 162. Follow the signs.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Feb. 17 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, Feb. 18 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, Feb. 19 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Feb. 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Feb. 19, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 9 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Feb. 17, 10 – 10:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
Saturday, Feb. 18, 8:30 – 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
Sunday, Feb. 19, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
(3940 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.461470554 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2011 EVENT WINNERS: Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; Vincent Nobile, Pro Stock
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 8; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; Jack Beckman, FC, 3; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 3; Larry Dixon, TF, 3; Tony Schumacher, TF, 3; Cory McClenathan, TF, 3; Darrell Alderman, PS, 3; Kurt Johnson, PS, 3; Warren Johnson, PS, 3.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.802 sec. by Larry Dixon Feb. ’09; 317.57 mph by Dixon, Feb. ’10.
Funny Car – 4.023 sec. by Ron Capps, Feb. ’09; 311.34 mph by Matt Hagan, Feb. ’10.
Pro Stock – 6.598 sec. by Mike Edwards, Feb. ’09; 209.82 mph by Edwards, Feb. ’10.
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.735 sec. by Del Worsham, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 328.62 mph by Spencer Massey, Feb. ’12, Pomona, Calif.
Funny Car - 3.995 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.; 318.99 mph by Jack Beckman, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.
Pro Stock - 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 213.57 mph by Erica Enders, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call Firebird International Raceway, (602) 268-0200. Tickets also are available at ticketforce.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $33; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Saturday: Adult, $46; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Sunday: Adult, $48; Junior (6-12 years), $15. Kids 5 years and under are admitted free to general admission areas with paying adult.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $43-55; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $20; Saturday: Adult, $56-80; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $20; Sunday: Adult, $58-85; Junior (6-12 years), $27; Child (5 years and under), $22.
2012 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel: 1. Spencer Massey, 119; 2. Antron Brown, 95; 3. Morgan Lucas, 87; 4. Tony Schumacher, 78; 5. Bob Vandergriff, 57; 6. (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 54; Shawn Langdon, 54; 8. Clay Millican, 52; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 34; 10. (tie) David Grubnic, 32; Doug Kalitta, 32; Steve Torrence, 32; Steve Faria, 32.
Funny Car: 1. John Force, 114; 2. Mike Neff, 95; 3. (tie) Ron Capps, 73; Gary Densham, 73; 5. Jack Beckman, 62; 6. Courtney Force, 52; 7. (tie) Todd Lesenko, 51; Tim Wilkerson, 51; 9. Robert Hight, 41; 10. Bob Tasca III, 39.
Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 114; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 91; 3. Jason Line, 82; 4. Mike Edwards, 81; 5. Allen Johnson, 59; 6. Vincent Nobile, 55; 7. (tie) Rodger Brogdon, 53; Shane Gray, 53; 9. Ronnie Humphrey, 41; 10. (tie) Kurt Johnson, 32; Ron Krisher, 32; Larry Morgan, 32; Greg Stanfield, 32; Erica Enders, 32.
