COURTNEY FORCE ONLY FEMALE IN MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER

CONCORD, NC – Piloting the Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, Courtney Force is ready to get the 2013 NHRA Countdown to the Championship underway beginning this week at the 6th annual Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Sept. 13-15.

“zMax Dragway is one of the best race tracks out here, not only because their facility is great, but their staff and the fans who show up to this race are amazing,” said Force. “Bruton Smith built the Bellagio of drag strips here in Charlotte so it’s always fun competing here. Everyone is really excited, especially because it is the first race of the Countdown.”

Force will start No. 7 in points going into the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Series Countdown to the Championship, just 80 points (four rounds) out of first place.

“Our Traxxas Ford Mustang team is really looking forward to it and we want to get a good start in order to get a lead on these guys to go after the championship. This is the time where all the pressure is on and you really gotta make some moves early. We’re going to try to pick up those points during qualifying and hopefully we can move on up the ladder,” said Force.

The 2012 Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future award winner for NHRA’s top “Rookie of the Year” qualified No. 6 at this event last year and for the second year in a row, will be the only female driver in a nitro class to race for the championship.

“Going into the Countdown for the championship this weekend, I’m feeling confident and excited. Last year as a rookie my main focus was on the basics of the car, but this year I’m trying to push my own limits to improve myself as a driver.”

“I work closely with my crew chief, Ron Douglas and Dan Hood and my Traxxas team, in order to be more consistent for them and not make mistakes. I’m tougher on myself this year as opposed to last year, but I’m very eager to get this countdown started. I think we have a Championship-ready car to battle it out with the rest of the boys,” said Force.

This event in 2012 also marked the third time the then 24-year-old raced against her father, John Force. She brought a 2-0 record against the 15-time champ to the starting line, but lost the round when her Traxxas Ford smoked the tires at the hit.