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COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CURRENTLY NO. 1 AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL, VA — After day one of qualifying at the Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Courtney Force 
shows no signs of letting up on her domination of the Funny Car class. Force, along with her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team, raced to the top of the field Friday night at Bristol Dragway. Robert Hight currently holds the No. 3 spot with John Force at No. 6. Brittany Force, in Top Fuel, ended the day No. 5.
Courtney Force has yet to qualify, even preliminarily, outside of the top four in 2018 and, at the 11th race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season, it doesn’t look like the Funny Car points leader has any intention of ending that streak. Force, who ran a 4.277-second pass during the first qualifying session, good enough for fourth, came out under the lights with a cool track and blasted to a 3.933-second pass at 325.92 mph to take over the top spot. It was the only Funny Car three-second pass of the day and earned her three bonus points.
“It was bumpy and we didn’t get down there like we wanted to in round one. We kind of looked at it to see what we could do to get it down there. That was Corradi and Hood getting their heads together and figuring it out. Really goes to show those guys are just doing a phenomenal job,” Force said. “It felt great to get the No. 1 spot and pick up some bonus points. Every point counts. It was a great run. It’s just a job well done by Brian Corradi and Dan Hood and every one of my Advance Auto Parts guys. It was hauling the mail down there. It was a little bumpy, so I had my hands full, and I think I want to go back and critique my run because I think I had it a little bit to the outside down there. But it stuck and that’s all that really matters. It’s a great start to the weekend. I’m lucky to be piloting this car for Corradi and Hood. I’m just trying not to screw up and just keep my focus and keep it straight down there.”
With the predicted weather for the weekend, Force knows the final qualifying sessions on Saturday will be critical for Sunday’s eliminations.
“Tomorrow is way more important than today because it’s going to be the same kind of conditions as Sunday,” explained Force. “We struggled in the heat today so we need to get it figured out tomorrow so we’re good going into race day. I think it’s a challenge for all of the drivers. You’ve got to keep that car as smooth as possible.”
After having to shut off early because of a dropped cylinder and crossing the line at only 4.340 seconds in the first qualifying session, reigning world champion Robert Hight went side-by-side with John Force and laid down a 4.077-second pass at 316.97 mph to land in the No. 3 spot.
“It was exactly what we needed to do. (Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) said going up there we would try to run 4.05 or 4.07, which really isn’t our forte,” Hight explained. “We’d much rather be running better but this is one of those racetracks where lane choice is a big deal and if we didn’t hit it tonight and get it down the track, then we wouldn’t have lane choice. We ended up third. Tomorrow it’s going to be hotter so if we try to make two runs around 4.10, or somewhere in that range, and I think we’d be in a good position for race day.”
Coming off a runner-up finish in Richmond, Va., where he qualified seventh, John Force is currently sixth in the Funny Car lineup. Off the trailer Force shut off early to run 4.340 seconds. With header flames lit under the lights and lined-up side-by-side with Robert Hight, Force improved to a 4.115-second run at 313.51 mph.
“I thought we’d run a little bit better. I thought this PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil hot rod might run an .07 or .08 but it didn’t leave. We got some new clutch discs and we’ve been playing for consistency,” Force said. “Tomorrow’s going to be hotter but I think we can step up a little. Didn’t run what we wanted because it’s been slow early, but it got over the hump that’s down track and that’s the biggest factor here. With the track prep, if you get airborne on the hump, then it won’t hook up. That’s what everyone’s going through, spinning the tires. Courtney, like I had for years, they have magic, her and that Advance Auto Parts team with (Dan) Hood and (Brian) Corradi.”
In the first session, Brittany Force, like many of the other Top Fuel pilots, hazed the tires half track to run a 4.561 that put her in sixth. Force currently holds the No. 5 position with a 3.875-second pass at 320.20 mph after the Friday night session.
“It was a good run. It might have spun the tires a little bit down track because it moved toward the center line, but it was still a solid run. We’re fifth and that’s a good start.,” Force said. “Tomorrow is going to be a little hotter and we’ll just work on getting our Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy dragster down a hot track so that we’re ready for first round on Sunday.”
The third and fourth qualifying sessions at the Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will take place Saturday at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and eliminations will begin Sunday at noon at Bristol Dragway.
COURTNEY FORCE, 29, Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS
Qualifying: 1st; 3.993-seconds; 325.92 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +3 (quickest Q2)
BRITTANY FORCE, 31, Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster
Qualifying: 5th; 3.875-seconds; 320.20 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0
ROBERT HIGHT, 48, Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS
Qualifying: 3rd, 4.077-seconds; 316.97 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest Q2)
JOHN FORCE, 69, PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS
Qualifying: 6th; 4.115-seconds; 313.51 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0
Photo Credit: Gary Nastase, Auto Imagery
For Better or Worse – The journey of Ricky and Michelle Furr
GALAX, VA – When two people pledge their love and agree to spend a life together, they never quite know what the 
road ahead holds, especially for couples in which drag racing is involved. The journey for Ricky and Michelle Furr has been full of life’s typical – and not so typical – ups and downs. With Michelle in the driver’s seat of various hot rods and Ricky crewing her to a respectable amount of NHRA, IHRA and other event wins, they’ve seen a fair amount of “for better” in their marriage.
Last year, however, there was quite a bit of “for worse”. After partnering with Marvin Benoit and Papa Motorsports and debuting the first C7 Corvette Roadster at the tail end of the 2016 season, 2017 followed with one bad break after another. New car blues hit, and, even when those weren’t plaguing the Furrs, they were often headed home early.
“New car blues hit us, silly little things,” Michelle explained. “When it wasn’t anything with the car, it was one of those years where if I had a .001 package, the guy in the other lane had a .000 package. If I had a .010 package, they had a .009 package. It was like that in Super Gas and in the dragster. I really began to doubt myself. Maybe I’d lost it. Maybe it’s just not meant to be.”
GC COOLING RELEASES 16V HIGH PERFORMANCE COOLING FAN
DES MOINES, IA – GC Cooling has announced the addition of a 16V Fan to their high performance fan product line. 
The 16V Fan was created after GC Cooling recognized a large demand for a high-performance cooling fan which could efficiently run on 16 volts.
Drag and circle track racers are opting to use 16 volt batteries to boost their ignition system as well as other components. The hotter spark caused by the higher voltage allows the vehicle to run a larger spark plug gap and boost the carburetor. When the hotter spark is combined with increased fuel, improved performance is achieved.
BRITTANY FORCE ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY FROM POMONA, CALIF. INCIDENT
POMONA, CA — NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series racer Brittany Force escaped serious injury after a racing incident in the first round of Sunday’s eliminations at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force’s Monster Energy dragster went out of control during the pass, made contact with the guard wall and came to rest past the finish line. She was responsive, speaking with medical personnel, and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Force suffered no major internal injuries but does have some bruising of the lungs. A CT Scan was negative and the MRI showed subtle findings likely from previous injuries. She was admitted overnight for observation simply as a precaution.
DRISKELL RACING ENGINES SPONSORS BIG BUCKS AT EDDYVILLE
Driskell Racing Engines have signed an agreement with Eddyville Raceway Park, Oskaloosa, Iowa to sponsor the Big 
Bucks Bracket Bash, August 3-5.
Bracket racers in Top and Modified E.T. classes will run for the biggest bracket race purse ever presented at Eddyville Raceway Park. Starting on Friday, August 3 will be a 32-car shootout featuring $2000 to the winner. On Saturday and Sunday, the winner in Top will collect $5000 and in Modified $2000 each day. Payout begins with 3rd round winners and the purse is guaranteed.
“For Driskell Racing Engines the sponsorship is about giving back to our customers of which many of them race at Eddyville” mentioned Matt Driskell. “Eddyville has great character and will be our home away from home a lot in 2018 as we like their classes and format.”
U.S. Army NHRA Racing 20th Annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals Friday Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing duo of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown returned to Chicago with an eye on 
pushing the U.S. Army winning streak to six consecutive Top Fuel wins in the Windy City. Following Friday’s two qualifying sessions, Schumacher and Brown rank second and fifth, respectively, in the 20th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois.
It was a homecoming for Schumacher, who now resides in Austin, Texas and the eight-time Top Fuel world champion and Chicago native opened his run for a sixth NHRA Route 66 Nationals triumph with a qualifying pass of 3.827 seconds at 314.24 mph aboard the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) to grab the fourth position. He followed that up with an impressive run of 3.758 seconds at 325.37 mph to climb up to the second position with two qualifying sessions remaining Saturday to set Sunday’s elimination ladder.
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force claims No. 2 qualifying position for Norwalk
Robert #2, John #3, Courtney DNQ
NORWALK, OH – Brittany Force put her fellow NHRA Top Fuel competitors on alert Saturday for tomorrow’s 
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
The driver of the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster led both qualifying sessions Saturday with two solid passes, and will stand on Friday’s qualifying effort of 3.714 seconds – a career-best elapsed time at the track – at 327.66 mph. That put her No. 2, which she held throughout Saturday’s two sessions.
But most importantly, she achieved consistent passes in weather conditions expected to be similar on Sunday. Her third-round pass of 3.770 seconds at 325.14 mph was the second-quickest Top Fuel pass of any driver of the day, topped only by her slightly quicker pass in the final round, 3.767 seconds at 325.85.
Robert Hight, Courtney Force quickest on Day 1 of NHRA Nitro Spring Training
CHANDLER, AZ – John Force Racing driver Robert Hight turned the quickest overall elapsed time in the NHRA 
Mello Yello Funny Car class to lead all drivers in Thursday’s opening day of the Nitro Spring Training test at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Hight set the time of 3.886 seconds at 302.75 mph during his opening pass, in the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. He was followed by Funny Car teammate Courtney Force in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS. Force’s best ET was 3.894 seconds at 318.47 mph.
Hight said the goal of his initial run was just to get accustomed to the car.
Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. would love to follow dad to Norwalk winner’s circle
NORWALK, OH – The first victory of Lucas Oil Racing TV racer Hector Arana Jr.’s riding career came at the U.S. 
Nationals in 2011, but the first professional win of his career came in 2008 at Summit Motorsports Park, site of this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
Arana served as crew chief for his father, Hector Sr., before he started racing Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycles, and after years of trying, his dad finally broke through with a victory in Norwalk.
“It’s where Arana Racing, my dad, got its first win in 2008,” Arana said. “That track will always be a place I’ll remember. It’ll always be the favorite one, and now I’d like to get a win there.”
TEDESCO RACING PARTNERS WITH VP RACING FUELS FOR NHRA 2016 LUCAS OIL SEASON
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Tedesco Racing’s “Miss Mia” Tedesco and “Racin” Jason Lynch are pleased to announce the 
addition of VP Racing Fuels as a primary marketing partner for the 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil season. The partnership will be featured across the Tedesco team’s entries of super gas and super comp race vehicles, beginning at this weekend’s divisional event in Gainesville, FL.
“Jason and I are thrilled to welcome VP Racing Fuels to our team,” said Mia. “We are excited to begin our season using VP’s performance products in our race cars. As a team, we remain focused on winning. The addition of VP Racing Fuels, matched with our combination of great equipment and people should allow us the ability to strongly compete for another world championship.
