Courtney Force looks forward to memorable Atlanta track for sister Force-Hood
Courtney Force
Photo – Sal Sigala Jr.
As NHRA rolls into the last event of a three-race swing, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang team look to step up at the 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, May 3-5.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing teams raced in Concord, N.C. before traveling to Baytown, Texas and finally circling back around to Commerce, Ga.
“Our team is really excited to get back to Atlanta Dragway this year, especially after having some bad luck these past couple weekends,” said Force. “I still feel like I’m continuously learning as a driver, but I’m as confident as ever in my Traxxas Ford Mustang, with my amazing team and supportive sponsors Traxxas, Castrol, Ford, Auto Club, Mac Tools, BrandSource and Freightliner behind me.”
“This is a pretty significant race track for my family, especially my sister Ashley (Force Hood). She won the 2008 Summit Southern Nationals and became the first woman to win a Funny Car event, so I’m really excited to get there and hopefully get back to where we need to be in the point standings and maybe even join her in winning here,” Force said.
Last weekend in Baytown, Texas, Force qualified in the No. 5 spot and raced fellow female Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria in the first round of eliminations. Ironically, this event in 2012 marked their first ever match-up, with Force taking the win.
Unfortunately, DeJoria took the win this time. Both drivers had to pedal their cars, but DeJoria was further down the track and crossed the finish line first. Force is now 2-1 to DeJoria.
“I’m hoping we have some good weather this weekend at Atlanta Dragway. From what I’ve seen, the forecast looks great so I can’t wait to get back on a race track,” said Force. “We’ve been trying to work around Mother Nature these last two weekends, but have been shorted two qualifying runs each of those races because of rain, which is unfortunate because we need to learn from those runs and try to earn those bonus points.”
Last year at Atlanta Dragway, Force qualified No. 9 and beat Jack Beckman in the opening round, but lost to teammate and brother-in-law Robert Hight in the second.
“I like Atlanta because the fans are always awesome. I’m really looking forward to the southern hospitality they always show the NHRA when we come to town and I hope we can get our Traxxas Ford Mustang back on track to finish out this three-race swing,” said Force.
Courtney Force is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NHRA Talk. Call 347-996-5176 Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:15pm ET to interact with Courtney Force.
