One of the most anticipated debuts at this weekend’s NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in California will be that of 26-year-old rookie Brittany Force, daughter of 15-time Funny Car champ and middle sister between former Auto Club Road to the Future Award winners Ashley Force Hood and Courtney Force.
Unlike her father, siblings and brother-in-law Robert Hight, however, this Force will make her NHRA debut in the Top Fuel division.
“I’m excited to be out there,” said Force. “I’m going to be running against these guys I grew up watching. A lot have come over during testing, given me tips, advice, asked if I had any questions about things. They’ve all been really great. I’m anxious to get out there and be in the other lane next to them. I also have a lot of goals coming into the next season. I’m working with (crew chiefs) Dean Antonelli and Eric Lane. I think we have a really strong team. I would love to qualify at every national event. I would really like to go after my first win. I’m really going to go after it this week.”
While there will likely be comparisons to her sisters, Force has her own set of goals for the upcoming season. “For me, all my sisters, yeah, we’re all involved in the sport,” said Force. “We all love it. But when Ashley came out, she had her own set of goals, things she wanted to achieve. It was the same with Courtney. And it is the same with me. I’m going down my own path. I’m still involved in racing, it’s a Top Fuel car, a little different. For me, I have my own goals set. I don’t need to compare them to Courtney and try to beat her, her first win, whatever it is. For me, it’s about setting my own goals and achieving them myself in my time.”
The 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries kicks off the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Thursday through Sunday, February 14th through 17th – follow this weekend’s action at www.nhra.com and on the NHRA Twitter page.
Quotes in this piece provided by the NHRA.
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