Forces top qualifying at Texas NHRA FallNationals

ENNIS, Texas (AP) — John Force topped Funny Car qualifying Friday night in the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals playoff event with the fastest speed of his career, and daughter Brittany Force led the Top Fuel racers.

The 70-year-old John Force had a 3.834-second run at 337.33 mph in a Chevrolet Camaro to top the 337.16 the 16-time season champion ran two years ago at Sonoma. He has two event victories this season and 151 overall.

“I talked to (crew chief) Brian Corradi and Daniel Hood and (Tim) Fabrisi — I call them Corradi’s kids — and told them that there were only three races left and we can’t go up there and just put it in the show like we usually do,” John Force said.

“He hung it out this morning and ran 3.87 and then Robert (Hight) ran 3.85 and I figured that was that because I didn’t know if it would do it again. I got a little over next to the guardwall and that woke me up. There was a lot of vibration that Corradi is going to look at tonight.”

Brittany Force broke the track time record with a 3.651-seconds at 331.28 mph.

“That was an awesome run,” she said. “It was a very important run and tomorrow is going to be what’s really important. How we run tomorrow, getting two consistent runs going into raceday, we should be set up pretty good. I put all my faith in these guys. It’s an incredible team and we’re looking for a win. We love No. 1 qualifiers, but we would rather win on raceday.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. topped the Pro Stock field and Matt Smith was the fastest in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Coughlin had a 6.509 at 210.41 in a Camaro, and Smith a 6.776 at 200.26 on an EBR.