The Stampede of Speed

With an extra $15,000 in their pocket and their 11th number one qualifier of the season, Brittany Force continued to roll out stellar numbers on race day. In the first round, Force would lay down a 3.703-second pass at 334.15 mph to defeat Joe Morrison. Facing off with Clay Millican in the second round, the David Grubnic and Mac Savage tuned dragster kept up its performance with a 3.710-second run at 332.10 mph to defeat Millican.

The victory put Force against 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year and eventual race winner Justin Ashley in the semifinals. It was a close side-by-side race with Force laying down a 3.727-second pass at 332.84 mph and Ashley going 3.740 at 325.30 mph but Force would be edged by Ashley on the starting line. He would have a 0.061-second reaction time while Force would have a 0.081.

Robert Hight found consistency in qualifying, going low three of the four sessions and earning his second number one qualifying position of the season and 70th of his career. That consistency continued in the first round when Hight went 3.953-seconds to defeat Jeff Arend. Hight’s second round match-up with J.R. Todd was a driver’s test. Both hot rods went up in smoke putting Hight and Todd in a pedal fest. Hight’s 5.955-second pass wasn’t quite enough to overtake Todd’s 4.796.

After having to bring out their back-up car due to their Friday night fireball, John Force and the PEAK Chevy were on their game in the first round of eliminations. Force, with a 0.080-second reaction time, would come out with the win on a hole shot over Alexis DeJoria. In the second round, Force would face Cruz Pedregon for the 113th time in his career. It would be a close race until the PEAK car dropped a cylinder at half-track pushing Force towards the centerline. Force would only run 4.299-seconds to Pedregon’s 3.925.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues October 15-17 with the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.