SEATTLE — Brittany Force is a two-time Top Fuel world champion and one of the fiercest competitors in drag racing. Now she's busy preparing for the upcoming Muckleshoot casino resort NRHA Northwest Nationals. Force is just coming off her first win of the season in New England.
“To get a win that early on just shows that this team is really strong, our Monster Energy team. We came off a really two, two tough years where we almost went winless for two years and we finally got a win at the end of the season,” she said. “So, to come out this season, win and it's just really big for our team.”
Last year Force's father, renowned racer John Force, was injured in a serious crash while racing.
“About a year ago in Richmond, Virginia he suffered a traumatic brain injury,” she said. He's been very consistent in rehab since almost an entire year now. We're really proud of him. But he made us return to our racetrack with all of our teams in Las Vegas last year, where actually it was my first win after we had that big streak. So, he stood behind my car when we won.”
Force isn't just winning races, she's breaking records. In a recent race Force hit 340mph twice in the same competition which officially makes her the fastest woman on the planet.
“It is just so huge for our team, to be able to put numbers like that on the board,” she said. "It shows just how tough, where how hard these guys have worked. And to be able to stand in that winner's circle with that, it feels great.”
Currently Force is getting ready for the NRHA Muckleshoot Casino Resort Northwest Nationals in Kent.
“It's going to be a fun weekend. They're doing it a little differently. So, we're doing a Friday night late night qualifying session that begins at 9 p.m., which is awesome because when you see these cars launch off the starting line. I mean, it's 11,000 horsepower. It's 330mph in less than four seconds. So, it's a great event for the fans. Then we get three more qualifying sessions on Saturday, and then race day kicks off in the morning on Sunday.”
Coming back to the Pacific Northwest to race is a real full circle moment for Force.
“I love this racetrack. It's one I've been coming to since I was a kid with my mom, my sisters, and my dad. We were sitting in the stands watching my dad. I mean, since I was a baby, this is just what was meant for us,” she said. “So, to be able to return now, not in the stands, but in the driver's seat, it's awesome.”
While Force has already achieved so much in drag racing, she still has many goals left to achieve.
“The ultimate goal is we want more wins. We want to end up in that winner's circle. And at the end of it all, we want another championship,” she said. “So, we won a championship back in 2017 and 2022. But we want win this year.”
After the race on Saturday, July 19th, head over to the Muckleshoot Casino Resort. That's where they're kicking off the official NRHA after party in the Galaxy. The fun starts at 7:00 p.m. with music from Heart by Heart plus three additional tribute artists. The after party is free, but you must be 21 or older.
Sponsored by Muckleshoot Casino Resort.
Segment Producer Rebecca Perry. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.