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A/Fuel dragster racer Courtney Force spent a lot
of her time at Sonoma sitting in one of her dads
Funny Cars getting used to the potential experience
of becoming the third Force to race Funny Cars
after Dad and sister Ashley. Follow her experience
on Twitter.
Bio
Snippets
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For Force,
unbelievable feeling in posting first NHRA
victory
Achieving a
Balance
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Bio
Status: Single
Body type: 5' 8"
Age: 21 years old
Home: Yorba Linda, CA
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Education: In college
Occupation: Student/Winning Drag racer
Courtney Force was a former cheerleader at
Esperanza High School. She trained at the Frank
Hawley's Drag Racing School and subsequently earned
her driver's license after graduation. In addition,
her current interests revolve around shopping,
hanging out with friends and going to the
races.
Ultimately, Courtney stars on the reality
television show Driving Force. As John Force 's
youngest daughter, she is expected to most likely
follow his footsteps. But although she enjoys
racing, she is not too fanatic about it.
Courtney Force - "I have grown up my whole life
involved in the sport of drag racing ever since I
was a baby. I loved being in the atmosphere and
being able to be with my family and watch my dad
race, dreaming of the day I would be able to get
into a race car. I am currently attending Rancho
Santiago College and hope to transfer to Cal State
Fullerton, next semester. I have been racing my
Brand Source Super Comp Dragster for 2 years now,
and am planning on moving up to Top Alcohol
Dragster next season with my older sister Brittany.
We have been out testing these cars and are
learning so much about them from good teachers,
especially my older sister Ashley. I have always
looked up to her, and have always wanted to follow
in her path, because she has shown me that I am
also capable of anything and can reach my goals
someday too!
I love drag racing of course, and just being at
the races with friends and family. When I’m
not at the track, I’m usually at school or
studying for my classes. However, when I do get
time off, I love being in CA hanging out with my
close friends and boyfriend. Also, I love being at
the beach as much as possible, especially for
bonfires. My other favorite things to do would have
to be going to the gym, running, going to Lake
Tahoe with my family, and eating. Music Rock and
pop (but not so much a country fan)
Courtney, Ashley, Brittany, the
Force sisters
Snippets
July 19, 2009 is a momentous day for the Force
family. On the same weekend Ashley Force Hood lost
her number 1 standing in the Funny Car series,
Courtney Force got her first Top Alcohol Dragster
win. She beat out her sister Brittany in the
semi-final heat where one of them was bound to
win.
For Force, unbelievable
feeling in posting first NHRA victory
I got my first win at the NHRA Northwest Nationals
this past weekend in Seattle. I beat Chris Demke
and it was unbelievable. When I saw my win light, I
didn't believe it at first. I was hoping I'd won
and when I went around the corner, I saw Kelly
Antonelli, our marketing person, and all our
friends standing at the top end clapping.
I thought maybe I did get the win but I still
didn't want to get my hopes up. I was just so
excited I can't even believe we won in Top Alcohol
Dragster with our Sanyo car for BrandSource,
Castrol, Ford and Auto Club.
I had to race my sister Brittany in the
semifinals. You would think that would be a lot
tougher but it was a lot of fun. You don't have to
worry about someone messing with you on the
starting line. We both went in there and did our
same routine. We just had fun with it. I got the
win over her but she'll probably wind up kicking my
butt the next time we race.
The best part about that race was that Brittany
was really happy for me. She ran over and hugged
me. She congratulated me for going to the final. We
knew one of us was going to the final and either
way it would be our first official final. I
definitely didn't expect to get a win out of it. I
would have just as happy if she would have beaten
me.
There was a lot of pressure for that final. I
was walking around after my dad, John Force, went
out in the semis of the funny car class and I heard
the announcers say it is all up to Courtney Force
now. I thought, 'Man, I wish I hadn't heard that.'
I wish I would have been wearing my headphones.
That is too much pressure. Jack Beckman, the Funny
Car driver, came up to me told me to just have fun.
He told me to not think about it as a final. I just
went out there and had fun and happened to get a
win.
My dad didn't really give me any new words of
wisdom. His famous words for us are "amber, step,
amber, step" so I can just leave on the guy. I had
a good light in the final and left first. I am
really excited about that. My crew guys have been
out here working really hard.
Other people asked me if my older sister Ashley
gave me any tips but I didn't even see Ashley much
on Sunday. She was excited that both Brittany and I
were going rounds, I know that. I saw her drive up
on the scooter with her husband, Danny. It is
always fun having my whole family there on the
starting line.
In that final race I saw Demke right ahead of me
as we were racing down track. I was just holding on
and driving as fast as I could. I was just hoping
this Sanyo dragster would cross the finish line
first. I saw him right ahead of me and then his car
fell back. It went back a little bit and I barely
caught up to him to get the win.
My goal this year was to get round wins. My guys
have been working so hard and we have been
progressing at every single race. We have been
winning first round a lot and then winning second
round. This was my third semi and my first
final.
I think the biggest key to my success and
Brittany's success has been that since last day of
school this year we have been on the road the whole
summer. I love being at the races. I almost hate
sitting around at home so I am happy that we are
back out at the track. I think us being so
consistent really helped us figure out the car more
and helped me get more seat time. I am still
learning.
We did also have some fun this weekend off the
track. Before the eliminations started we Feng
Shui-ed Mike Neff's lounge. I didn't even know one
thing about Feng Shui but I looked it up to figure
this out.
We did it for the Ford Fiesta Movement and we
picked the mission to Feng Shui a house or a
trailer. My dad was like, "don't do my lounge; go
do Mike Neff's." I can't believe my dad didn't
trust me to decorate his trailer. He had us do
Neff's trailer and Neff got through first round.
After that I think I took the Feng Shui luck over
into my trailer. We ended up getting the win.
The weirdest part is we are used to having dad
or Ashley or Robert Hight, my brother-in-law take
home the trophy for our team. It is weird that I am
actually taking it home this weekend. I really want
to dedicate this trophy to my dad. He has helped me
through all this. He has done everything for me. He
has never stopped, never given up on us. I just
want him to know that I really appreciate
everything that he has done. I hope he is proud
that I finally got him a win.
Source: www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nhra/2009-07-21-courtney-force-diary_N.htm
Achieving
a Balance
Courtney Force has won more successive racing
rounds in one event than even her famous father,
14–time NHRA Funny Car Champion John
Force.
In fact, had she been driving a fuel Funny Car
like her dad's Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford
Mustang when she won five rounds of racing at
Houston, Texas, she would have landed on the podium
as a race winner.
Unfortunately, competing in Super Comp, the
category in which she learned her high performance
ABC's in a BrandSource–sponsored dragster,
five wins merely constitutes a good start.
As a result, the 19–year–old still
will be seeking her first major victory this season
as a rookie in a Top Alcohol Dragster division in
which she will split cockpit time with older sister
Brittany in an A/Fuel dragster maintained by
veteran Jerry Darien.
Along with her mother Laurie and Brittany,
Courtney earned her NHRA competition drivers
license in 2005 after graduating from Frank
Hawley's Drag Racing School. Ironically, she was
the one daughter her father always believed would
follow him into the family business — and she
hasn't disappointed.
A second year student at Santiago Canyon
College, Courtney followed sister Ashley's lead
while attending Esperanza High School in Yorba
Linda, Calif., and took an auto shop class along
with more traditional courses.
"Their mother has tried to give them balance in
their lives," Force said of his daughters. "She
tells them that there's more to life than just
racing. I tell them that if they want to be
champions, they have to live racing, night and day
but, bottom line, I want them to do whatever they
want even if it's not racing."
Statuesque like her mother, Courtney is
undecided on a full–time career in racing but
has learned the family business in the glare of the
spotlight as one of the stars of Driving Force, a
real–life TV series that last aired on A&E
Network in 2007.
Source: www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=82915625&contentId=7016720
Following in Their
Footsteps
When your dad and your older sister
spend most of their time setting records and
re-writing history books following in their
footsteps or tire tracks for that matter could seem
to be an intimidating prospect.
Not so for 20-year-old Courtney Force, the
youngest of 14-time Funny Car Champion John
Force’s daughter, who will be entering her
second season behind the wheel of a BrandSource
sponsored, Jerry Darien tuned A-Fuel Dragster.
After a solid test session to open the 2009 season
the youngest Force is ready to get back on the
track.
“I am excited. I got through my rookie
season and I am still learning. I am ready to get
the season started in Pomona and do better this
season. I would really like to go some more rounds.
I think now that I have gone through one season I
have a better idea what racing Top Alcohol Dragster
is all about and I know what to expect,” said
Force. “I feel like I am better prepared for a
new season. It is not about remembering and trying
to focus on everything. Now that comes more
naturally to me and I can focus on working on my
lights, staging and racing other people.”
The former high school cheerleader and current
communications major at Cal State Fullerton will be
seeking her first major victory this season. Last
season as a rookie in a Top Alcohol Dragster
division she started the year splitting cockpit
time with older sister Brittany but moved into her
own ride at the storied Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals.
She qualified at five events including the
prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and picked up
her first round win at the O’Reilly Fall
Nationals in Dallas.
As she spends more time in the cockpit getting
racing experience and learning from here teammates
including older sister and NHRA super star Ashley
Force Courtney knows she is on the right career
path for her passion.
Courtney picked up her A-Fuel license during the
pre-season testing season at Firebird Raceway in
2008. At the time it had been nearly five months
since the youngest Force had been behind the wheel
of the 250 mph dragster but she showed no signs of
rust as she powered down the track to clinch her
license on a designed shakedown run.
“It went good. I wasn’t really
planning on making a full pass because it has been
about five months since I have been in the car. I
had to get used to the whole routine again. I was
only planning on making a launch or maybe driving
to half track but it felt good so I thought
I’ll just stay in it. I made that decision
while I was going down the track. It felt good so I
just kept it straight and finished it off.
Along with her mother Laurie and Brittany,
Courtney earned her NHRA competition drivers
license in 2005 after graduating from Frank
Hawley’s Drag Racing School. Ironically, she
was the one daughter her father always believed
would follow him into the family business –
and she hasn’t disappointed.
Statuesque like her mother, Courtney is
undecided on a full-time career in racing but has
learned the family business in the glare of the
spotlight as one of the stars of Driving Force, a
real-life TV series that last aired on A&E
Network in 2007.
Source: www.courtneyforce.com
Saturday June 4, 2005 - Raceday 1
In the 64 car Super Comp field that showed up at
California Dragway, Megan McKernan was able to
claim the No. 1 Qualifying spot. After several
rounds of racing Megan made it to the 5th round out
of 6 rounds. This was quite an accomplishment after
her first competitive day of racing.
Brittany took her Super Comp dragster into the
2nd round before losing with a malfunction in the
car. Courtney is racing the dragster that her older
sister Ashley got her racing start with. A new
Victory Race Cars dragster is being built for
Brittany and Courtney will take over driving
this car in about a month.
With day one behind them, both Brittany
and Megan prepared themselves for day two race on
Sunday.
John Force was very impressed with how well
California Dragway - track manager, Dave Danish and
his crew prepared the racetrack and ran the races
both days. Force commented, “these guys do a
great job and the really make it fun to race at
this local hometown track. It gives a lot of racers
a great place to race and pit at a first-class
facility”.
Sunday June 5, 2005 - Raceday # 2
Sunday’s race was a big Force family reunion,
as Ashley and her mom Laurie flew in from Memphis
where Ashley had been racing her Castrol/Hot Wheels
dragster to see the “Next Generation”
girls go a few rounds; along with their other
sister Adria and the newest Hight/Force newborn
– Autumn.
Everyone took the day in stride as Megan lost in
the first round and Brittany was able to take her
car into the 3rd round before being eliminated. The
high point of the day was Brittany’s
perfect reaction time in the 2nd round of .000.
John Force commented, ‘that’s why
we’re training these girls early so
they’ll be perfect on the tree when they take
on the funny car boys someday in the
future!!!”
Not only were the girls racing that weekend,
they were also the main attraction of a new
“reality TV show” featuring the Force
Family that is being pitched to several networks at
the present time. Brent Travers was on hand with a
small film crew to capture the day of racing with
the two youngest Force daughters.
June 8, 2005 - Super Comp Update
The John Force Racing’s “Next
Generation” racing program continues to take
shape with the youngest Force daughters –
Brittany & Courtney, and Megan the
daughter of Auto Club of Southern California
president - Tom McKernan. These three young,
talented and beautiful girls were testing and
racing their Super Comp dragsters last week at the
California Dragway in Fontana, CA.
John Force rented the dragstrip on Thursday to
give all the girls plenty of seat time and practice
before the weekend’s Lucas Oil Super Comp
Association point’s race. Brittany, Megan and
Courtney all logged in about 12 runs each
that day and showed great promise. They were able
to get individual runs, as well as plenty of
side-by-side runs to prepare Megan and Brittany for
the Saturday and Sunday races.
Roger Conley is the head crew chief and tuner
for all three cars with Jack Beckman as assistant
crew chief. Jack is not only racing himself in the
NHRA events this year, but he’s also a Frank
Hawley Drag Racing School instructor that taught
all three girls to drive their Super Comp racecars.
Also part of the race crew was the Force
girl’s uncle – Robert Hight along with
Shane Whaling and Eric Boutchyard from the CNC
Machine Shop at the Force Racing facility in Yorba
Linda. John Force watched on with fellow
“proud” father Tom McKernan as each of
the girls took instructions, and listened intently
before and after each pass down the quarter mile.
All three had great reaction times, and ran very
close to the 8.90 second index for this class.
* * *
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