Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (April 12, 2025) – After a disappointing first day that left her 13th in the provisional qualifying order, two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force reasserted herself on Saturday with a pair of 3.70 second runs that propelled her Graham Rahal Performance dragster into the No. 2 starting position for Sunday’s seventh NHRA 4-Wide nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Reigning Funny Car World Champion Austin Prock also improved his performance Saturday and also will start from the No. 2 position in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, three spots ahead of John Force Racing teammate and point leader Jack Beckman.
“It’s been a good weekend overall for JFR,” Prock said. “The Cornwell Tools/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet has been fighting us a little bit – fighting me in the driver’s seat and fighting the crew chiefs up in the lounge, but it’s coming along. The last run we jumped all the way up to No. 2 with a 3.948. We’re right behind, chomping at (No. 1 qualifier) Paul Lee’s heels.”
Runner-up to No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta in Saturday’s Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge, her 3.754 not quite good enough to cover his 3.730, Brittany is seeking her fifth win at LVMS, more than at any other track in the series. She will oppose No. 15 qualifier Terry Totten and No. 7 and 10 qualifiers Shawn Reed and Josh Hart in Sunday’s first round.
After failing to reach the finish line under power Friday, the second youngest of John Force’s racing daughters sped to a time of 3.778 to start her Saturday, the quickest run of the first session.
“That was a killer run for us,” said the 17-time tour winner who, like Prock, is trying to win for the second straight time at LVMS. “We struggled Friday, and we so want to make everyone at Graham Rahal Performance proud. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. We did really good Saturday and definitely stepped it up.”
Beckman, who two weeks ago won JFR’s 300th Funny Car title, faces the most difficult first round challenge when he opposes four-time world champion Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd and Bobby Bode.
“Our PEAK Chevy all year long had gotten qualifying bonus points, ten straight sessions,” Beckman said of the car that this week, like Brittany’s dragster, is flying the GRP banner. “But today we had a little hiccup. We actually didn’t make it down the track two runs in a row.
“But, the last time that happened was the Pomona Finals in 2024 and we ended up in the winners’ circle. So, for PEAK, Chevy, HendrickCars.com, Cornwell Tools and for this weekend with GRP, our goal is to double-up in Funny Car and Top Fuel.”
Prock, seeking his first win of the season after and eight-victory campaign a year ago, will face Jason Rupert, Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps in his first round match. “I’m looking forward to (race day),” Prock said. “This race car is headed in the right direction and I think we can do some damage (in eliminations).”
