Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 4, 2025) – Riding a wave of momentum from a dominating victory in last week’s New England Nationals at Epping, N.H., two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force now turns her attention to a venue she loves but a race that has not loved her back – at least not yet.
In 11 appearances in the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals, contested this week for the 23rd time at Bristol Dragway, the 38-year-old Force has advanced no further than the semifinals in a Monster Energy dragster in which she set the current NHRA national records for time (3.623 seconds) and speed (341.59 miles per hour) while becoming the first Top Fuel driver to break the 340-mph barrier.
“Bristol is truly one of my favorite tracks,” proclaimed the second youngest of Hall of Fame driver and team owner John Force’s daughters. “The facility is beautiful and there is no racetrack like it.”
Nevertheless, while she owns elapsed time and/or speed records at 11 of the 17 tracks that host events in the NHRA’s Mission Foods Series, Bristol Dragway isn’t among them. Furthermore, while she has started 53 tour events from the No. 1 qualifying position, her only No. 1 start at “Thunder Valley” came in just her second year on the pro tour (2014).
The former tour Rookie-of-the-Year aims to change all that this weekend.
“I love this part of the season when thepace starts picking up,” she said. “Coming off our first win of the season at New England Dragway, it’s nice getting right back in the seat. It helps carry that momentum and positive energy forward.”
Significantly, the New England Nationals wasn’t just her first win of the season, it was the 18th of her career, tying her with Shirley Muldowney for the most by a woman in either of the nitro categories. Furthermore, it propelled her into exclusive company as one of only 12 Top Fuel drivers to have won 300 or more racing rounds in the sport’s premier series and the only woman to have done so.
“I would love to continue our success and performance at Thunder Valley for Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com, Chevy, GRP (Graham Rahal Performance) and all our other partners,” she said.
Before she focuses on a victory in the Thunder Valley Nationals, though, Force will try to annex her first win in the Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge contested in conjunction with the final two qualifying sessions on Saturday. The “race within a race” reprises the semifinal rounds from the most recent tour event, in this case the New England Nationals.
