Courtney Force wrote her name into the Funny Car history books once again becoming the first female to win a Funny Car specialty race today at the 5th annual Traxxas Nitro Shootout at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Force racing in her first specialty race final round barely outran teammate and now three-time runner-up Robert Hight in an all-Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car final. Force’s winning time of 4.018 seconds was enough to hold off Hight’s 4.596 second run. Both JFR Funny Cars were powering down the track and shredding their blower belts from the enormous power created by the 10,000 horsepower motors.

(Courtney Force defeated teammate Robert Hight in the $100,000 to win Traxxas Nitro Shootout final round)

“Dan Hood, Ronnie Thompson and the guys gave me a great car. My belt was shredding down there at the top end and I was just waiting for Robert to drive around me but we were able to get the win. For everyone at Traxxas, at Chevy, for Peak, for Monster, AAA and all our sponsors this was really a big win and the first time I have done this. This is so awesome for me and I just want to thank everyone at Traxxas and the series for having this, it’s a big win for the team,” said Force.

Force became the fourth different JFR Funny Car driver to win a specialty race joining her father John Force (8 wins), Gary Densham (2004) and Tony Pedregon (2003). John Force doubled up winning the specialty race and U.S. Nationals in 1993 and 1996 while Gary Densham scored the elusive double in 2004.

The Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, the No. 2 qualified Funny Car, started the day with a first round win over Alexis DeJoria in a close side by side race. Force was smooth and quick down the left lane and lit up the scoreboards with a winning elapsed time of 3.912 seconds at 327.66 mph over DeJoria’s 3.961 at 325.45 mph. This is the third time in four attempts that Force has advanced to the semifinals. The fifth year pro had never reached a final round in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout before today and she gave up lane choice to Matt Hagan in the semifinals.

In the race of the day, Force blasted to the finish line with a 3.926 second run at 323.58 mph and got to the finish line .002 seconds in front of Hagan’s 3.941 second, 324.83 mph run. The race set up the second all JFR Traxxas Nitro Shootout final round with teammate Robert Hight. Two years ago John Force scored his second Traxxas Shootout win over Hight in the first all JFR Shootout.

Posted by Elon Werner

Photos by Rich Schute and Bruce Biegler