Brittany Force
Special to FOXSports.com
Known as the “Queen of Speed,” Brittany Force is a two-time Top Fuel world champion (2017, 2022) who owns the record for fastest run in NHRA history at 343.51 mph and the quickest run in NHRA history at 3.623 seconds. She recently announced her decision to step away from racing at season’s end to focus on starting a family. This is a first-person piece in which she reflects on her career.
I fell in love with the sport of drag racing when I was a kid. But it was from the spectator point of view. I remember sitting in the stands with my mom and sisters watching my dad [16-time champion John Force] race down racetracks all throughout the nation. I watched him win races, wreck, catch on hearth and win championships. He’s, and has at all times been, the world’s best driver within the sport.
Rising up on the planet of drag racing, I by no means imagined myself behind the wheel. These vehicles are violent and it takes a tricky individual to drive one. It wasn’t till my older sister Ashley bought within the seat that I spotted there’s a place for females to compete and achieve success in a subject filled with males. And as a youthful sister, I needed to do every little thing my older sister did, so I adopted in her footsteps and my father’s footsteps as nicely.
Wanting again, I bear in mind the primary time I noticed a girl blaze down a racetrack. My sisters and I had been sitting within the stands ready for my dad to run. A dragster with a pink stripe down the facet of the automobile caught my consideration. I’ll always remember my sister Ashley telling me there was a lady driving that automobile. It was Shelly Payne (previously Anderson) that was behind the wheel. I grew to become a fan in that second. I couldn’t imagine a feminine was driving a race automobile similar to my dad. Drag racing was a male-dominated sport, however not that day and never in that lane. After that, I at all times paid consideration to feminine drivers. Shelly Payne, Erica Enders, my sister Ashley — I used to be in awe of them.
My sisters and I had essentially the most great childhood. We had been racetrack children. Summertime meant packing our suitcases and occurring the highway with my dad. We had been in a distinct metropolis each week. We drove from racetrack to racetrack. These racetracks grew to become dwelling and my dad’s crew guys grew to become large brothers to us ladies!
My dad wrecked and caught on hearth extra occasions than I may rely. And he would at all times climb out of the automobile, throw his arms up within the air for the followers, after which give an interview about how spectacular the explosion was. He was Superman to me. He at all times did the not possible, and the followers cheered him on by all of it, and so did I!
My staff and I’ve set the nationwide ET file, nationwide MPH file, received races and received championships collectively. We’ve achieved a lot through the years and that’s one thing I am actually pleased with.
I’ve labored with so many alternative crew chiefs and crew guys through the years. I’m grateful for the relationships I’ve constructed, the individuals I’ve realized from and the reminiscences I’ve made. I’ve been with my crew chief, David Grubnic, since 2019 and I’ve beloved with the ability to push the bounds with him. He is among the most gifted crew chiefs within the trade. My crew this yr are among the hardest working, most devoted guys I’ve ever teamed up with. We’ve are on the highway collectively 20 plus weekends throughout our season, they usually’ve made being on the highway really feel like dwelling.
It does take a novel particular person to drive one in all these vehicles. I imagine it’s a must to be just a little loopy to get behind the wheel of an 11,000-horsepower race automobile. However I’ve at all times been the adventurous sort. I bought licensed in a brilliant comp automobile at 16, made some passes and licensed in a Humorous Automotive, jumped out of an airplane and gone skydiving. It’s at all times been arduous for me to say no. I’ll at all times strive something as soon as.
That “I’ll strive something as soon as” mindset is definitely what soar began my profession. I used to be competing in an A/Gas dragster again in 2012 and had the chance to get within the seat of a Prime Gas dragster and go testing. John Pressure Racing was re-building our security program and making an attempt to construct a safer racecar. I agreed in that second I’d be the one to check the Prime Gas dragster. It was months getting a automobile constructed, placing a staff collectively and getting fitted for all the proper security gear. When it really got here all the way down to on the brink of go testing, I bear in mind asking myself “what did I simply get myself into?”
I’ll always remember driving out to the racetrack in West Palm Seashore, Fla, and remembering how utterly terrified I used to be. I used to be going to climb right into a race automobile that reached speeds of 330 mph and pulled 6-7 Gs. I used to be terrified as a result of climbing within the automobile was climbing into the unknown.
The primary run I drove to about 60 toes after which lifted. After that first step on the throttle pedal, I used to be able to go just a little additional. I made many testing runs, working my method down the racetrack all year long. On the finish of the season, I made my first full cross down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and I used to be hooked! I knew in that second that’s what I needed to do.
This 2025 season has been an incredible one for my staff and me. We introduced dwelling a win in Epping, New Hampshire firstly of the season. We’ve re-set the nationwide velocity file with a 343.51 mph run in Indianapolis. We’ve continued to run within the 340s all through the season, re-setting observe data. It took each single one in all my guys, myself and my crew chief to make these runs occur. We’re all very proud to have the quickest automobile on the observe. That’s one thing that has made fairly an affect this season.
Among the finest elements about my job is assembly the followers. There’s nothing extra heartwarming than when I’ve just a little lady come as much as me on the ropes and inform me she desires to be a racecar driver similar to me. I at all times give any recommendation I can and provides the little ladies a hug and want them good luck. These moments are some I’ll always remember.
If I can encourage anyone, that basically means one thing to me. If I can encourage anyone to step outdoors their consolation zone and chase down their dream, even when it’s in opposition to the chances, that may be a win in itself.
After dedicating the final 13 years of my life to driving and the game of NHRA drag racing, I’ve made the troublesome choice to step out of the seat on the finish of the season to give attention to beginning a household with my husband Bobby. I’m so grateful for such an incredible profession and all of the alternatives that got here with it. I’m grateful for my staff and all our success collectively. I’m not closing the door on driving sooner or later, however that’s a choice for additional down the highway as soon as I get there.
The choice to step away hasn’t been a simple one. It’s at all times been at the back of my thoughts since I first made the choice to get within the seat. As a girl, I don’t have the luxurious that males need to proceed driving whereas beginning a household.
I used to be at all times so centered on my profession that I knew if I ever needed to begin a household, it might come later in life. Watching my sisters begin their very own households has actually opened my eyes the previous couple of years. I really like spending time with my little nieces and nephews every time I’m dwelling. They arrive to the races carrying Brittany Pressure shirts and are my largest followers.
Coming into this season, I knew it was time. One of the simplest ways to explain my choice is bittersweet. It’s troublesome saying goodbye to one thing I really like a lot however, with the help of my husband, my household and my staff, I’ve determined that this would be the yr to create space for one thing new and see the place this subsequent chapter takes me.
