Phoenix, Arizona (February 8, 2016) - The quartet of John Force Racing race cars wrapped up a successful four days of NHRA pre-season testing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park today. John Force Racing cars claimed seven of the 10 quickest runs of the day.
Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team led all Top Fuel dragsters today with a 3.721 second pass at 319.07 mph.
“I am definitely glad we are here in Phoenix testing. We were here for four days and I needed every single run that we made to make me feel more comfortable. Teaming up with Alan Johnson and Brian Husen as my crew chief has been great,” said Force, who finished the 2015 season in 7th place. “They have made a lot of changes to this Monster Energy dragster. They run a whole different system that what we used to run. It takes some time to adjust to that and I am learning the car. It is starting to feel like home. We ran a couple of 3.72s and I am ready to get to Pomona.”
Force posted the 5th and 6th quickest runs of the four day test session.
The John Force Racing Funny Cars started slowly but finished the pre-season test session with strong runs led by Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team.
“We had a ton of things to come in here to test and it took us seven runs to get the application right to go down the track. We didn’t get to test everything that we wanted to but once it went it was fast. We figured out some of the good things that we wanted to test but not everything,” said Hight. “I also believe with how we finished the end of the year at Pomona what we learned here is going to make us so much better when we get back to Pomona. I am so excited to get to the Winternationals. We made career best runs here and we are in the ballgame.” Hight posted a career best 3.885 second run at 329.34 mph on Saturday which was good enough for third quickest of the spring training event.
Over the course of the test session Hight also ran the 9th quickest run of the weekend 3.913 second.
Right behind Hight was teammate Courtney Force driving the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car who ran her career best ET 3.890 at 323.89 mph. The first two days of testing were uneventful for Force who struggled to get her Funny Car down the track. The team began to hit their stride on Friday.
“We struggled a little the first couple of passes but then we got it figured out. That is why you go to testing. I am really excited to be working with Ronnie Thompson and Danny Hood as my crew chiefs. This whole Traxxas Chevrolet Funny Car team did a great job here in Phoenix. We made my quickest run ever and I feel really comfortable heading to Pomona,” said Courtney Force.
The most consistent Funny Car on Saturday was John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS which ran three quick runs including a stellar 3.914 second run. His other passes of the day 3.927 seconds and 3.930 seconds easily had him near the top of the field.
“We got done what we needed to here in Phoenix. I am really proud of these young kids led by Jon Schaffer. We got after it every day and we got some good runs out of this PEAK hot rod. We are running right up at the top with all the other Funny Cars and that Monster dragster ran really well too. We have had a lot of change over the past couple of years but now I am focused on winning and getting the most out of all these race teams,” said John Force.
Below are the quickest performances in both Top Fuel and Funny Car from Saturday at NHRA Nitro Spring Training:
TOP FUEL
3.721, 319.07 – Brittany Force
3.739, 288.87 – Clay Millican
3.745, 325.53 – Doug Kalitta
3.747, 322.81 – Brittany Force
3.748, 319.22 – Richie Crampton
3.758, 317.64 – Brittany Force
3.768, 297.88 – Antron Brown
3.770, 316.08 – Shawn Langdon
3.791, 320.13 – Antron Brown
3.802, 325.69 – J.R. Todd
3.839, 272.72 – Leah Pritchett
3.882, 251.67 – J.R. Todd
3.916, 256.75 – Terry McMillen
3.929, 255.00 – Troy Buff
3.935, 306.05 – Terry McMillen
4.123, 242.19 – Troy Buff
FUNNY CAR
3.874, 318.47 – Tommy Johnson Jr.
3.885, 329.34 – Robert Hight
3.890, 323.89 – Courtney Force
3.914, 327.35 – John Force
3.915, 323.74 – Courtney Force
3.919, 320.66 – Ron Capps
3.927, 323.66 – John Force
3.930, 328.14 – John Force
3.931, 323.43 – Robert Hight
3.962, 326.79 – Matt Hagan
3.972, 320.51 – Alexis DeJoria
3.982, 289.57 – Jack Beckman
3.983, 320.81 – Del Worsham
3.987, 319.29 – Ron Capps
3.993, 322.58 – Alexis DeJoria
3.999, 320.97 – Del Worsham
4.008, 273.94 – Cruz Pedregon
4.015, 316.01 – Brian Hough
4.070, 273.39 – Del Worsham
4.153, 252.24 – Jim Campbell
4.211, 225.60 – Matt Hagan
Below are the top 10 quickest runs overall in each category from the four-day test session:
TOP FUEL
1. 3.683, 325.37 – Tony Schumacher
2. 3.714, 330.15 – Dave Connolly
3. 3.716, 327.35 – Doug Kalitta
4. 3.718, 320.58 – Tony Schumacher
5. 3.721, 319.07 – Brittany Force
6. 3.721, 318.54 – Brittany Force
7. 3.727, 322.88 – Doug Kalitta
8. 3.729, 326.08 – Steve Torrence
9. 3.731, 326.48 – Steve Torrence
10. 3.733, 315.49 – Shawn Langdon
FUNNY CAR
1. 3.874, 318.47 – Tommy Johnson Jr.
2. 3.880, 325.77 – Jack Beckman
3. 3.885, 329.34 – Robert Hight
4. 3.890, 323.89 – Courtney Force
5. 3.894, 327.03 – Jack Beckman
6. 3.895, 325.06 – Jack Beckman
7. 3.904, 318.54 – Courtney Force
8. 3.912, 324.20 – John Force
9. 3.913, 326.16 – Robert Hight
10. 3.914, 327.35 – John Force
