COURTNEY FORCE
Following in Their Footsteps

           
When your dad and your older sister spend most of their time setting records and re-writing history books following in their footsteps or tire tracks for that matter could seem to be an intimidating prospect.

Not so for 20-year-old Courtney Force, the youngest of 14-time Funny Car Champion John Force’s daughter, who will be entering her second season behind the wheel of a BrandSource sponsored, Jerry Darien tuned A-Fuel Dragster. After a solid test session to open the 2009 season the youngest Force is ready to get back on the track.

“I am excited. I got through my rookie season and I am still learning. I am ready to get the season started in Pomona and do better this season. I would really like to go some more rounds. I think now that I have gone through one season I have a better idea what racing Top Alcohol Dragster is all about and I know what to expect,” said Force. “I feel like I am better prepared for a new season. It is not about remembering and trying to focus on everything. Now that comes more naturally to me and I can focus on working on my lights, staging and racing other people.”

The former high school cheerleader and current communications major at Cal State Fullerton will be seeking her first major victory this season. Last season as a rookie in a Top Alcohol Dragster division she started the year splitting cockpit time with older sister Brittany but moved into her own ride at the storied Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

She qualified at five events including the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and picked up her first round win at the O’Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas.

As she spends more time in the cockpit getting racing experience and learning from here teammates including older sister and NHRA super star Ashley Force Courtney knows she is on the right career path for her passion.

Courtney picked up her A-Fuel license during the pre-season testing season at Firebird Raceway in 2008. At the time it had been nearly five months since the youngest Force had been behind the wheel of the 250 mph dragster but she showed no signs of rust as she powered down the track to clinch her license on a designed shakedown run.

“It went good. I wasn’t really planning on making a full pass because it has been about five months since I have been in the car. I had to get used to the whole routine again. I was only planning on making a launch or maybe driving to half track but it felt good so I thought I’ll just stay in it. I made that decision while I was going down the track. It felt good so I just kept it straight and finished it off.”
 
Along with her mother Laurie and Brittany, Courtney earned her NHRA competition drivers license in 2005 after graduating from Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.  Ironically, she was the one daughter her father always believed would follow him into the family business – and she hasn’t disappointed. 

Statuesque like her mother, Courtney is undecided on a full-time career in racing but has learned the family business in the glare of the spotlight as one of the stars of Driving Force, a real-life TV series that last aired on A&E Network in 2007.

-www.johnforceracing.com-