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ENNIS, Texas -- At 29Th Annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals
That tends to happen when the reason for those expectations is the legendary John Force, who owns 16 NHRA Funny Car championships and also just happens to be the proud patriarch of drag racing's most famous and successful dynasty. The fact that the family dynasty consists of all daughters, well, that just makes it all the more remarkable. While oldest daughter Ashley was the first to follow in dad's footsteps, earning four NHRA Funny Car wins before stepping away from the sport to have a family, Courtney and Brittany are currently making plenty of waves on the racing circuit. And that's exactly what they hope to continue doing when they take on Texas Motorplex at the 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, the second race in the Countdown to the Championship, Sept. 18-21. No female has ever won at the iconic all-concrete track in Top Fuel or Funny Car and the Sisters Force are looking to change that. Already this year, the pair has made history by becoming the first two women to qualify first in the same event in Funny Car (Courtney) and Top Fuel (Brittany). And they've done that twice, at Topeka and Sonoma. Courtney's fifth career win at Topeka was the 100th professional win by a female and Brittany's top qualifying spot at Sonoma was the first-ever by a woman at that track. What would it mean to be the first woman to earn a Wally in Funny Car at Texas Motorplex? Courtney plans to find out.
"There are a lot of great female drivers competing this season so I think this could be the year for one of the girls to get it there." Big sis Brittany, who is looking to notch her initial Top Fuel win, sure wouldn't mind if she was the first woman to claim a win in the class in Ennis. "Becoming the first female pro Top Fuel winner at the Texas Motorplex would be such a very proud moment," said the 28-year-old. "The Castrol EDGE team is still in the hunt for our first win and to be able to get both all at one event would be a huge accomplishment." Courtney definitely would like to have the Force luck turn around at the Motorplex. "Ever since my dad's crash there in '07, I've been looking to make better memories there and I think a win could do it," she said. "I've always loved watching my dad race there and have always loved being part of such a fun atmosphere at the track.
Brittany feels that the fans at the AAA Texas NHRA Nationals are a special breed. "I'm excited to back there and take my dragster down the bright green track," she said. "Everything is bigger in Texas, including the energy of the fans. I remember last year signing (autographs) at the ropes and having the chance to meet so many great people. The Texas fans always found a way to pump me up before heading to the starting line and that's something I can't wait for this year." Both sisters are currently on track to make the Countdown to the Championship and naturally, a win at the Motorplex would provide a bit of a bump since it is a playoff race. "Getting a win, at the Motorplex, especially, would be great being that it's in the middle of the Countdown to the Championship," said Courtney. "This is the race that can really give you that extra early jump up in the points that we all need, being that it is only the second race in to the Countdown. This race can really set the mood as our Traxxas team goes forward, throughout the Championship chase."
"Taking home a win at the Motorplex and at the start of the Countdown would only help push the Castrol EDGE team in the right direction," she said. "A win early on in the Countdown will pump up the team and motivate us going into the final races. Any points, any rounds and any wins we can get will only move us up in points and help us claim a spot." Tickets for the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals are available now, ranging from just $10 to $380 for weekend packages. Youth tickets for children 12 and under start as low as $5. For tickets or more information, please call the Texas Motorplex office at (800) MOTORPLEX or visit www.texasmotorplex.com. The first ever PreStage Fan Fest in Downtown Ennis will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17 between 5-10 p.m. with food trucks, music, driver appearances and more. Gates open for the 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 with sportsman qualifying runs between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Two rounds of professional qualifying, at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m., highlight the Friday, Sept. 19 schedule, along with sportsman qualifying throughout the day. Saturday, Sept. 20, is packed with sportsman eliminations and the final two rounds of professional qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, with pre-race ceremonies at 10 a.m. and final eliminations getting under way at 11 a.m.
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