POMONA, Calif. (AP) Brittany Force became the NHRA’s first female Top Fuel season champion since Shirley Muldowney in 1982 on Sunday in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals.
Force, the daughter of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, wrapped up the title in the quarterfinals and went on to win the event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force beat Shawn Langdon with a 3.668-second pass at 330.07 mph in the final for her fourth victory of the year.
“I can’t believe we are here, it seems like a dream,” Force said. “The reason we are here is because of that Monster team and all the support I have and all the sponsors. Everyone at JFR and that is the reason we are here. We struggled, we had our ups and downs, but we pulled it together when it mattered most. I give all of it up to my crew chiefs, Alan Johnson and Brian Husen, they are the ones that made this possible. They always had my back and they kept pushing me.”
What a way to cap the 2017 World Championship: @MonsterEnergy driver @BrittanyForce runs 3.667 at 330.07 mph to beat Shawn Langdon and win the #AutoClubFinals! #NHRA pic.twitter.com/iBOz91ivnK
— John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) November 13, 2017
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE-UP! @MonsterEnergy driver @BrittanyForce beats Richie Crampton in Round 2 to win the 2017 Top Fuel title, joining JFR Funny Car champ @roberthight7000!! #AutoClubFinals #NHRA pic.twitter.com/Qjbme4rJnj
— John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) November 12, 2017
When your daughter wins the World Championship ... pic.twitter.com/z7H50YF94d
— John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) November 12, 2017
My sister @BrittanyForce & @roberthight7000 are the @NHRA World Champions!!!! I️ could not be more proud of my teammates! Love them! What an incredible day for @JFR_Racing #DoubleUp #Champions #TheyDidIt pic.twitter.com/rxRBVxW9py
— Courtney Force (@courtneyforce) November 12, 2017
Robert Hight took his second Funny Car title, and Bo Butner won the Pro Stock crown and event title. Tommy Johnson Jr. won the Funny Car event, and Andrew Hines took the Pro Stock Motorcycle race.
Hight wrapped up the title in the first round of eliminations.
Congratulations to @roberthight7000 on taking home his second @NHRA Funny Car World Championship! pic.twitter.com/CnXtXV3frQ
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) November 12, 2017
“Everybody worked their tail off and was quiet and knew they had a job to do,” Hight said. “This is just huge for John Force Racing. For a couple of years, we have struggled. but it is such a great group. We signed a long-term deal with Auto Club and they deserve better than what we were giving them.”
Hight also had four season victories.
.@BoKnowsRacing rounds out a 3-class bowtie sweep at today's #AutoClubFinals by winning the 2017 @NHRA @MelloYello Pro Stock World Championship! pic.twitter.com/6zBf22DLCn
— Chevrolet Motorsports (@TeamChevy) November 13, 2017
Butner drove his Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.594 at 210.70 to beat Tanner Gray in the final. Bunter finished the season with five event victories.
“Just never give up. I have a great crew. It’s amazing,” Butner said. “They don’t give up on me. But the KB team, what does that say about them? Honestly, I rent a car and a motor and they put me in a championship. It’s just unbelievable.”
Hines beat teammate and season champion Eddie Krawiec with a 6.856 at 196.02 on a Harley Davidson.
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