Competing in the NHRA’s premier Top Fuel category at the Northwest Nationals in Seattle, 39-year-old Brittany Force delivered a blistering 341.85 mph (550.17 kph) in her semifinal matchup against Doug Kalitta -- the fastest run ever recorded since the series switched from the traditional quarter-mile to the current 1,000-foot race distance in 2008.
It was Force's own previous record – set just in April at 341.59 mph (549.74 kph) – that she surpassed. Although her speed was unmatched, she narrowly missed out on setting a new elapsed time record. Her 3.659-second run was just 0.018 seconds shy of her personal best (3.641s, 2022).
“Obviously the highlight of our weekend was in the semifinals when we made a killer run and went even faster than our (previous) national record (341.59 mph), the fastest of all time,” she said. “It’s really exciting for this whole team. We work really hard to turn on win lights and put the best numbers up on the board and we’re hoping that record will hold for a while.”
Five of the Six fastest runs – All by Force
Force had already made her intentions clear in qualifying with a 340.47 mph run. In round one, she backed it up with 340.82 mph against former European Champion Ida Zetterström.
The result? Force now holds five of the six fastest speeds ever recorded in the Top Fuel class – a dominant stat in a fiercely competitive category. But the weekend didn’t end as hoped: in the final against Shawn Langdon, her car shut down due to an engine safety sensor.
“Pan pressure automatically shut us off in the final,” she said of the safety system that automatically activates in certain situations. “I had no power and was just coasting to the finish line and saw Shawn go around me.”
“Overall, it was a pretty solid outing for this team,” said the only woman to have won as many as 300 competitive rounds in drag racing’s signature category. “We were able to make our way to the final round but, unfortunately, came up short.
John Force’s long road back
This season has been emotionally charged for the team. Brittany’s father, drag racing icon John Force, suffered a serious crash in Virginia in June 2024. The 75-year-old sustained multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and required intensive care.
Now in rehabilitation, the 16-time Funny Car champion is on the slow path to recovery. He recently gave his first in-depth update in an NHRA interview, saying he no longer sees a return to driving in his future but plans to stay in the sport.
John Force is widely regarded as the face of American drag racing, having shaped the sport over decades. His legacy is continued by his daughters Brittany, Courtney, and Ashley – all of whom became drag racers. Courtney is married to IndyCar veteran Graham Rahal.
