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Courtney Force Norwalk preview

COURTNEY FORCE EAGER TO GET TO NORWALK NORWALK, OH (June 23, 2009) ---- The youngest daughter of 14-time Funny Car legend John Force is older and wiser heading into Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park for the 3rd annual Summit Racing ...

Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:45 PM

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COURTNEY FORCE EAGER TO GET TO NORWALK

NORWALK, OH (June 23, 2009) ---- The youngest daughter of 14-time Funny Car legend John Force is older and wiser heading into Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park for the 3rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this weekend. Courtney Force celebrated her 21st birthday in style with her family, minus John, in Las Vegas last weekend and two events ago in Chicago she raced to her first semi-final finish adding valuable race day experience. In her second year behind the wheel of the Sanyo Supercharged HD/BrandSource A/Fuel Dragster Force continues to pick up tips every time she gets in the cockpit.

"Going to the semis in Chicago was great. Ashley (sister Ashley Force Hood, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang) made it to the finals and to be racing almost all day with her was really exciting. I am really looking forward to getting to Norwalk. The biggest thing for me is to get seat time. We got to race three weekends in a row and every weekend I felt like I was getting more comfortable behind the wheel," said Force.

In addition to learning on the track Force is also teaching people off the track about the new Ford Fiesta. She is one of 100 Ford Fiesta "Agents" chosen to spread the gospel of the new Ford Fiesta which will be available in the U.S. next year. Through social networking sites like YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace and www.courtneyforce.com fans and auto enthusiasts can interact with Force and learn about the Fiesta. This kind of fan to driver interaction comes naturally to the daughter of a man who has signed more autographs than arguably anyone else in the NHRA.

"I am trying to follow in my dad's footsteps. When he was starting out he was always really good about spending time with the fans. He talks to me and my sisters about making the fans happy and letting them have a special race day. I try to do the same," said Force in her recent USAToday.com online diary."I try and spend time out at the ropes with the fans as much as I can. I listen to all their suggestions and try and make them happy whenever I can. It is interesting that we are using technology a lot more than when my dad started and using it to interact with even more fans."

As a sign of her growing popularity on the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as well as the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Force is penning a summer online diary for www.usatoday.com. On the Tuesdays following race weekends Force talks about life on and off the track. Fans have asked for updates on the Driving Force reality TV show as well as what it was like growing up in the Force household. The column has been well received and consistently gets multiple positive comments and recommendations.

Still with all the off track attention Force knows that the on track performance is where she will ultimately be judged. She has raced in six NHRA National events and one divisional. A busy summer racing schedule will keep her focused on getting better and improving behind the wheel. She knows that improvement will only come with hard work and practice.

"I know I am really lucky to be in this situation thank to my mom and dad. I really want to race professionally so I am going to try and get better every time I get in my Sanyo and Brand Source A/Fueler. I know on the track is where you get better. I really like the competition and racing with my family. Hopefully, I'll go some more rounds in Norwalk," said Force.

-credit: jfr

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