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Race report

John Force Racing dominates NHRA nitro results in Houston

Brittany Force and Robert Hight delivered John Force Racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car wins in the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway, fifth round of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Brittany Force, Top Fuel

Brittany Force, Top Fuel

NHRA

TOP FUEL

Brittany Force entered race day qualified No. 1 with hopes to repeat her win at Houston from a year ago. On her way to victory, she beat Cameron Ferre, Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican and three-time world champion Antron Brown in the final with a 3.749sec/302.14mph run in her Advance Auto Parts dragster. 

“All of John Force Racing was on a mission this morning,” said Force. “My dad and I were No. 1, the first time father and daughter have ever qualified No. 1 at an event. That’s something very special my dad and I will share.

“We were looking for a win but to be able to do it with Robert Hight by my side in that Auto Club car, that’s pretty awesome.”

FUNNY CAR

Hight picked up his third victory of the 2019 season in his AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and his third career win at Houston.

He defeated Jonnie Lindberg, 2018 Funny Car champ J.R. Todd, JFR owner and No. 1 qualifier John Force and finally Matt Hagan in the final with a 3.941sec at 310.84mph. 

“I’m proud of [my team], never disbelieved in them,” Hight said. “That’s why we have three wins already this season because they’re so good.

“Down at the other end, they said, ‘How do you keep your team in check?’ Really, it’s the other way around. They keep me in check.

“I’ve never seen a more focused group of individuals. They keep their heads down, work hard, don’t do a lot of talking and we got the job done.

Houston marks the third JFR team double-up win in the nitro categories, all earned by B. Force and Hight. The first came in 2016 in Gainesville the second in 2017 in Dallas, the latter being year the pair both went on to win championships in their respective categories. 

Final finish order at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil

TOP FUEL: 1. Brittany Force; 2. Antron Brown; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Clay Millican; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Leah Pritchett; 7. Scott Palmer; 8. Austin Prock; 9. Mike Salinas; 10. Jordan Vandergriff; 11. Shawn Reed; 12. Terry McMillen; 13. Kebin Kinsley; 14. Richie Crampton; 15. Billy Torrence; 16. Cameron Ferre. 
Final: Brittany Force, 3.749 seconds, 302.14 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.995 seconds, 233.48mph

FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. John Force; 4. Ron Capps; 5. J.R. Todd; 6. Shawn Langdon; 7. Blake Alexander; 8. Bob Tasca III; 9. Jonnie Lindberg; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 13. Jack Beckman; 14. Tim Wilkerson; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Jeff Diehl.
Final: Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.941, 310.84 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.966, 311.70.

Point standings after 5 of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

TOP FUEL: 1. Doug Kalitta, 367; 2. Brittany Force, 349; 3. Steve Torrence, 343; 4. Mike Salinas, 320; 5. Leah Pritchett, 303; 6. Clay Millican, 302; 7. Antron Brown, 278; 8. Billy Torrence, 265; 9. Richie Crampton, 264; 10. Terry McMillen, 231.

FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight, 476; 2. Matt Hagan, 366; 3. J.R. Todd, 341; 4. John Force, 339; 5. Jack Beckman, 332; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 315; 7. (tie) Ron Capps, 286; Tim Wilkerson, 286; 9. Bob Tasca III, 250; 10. Shawn Langdon, 223.

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