ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (May 29, 2012) – It’s been an interesting rookie season for Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series so far. From going up against her dad, 15-time Funny Car champion John Force, in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday of only the second race of her professional career in Phoenix, Ariz. to dueling it out with fellow female Funny Car driver in the running for Auto Club’s Road to the Future “Rookie of the Year” candidate Alexis DeJoria, the youngest of the Force family has demonstrated consistency, a composed nature and a strong sense of competitiveness which combined helped her to victory on both of those attempts and has kept her in the top ten in the points; the No. 9 spot.

“As a Rookie Driver this season, I’m continuing to learn everything I can to become a better driver.  I’m happy with how our Traxxas Ford Mustang team is running this season and couldn’t ask for it to go any better.  We are continuing to learn about the car and how to push it to its limits, while I’m learning how to drive it to its limits.  I’m having so much fun this season in the seat and it has been fun to race with fellow Rookie of the Year contender, Alexis DeJoria, in the Funny Car category,” said Force on competing for the prestigious award given out at the end of the season to the top rookie in the NHRA. “It’s definitely going to be a tough season fighting for Rookie of the Year especially against such great drivers, but I will try to continue to do the best I can throughout this race season.

This week, Force will be turned on to a whole new realm of exciting challenges as she takes her Traxxas Ford Mustang to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. for the 43rd running of the Toyota NHRA SuperNationals, the ninth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

“I’m looking forward to racing this weekend in Englishtown and am excited to be back at a familiar track where I grew up watching my dad compete.  It’s also a familiar track to me as I raced in the Top Alcohol Dragster category with my sister, Brittany. Now that I’m racing for the first time in the Fuel Funny Car category at this track, I hope to get this Traxxas Ford Mustang qualified well, stay consistent and go some rounds on Sunday,” Force said.

Last weekend, Force qualified in the No. 8 spot and snagged a few bonus points along the way. The Traxxas Ford Mustang’s only downfall of the weekend was having to face the four-time race winner for 2012 thus far, Robert Hight and his Auto Club Ford Mustang.

“In Topeka we had one of the most consistent Funny Cars out there.  We were qualified in the top half of the field in the No. 8 spot and earned a few bonus points throughout qualifying.  I feel like our car is progressing and I’m progressing as a driver. Unfortunately we got beat in the first round of eliminations by my fellow teammate, Robert Hight who had a killer run of a 4.05 in his AAA Funny Car.  We had a competitive number of a 4.12 on that run, but we couldn’t advance into the next round.  We have a strong team and I am excited going into Englishtown.  Having a consistent car with our Traxxas Ford Mustang, I feel confident going into the race and hope to continue to work hard to stay in the top 10 in points,” said Force.

Part of the Force crew, including Courtney, Brittany and mother, Laurie, are jumping into the Englishtown festivities early this week to do a little site-seeing and catching up with some old friends, then making their way to Bristol, Conn. to visit ESPN.

“I’m going in a few days early to explore Englishtown and see NYC with my mom and sister, Brittany. On Thursday I will be going on a tour of the ESPN campus in Bristol, Connecticut and doing interviews for TV, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN radio, as well as an online chat.  I’m looking forward to visiting this campus which is the base of all major sports news.  I’m hoping to expand their knowledge of NHRA drag racing as well as the products of the fastest name in radio control, Traxxas, and am excited to learn about the ESPN campus,” said Force.