Brittany Force takes home the Wally in Houston

Reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force started her title defense in less-than-deal fashion, crashing her Monster Energy-sponsored dragster into the wall at the Winternationals hard enough to find herself in the hospital for a couple of days.

However, Force made a quick recovery and returned to action in Phoenix for the tour’s second stop, picking up valuable points as she works toward defending that #1 on her wing. However, it would take a few more events for Force to return to the winner’s circle, but she finally got that monkey off her back at the most recent event, the Springnationals in Houston, Texas.

Brittany had to wade through some tough competition to earn a spot in the finals, where she would take on Terry McMillen. In the opening round of competition, Force faced off with Terry Haddock, who’s made a name for himself recently by knocking off some big names in the class. However, Force was not to be deterred, laying down a solid 3.755 to take an easy win over the tire-smoking Haddock.

In the second round, Force would face off with the always-tough Doug Kalitta, who is one of the most likely competitors to knock her off the throne for the season points championship. Kalitta threw down a solid run of 3.819 seconds but was no match for Brittany’s 3.739 in the other lane.

Awaiting Brittany in the semi finals was Tony Schumacher, the winningest driver in the history of the class. Schumacher had been on a string of killer passes, including a 3.737 in round 2 that gave him lane choice over Force, but he would prove no match for the Monster car when he hazed the tires and slowed to a 5.07 alongside Force’s 3.766.

McMillen had his Amalie Oil-sponsored fueler tuned up for the finals and gave Brittany a great race, laying down a sold 3.818 at 311 MPH, but Brittany once again posted a time in the 3.7 range – a 3.762 to be exact – to take the win and earn her first Wally of the 2018 season. There is a lot of racing left to do, obviously, but it’s already shaping up to be a fight to the finish and Brittany clearly plans to be right there in the thick of the battle.