Courtney Force made herstory over the weekend in Topeka, Kansas, as she collected the 100th professional win by a woman in the NHRA. Not only was it the 100th win for women, but it was Courtney’s fourth victory in only her third year of Funny Car competition. She had made history the day before when qualified #1 in the Funny Car class, while her older sister, Brittany Force, qualified #1in the Top Fuel category. Brittany made it all the way to the semifinals, but Courtney was the Force sister who wound up with the Wally in her hands. She flew past Cruz Pedregon in the finals with a 4.148 at 306.46 MPH to get the win. Not only did Courtney walk away with the Wally for the race win, she received a commemorative “100 Wins for Women” Wally as well. In winning fashion, Courtney took a selfie in the Winner’s Circle with her Wallys and crew guys in the picture. This is John Force Racing’s sixth victory in Funny Car so far this season.
100 professional wins for women is a huge deal. The NHRA has shown more gender diversity than any other form of professional motorsport in the world. For comparison, Formula One hasn’t had a female competitor on the grid since 1992, and no female has ever won an F1 race. The 2014 IndyCar season has seen Pippa Mann finish 24th in this year’s Indy 500, but Danica Patrick remains the only woman to have ever won an IndyCar race. NASCAR has two women competing in two of their major series, Danica Patrick and Jennifer Jo Cobb. However, a woman has yet two win a NASCAR race. NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’s track record with women over the association’s sixty three year history is simply remarkable. Other racing series should take notes, because the world of motorsports needs more prominent, winning female figures.
Congratulations on your fourth win, Courtney! Thank you for capturing victory #100 by women!
-Dallas Hollins
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Check out a list all of the professional wins made by women in the NHRA:
Picture Credit: NHRA/ National Dragster
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