Courtney Force beat father John in the final to become the winningest female in Funny Car history at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Sunday.

Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Sonoma Raceway.

Force, who won the 100th race by a female driver in the NHRA Professional classes in Topeka, outran her father with a 4.253-second pass at 296.24 mph in her Traxxas Ford Mustang to claim her fifth career victory. With the win, Force broke a tie with sister Ashley Force Hood for the most all-time wins by a female in Funny Car.

sun17“It’s cool to reach number five,” said Force, who now has two wins in the season. “I’m very proud of my team. Obviously, I wouldn’t be here without them and the hard work that they put in. I’m only as good as my team.”

John Force, who started his record 650th national event this weekend, was seeking his 141st career win in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang. Force, the 16-time Funny Car world champ, defeated Paul Lee, Bristol winner Tommy Johnson Jr., and two-time winner this season Alexis DeJoria on his way to the final, which clinched him a spot in the Countdown to the Championship. With the final-round loss, Force fell to 5-6 against Courtney.

In Top Fuel, alBalooshi piloted his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a 3.912 at 309.42, defeating teammate Shawn Langdon. It was the second win of the season for alBalooshi, who celebrated his 35th birthday during race day, and fourth of his career.

sun18“The trophy is exactly what I wanted,” said alBalooshi, who beat Billy Torrence, Clay Millican, and Englishtown winner Richie Crampton to reach the final. “This is a very special birthday for me. This trophy is the best gift of my life and [crew chief] Jason McCulloch gave it to me with all my crew guys.”

Langdon, driver of the Al-Anabi Racing dragster, was appearing in his fifth final of the season with his lone win coming in Bristol. Langdon, the reigning Top Fuel world champ, had a solid race day, eliminating Denver winner J.R. Todd, points leader Doug Kalitta, and seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher before falling to alBalooshi. With the result, Langdon became the third Top Fuel driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

In Pro Stock, Line drove his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro to his second win of the season with a 6.548 at 211.73, defeating V. Gaines in the final. It was the second win of the season for Line and 33rd of his career. By taking out Joey Grose, Jonathan Gray, Dave Connolly, and Gaines, Line stamped his ticket to the Countdown to the Championship.

“Overall, I felt like my car was as good or better than any other one out here, but I struggled this week,” said Line, who gave Chevrolet its 200th win in the Pro Stock category. “I did things that I’d normally never do. I botched a burnout, couldn’t stage, couldn’t cut a light, and couldn’t find the finish line. Other than that, everything was perfect.”

Gaines, driver of the Kendall Oil Dodge Dart, was appearing in his third final of the season. He is still searching for his first win since Reading in 2012. Gaines took out Chris McGaha, No. 1 qualifier Shane Gray, and reigning Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. to reach the final.

Pro Stock drivers Allen Johnson, Coughlin, and Connolly all sealed a spot in the Countdown as well with their respective Sonoma results.

Krawiec grabbed his second Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of 2014 with a 6.854 at 193.99 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, beating No. 1 qualifier Jerry Savoie in the final. The win was the 24th career victory for Krawiec, a three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ.

“I almost forgot how to get back here [to the winner’s circle],” said Krawiec, who got past Freddie Camarena, Epping winner Angie Smith, and teammate Andrew Hines before taking out Savoie. “Going into the final, I was 100 percent concerned about Jerry. We build his horsepower, and he’s doing an awesome job, but that’s why we drag race.”

Savoie was appearing in his first final of the season and third of his career. His Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki was fast all weekend, beating Chaz Kennedy, Hector Arana Sr., and John Hall before red-lighting against Krawiec. Savoie was seeking his first career win.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series concludes its Western Swing with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Pacific Raceways., Aug. 1-3.

 

2014 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS
Updated 7/27/2014 (Following the 15th of 24 events; Season victories in parentheses)

TOP FUEL
Place Driver Points
1. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (1) 1,223*
2. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, Matco Tools dragster (5) 1,177*
3. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Al-Anabi Racing dragster (1) 1,065*
4. Tony Schumacher, Chicago, U.S. Army dragster (2) 911
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contactors dragster 867
6. Spencer Massey, Fort Worth, Texas, Battery Extender dragster (2) 862
7. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol Edge dragster 824
8. Khalid alBalooshi, Los Angeles, Al-Anabi Racing dragster (2) 801
9. Richie Crampton, Indianapolis, GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster (1) 752
10. J.R. Todd, Indianapolis, Optima/Advance Auto Parts dragster (1) 741

FUNNY CAR
1. Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang (5) 1,216*
2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang (2) 1,097*
3. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger (1) 957
4. Courtney Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Traxxas Ford Mustang (2) 941
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Brownsburg, Ind., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger (1) 938
6. Alexis DeJoria, Austin, Texas, Patron XO Cafe Toyota Camry (2) 883
7. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger (1) 868
8. Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry (1) 840
9. Del Worsham, Villa Park, Calif., DHL Toyota Camry 816
10. Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang 762

PRO STOCK
1. Erica Enders-Stevens, New Orleans, Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro (4) 1,229*
2. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., Team Mopar Dodge Dart (4) 1,107*
3. Jason Line, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro (2) 1,074*
4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Dart (2) 1,073*
5. Dave Connolly, Mooresville, N.C., Charter Chevy Camaro (1) 1,023*
6. Shane Gray, Mooresville, N.C., Gray Manufacturing Chevy Camaro 931
7. Vincent Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., Mountain View Tire Chevy Camaro (1) 926
8. V. Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Oil Dodge Dart 688
9. Chris McGaha, Odessa, Texas, Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevy Camaro 686
10. Jonathan Gray, Mooresville, N.C., Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro 568

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE (following the ninth of 16 events)
1. Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson (4) 853*
2. Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg, Ind., Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson (2) 762*
3. Hector Arana Jr., Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell (1) 614*
4. Hector Arana Sr., Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell 542
5. John Hall, Hamden, Conn., Matt Smith Racing Buell 516
6. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Nitro Fish Buell 483
7. Michael Ray, New Braunfels, Texas, Gottspeed/Star Racing Buell 462
8. Scotty Pollacheck, Medford, Ore., Petrolhead Apparel Buell 461
9. Angie Smith, King, N.C., Kandy Racing Buell (1) 435
10. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki (1) 430

* Clinched berth in NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship

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