NHRA’s Team Force is in the Valley of the Sun this week testing for the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Along with John, Courtney and Brittany Force, Tim Wilkerson and Cruz Pedregon were also putting the track to the test at Wild Horse Pass Motrosports Park with their nitro powered rides.
Thursday’s temperatures were in the mid 50’s and winds gusting upwards of 20 MPH, Thursday’s test sessions kicked off a little late. By noon, Brittany Force would be not only the first Top Fuel car to be fired up, but the first car of the day to make a pass down the dragstrip. The cold track would not hold the horsepower Brittany’s Top Fuel Dragster would bring. John Force, Courtney Force and Robert Hight would all go up in smoke during their first test session. Cruz Pedregon would oil the length of the track on his first pass causing a lengthy cleanup.
Throughout the day, invited guest teams from Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters, Pro Mods, Top Sportsman door cars, Super Comp Dragsters and big tire door cars took turns making passes down the dragstrip keeping it in shape for Team Force’s test sessions. Jay Payne was at the track with his Peak Antifreeze Alcohol Funny Car, John Lombardo was testing with his NAPA sponsored Alcohol Funny Car. Mark Taliaferro was hooking hard, pupping the front wheels on his Top Alcohol Dragster.
The Valley’s own David Armstrong was out testing his Top Sportsman NAPA sponsored Chevrolet Camaro. Armstrong is getting to run his first full NHRA Mello Yello race series in the Top Sportsman class. Locals racers Rich Lash, Phil Dion and Tanner “The Kid” Sundstrom were also out trying out some new combinations for the 2015 Team Summit and NHRA Division 7 seasons.
Later in the day Team Force would roll into the staging lanes for their second and last round of testing for the day. After warming the tires, Brittany would again go up in smoke in her Top Fuel Dragster. Running in her tracks, Courtney would be out next in the Traxxas Camaro. Shortly after launching, Courtney went up in smoke too.
Next out on the starting line was John Force in his newly sponsored Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car. After putting some heat into his tires with a signature John Force burnout, Force would run a blistering 3.985 at 322.81 MPH. That would be an official NHRA track record if he were able to back it up, but records cannot be set during test sessions. Either way, it was one hell of an impressive pass Force laid down.
Click here to purchase tickets to see Team Force and more of NHRA’s top teams during the 2015 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.
