Austin Prock: 'I felt pretty confident going that we were going to have the car to beat'
Paul Lee: 'It’s going to be great just to see our friends and the fans'
Jack Beckman: 'I don’t know if anyone wants to get back more than me'
Tim Wilkerson: 'I don’t think they’re ready for my attitude. It’s gonna be fun'
Kenny Delco: 'We were fast, we qualified fourth at Pomona and Phoenix'
Steve Torrence: 'You’ve got to come out and swing for every one of ’em'
Cristian Cuadra: 'I think I’m doing well, but I have a lot of room to improve'
Tommy Johnson Jr.: 'I’ve not wanted to win a championship more than this year'
Brittany Force: 'We’re ready for all this to be over so we get back to what we love'
Robert Hight: 'I can’t wait to get back and try to defend our championship'
Alex Laughlin: 'All we have to do is shove the car back in the trailer, and we are ready to go racing'
Shawn Langdon: 'I’m trying to stay as fresh as I can so we can be ready to go'
Chris McGaha: 'We’ve come up with some new ideas and we’ve beaten on some things'
J.R. Todd: 'I have all the confidence that we will be in contention when it counts'
Clay Millican: 'I can’t wait to stomp on that loud pedal ... it’s been way too long'
Bob Tasca III: 'Trust me, this Motorcraft car is going to have its day in the sun'
Antron Brown: 'I’ve been doing everything I can; I’m gonna come back hungry and ready'
Jason Line: 'It doesn’t matter what track we start with, the cars will all be ready to go when we get the call'
Fernando Cuadra Jr: 'We’re applying many of the things we learned from the first two races'
John Force: 'I’ll be ready. I know the car. I could drive it with my eyes closed'
Rahn Tobler maps out plans and goals for the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car team
Leah Pruett: 'This is not the time to test or play; it’s time to run with what we know'
Ron Capps: 'It’s going to feel crazy the first time any of us steps on the gas for the first time'
Doug Kalitta: 'We’re all just really hungry and ready to make it happen'
Bo Butner: 'I feel like when we all come back racing we’ll be stronger than ever!'
Jeg Coughlin Jr: 'It’s time to go. Every round will be as important as the last'
Matt Hartford: 'We have a car that can run for the championship—bar none'
Alexis DeJoria: 'I just hope that everybody makes it back to the track safely'
Justin Ashley: 'Having a break like this really puts things in perspective'
Erica Enders: 'Our great start proves the organization’s hard work is paying off'
Brittany Force: 'We’re ready for all this to be over so we get back to what we love'
BRITTANY FORCE | Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster
Current points position: 2nd | Best season e.t. to date: 3.643.
Early-season report card: The former season champ began her second year with crew chief David Grubnic, two new sponsors, and hit the ground running, qualifying No. 1 in Pomona in the black and green Monster Energy livery and then sitting on the pole again in Phoenix with the yellow-based Flav-R-Pac colors. The car lived in the 3.60s even when it lost. After taking the Pomona pole with a 3.657, she ran two 3.68s, the second one in losing to Doug Kalitta in the semi’s. A 3.67 got her No. 1 in Phoenix and was followed by a season-best 3.643 -– the sixth quickest run in Top Fuel history- – in round one and then another 3.68 loss to Kalitta in round two.
Looking back: “We had an incredible season last year and were in the hunt for a championship, so when that carried over, I think we were all feeling good. That seems like forever ago, but, overall, being No. 2 in points is a great place to be. We want to be first and feel like we’ll get there when we get things going again, but definitely not a bad start.”
Looking ahead: “Coming into this season there’s more confidence for the team because it’s pretty much the same package, same everything, carrying over from where we ended last season. There are not any big adjustments with crew guys or crew chiefs or anything like what we had for 2019 so that always gives you more confidence. Grubnic is always pushing; he always wants more, and he wants to set records and we always run pretty consistent, and I think that’s a positive, especially going into race day.”
Shop talk: “I pop into the office a couple of times a week and try to stay busy there. We have the car I won the championship with, and I’ve climbed in it a handful of times -– it makes me feel normal again. I just climb in there and throw my belts over my shoulders and hook it up to a Christmas Tree. For me, that’s as close to the real deal as it’s going to get for right now.”
The final word: “I’m trying to keep my sanity. I’m not used to this. My entire life I’ve been living out of a suitcase, in and out of airports and hotels, so to be home for this long is just crazy for me. I turned my spare bedroom into a workout room. I found some hiking trails by my house I didn’t know were there and getting outdoors and taking a breath of fresh air every once in a while makes me feel normal again. Thank heavens for my family. We’re all healthy and staying safe and we’re taking all precautions, wearing gloves and masks, but we’re just ready for all this to be over so we get back to what we love and to give our sponsors what they really want: a trip to the winner’s circle.”