Qualifying No. 1 always is memorable, but Brittany Force had several reasons Friday her feat in the Top Alcohol Dragster class will stand out. The December graduate from Cal State Fullerton, armed with a Bachelors degree in English, started her day at Valadez Middle School in nearby Placentia, where she is about to embark on her student teaching assignment.
 
She became stuck in traffic as she headed out to Auto Club Raceway for her afternoon run and phoned her family. Dad John Force promised to come and rescue her on his scooter. Younger sister Courtney laid out her firesuit and gear so she could jump into it once she arrived at the track.

Qualifying No. 1 always is memorable, but Brittany Force had several reasons Friday her feat in the Top Alcohol Dragsgter class will stand out. The December graduate from Cal State Fullerton, armed with a Bachelors degree in English, started her day at Valadez Middle School in nearby Placentia, where she is about to embark on her student teaching assignment.
 
She became stuck in traffic as she headed out to Auto Club Raceway for her afternoon run and phoned her family. Dad John Force promised to come and rescue her on his scooter. Younger sister Courtney laid out her firesuit and gear so she could jump into it once she arrived at the track.
 
Brittany Force said her sister might regret helping her, for she scrambled into her car and went out and posted an elapsed time that knocked Courtney from the top qualifying position. (Dad also blasted to a 4.066-second pass at 310.41 mph Friday to bump their older sister Ashley Force Hood from third to fourth place with two Saturday qualifying passes remaining.)
 
Maybe the Brittany-Courtney see-saw is back in balance. This marked the second time Brittany supplanted Courtney -- she did it first last June at Englishtown, N.J. But both times Courtney has reached the final round, including her victory last July at Seattle, she has beaten Brittany along the way.
 
However, this time, the only chance they would have to meet is in the final round.
 
“Really?” asked Brittany. “Is that how it works?"
 
With her proud father watching on, Brittany Force said her goal this year is to win at last one race in her Brand Source A-Fuel Dragster.
 
“That's my goal -- to win at least one race this year, too!” her dad interjected from the back of the room.”