COURTNEY TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS GAME

Courtney Force, driver of the Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will throw out the first pitch at the Indianapolis Indians game against the Columbus Clippers at Victory Field on Monday, August 27.

“It’s really an honor to be able to throw out the first pitch at the Indianapolis Indians game. Indy is like a second home to me. It’s where our race shop is and my race car is here, so I’m always excited to come out here,” said Force.

Force joined the family business at the start of 2012 as the lone female in John Force Racing’s quartet of professional race car drivers including her father, 15-time World Funny Car Champion John Force, brother-in-law Robert Hight and driver/crew chief Mike Neff.

The 24-year-old ex-cheerleader from Yorba Linda, Calif. drives one of the world’s most powerful race cars, a Mustang capable of zero-to-315 mph in little over four seconds.

Though it is her rookie year in Funny Car, Force has been to three finals and won her first professional NHRA event at Seattle, her 15th pro start, taking out past world champions, including her father, along the way.  The big win and consistent finishes all season have her No. 6 in the Full Throttle point standings and frontrunner for Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award given to NHRA’s top “Rookie of the Year.”

Fans will have an opportunity to meet Courtney and get pictures and autographs during the third inning of the game, so make sure to stop by the Indianapolis Indians’ souvenir stand for a hat or T-shirt to have signed.

“I’ve always had a love for sports and my brother-in-law, Robert Hight, is a big baseball fan so I’ve been around it for a while. I even attempted to play softball as a kid, but I wasn’t very good. I’m hoping the first pitch goes well; I’m going to be practicing all week!

“I’m just really excited for it. Baseball games are always a fun thing to do when we have a day off, so I’m honored to be a part of it right before our big race week in Indy,” added Force.

Also on Monday, fans can enjoy the “Monday Dollar Menu” since hot dogs, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, popcorn and potato chips are only $1 each.

Force, a Cal State–Fullerton graduate, is currently leading the pack in the fan vote for the “Traxxas Nitro Shootout,” a race within the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals held at Lucas Oil Raceway Park August 29-September 3.

The Traxxas Nitro Shootout is composed to the first seven drivers to win a race in 2012. Force narrowly missed a spot when she won the eighth event. The final spot is a combination of a fan vote and a lottery style drawing. John Force Racing and the Indianapolis Indians need your help to accomplish this task.  Click here to vote Force into the 8th and final entry.

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