When you’re hot, you’re hot and in Friday night qualifying at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Ashley Force was blazing. Force’s 4.759 second run at 329.10 mph established not only a personal best for speed but her elapsed time was tops among the Funny Cars.

Force’s remarkable achievement has the Yorba Linda, Calif. racer poised to grab another piece of history in her young career. No other female has qualified No. 1 in a Funny Car field. When you’re hot, you’re hot and in Friday night qualifying at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Ashley Force was blazing. Force’s 4.759 second run at 329.10 mph established not only a personal best for speed but her elapsed time was tops among the Funny Cars.

Force’s remarkable achievement has the Yorba Linda, Calif. racer poised to grab another piece of history in her young career. No other female has qualified No. 1 in a Funny Car field.

Adding this honor to her resume is not the top priority for the first female to win a Funny Car national event or the first female to hold down the No. 1 position in the Funny Car point standings. Another win and consistency is what Force has her eye on.

"I think it’s a matter of time before one of us (Force or Melanie Troxel) is going to get that No. 1 spot, hopefully, because we both have really good teams.  It would be nice to do because that would mean that we have a great car for (race day),” said the sophomore driver. “No. 1 qualifier or breaking records for females or whatever, when it comes down to it, we’re here to win a race.  If you go into race day with good qualifying laps then you just know you’ve got a better chance of winning.”