Funny Car newcomer Courtney Force has an unexpected cheerleader in Top Fuel driver Troy Buff.
Like Force, he drove for sportsman mentor Jerry Darien years ago. He said NHRA star John Force’s decision to start his youngest daughter’s drag-racing career with Jerry Darien in the Super Comp and Top Alcohol Dragster classes was a wise decision.
Then when Courtney Force began to learn all about life in a Funny Car from the John Force gang, Buff said, “They’re going to be as perfect as you can be. She’s been unbelievable. She did it the right way. It’s awesome to see it. I’m proud of her.”
Matt Hagan, who lost to her in August at Seattle as she earned her first Funny Car victory, said, “She’s a great driver . . . and she’s driving the wheels off that thing.”
A panel of motorsports journalists noticed the same. And for her single-victory, four-final, no-DNQ rookie performance, the 24-year-old Force received the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award Monday night.
The honor, which recognizes her as the 2012 NHRA Rookie of the Year and comes with a $20,000 bonus, went to John Force Racing for the fourth time in eight years. She followed Robert Hight (2005), Ashley Force Hood (2007), and Mike Neff (2008).
For winning the O’Reilly Northwest Nationals from the No. 14 qualifying position, her Ron Douglas- and Dan Hood-led Traxxas Ford Mustang crew received the 2012 Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award in the Funny Car category.
Both presentations came at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles the day after Courtney Force was runner-at the Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif.
“It’s huge for our team, and it really says a lot for my crew members. We’ve had a great, consistent race car all season, and we were really working hard for this award, but there are some great competitors out here I’ve had to compete against head-to-head — and they’re tough,” she said.
“I want to thank my crew guys and Ron and Danny first of all, then I want to give a huge thanks to all our awesome fans. I had such an amazing rookie season, and every time I went out to the ropes it was so special to spend time with the fans,” Force said. “I want to thank Traxxas, Castrol, Auto Club, Ford, BrandSource and Mac Tools, and I would not have had the success I had this season without them.”
She and fellow Road to the Future Award contender Scotty Pollacheck, from the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, were the only two rookies to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship.
Said John Force, “What amazes me the most about her is she really does talk — she is kind of wired up like me — but she has that coolness like her mom,” John Force said.
“That apple did not fall far from the tree,” Jamie Allison, director of Ford Racing, said.
Courtney Force’s perpetual smile, her Funny-Car-fast conversation, and her love for drag racing draw natural comparison with her famous father, the 15-time champion.
But it’s clear to see the one big difference. “She’s prettier than me,” her dad would wisecrack. Aside from being one of the sport’s fresh-faced representatives, one contrast is clear. She captured her first pro victory in just her third final race and just her 15th overall. She was runner-up this summer also at Chicago and Denver.
Traxxas President Mike Jenkins said, “We are honored to have such a fierce competitor and class act as Courtney Force representing our brand. Her winning spirit, integrity of character, and the rock-solid support and dedication from her team have allowed her to excel. Even when Courtney was challenged on the big end of the track several times this year, we were all impressed with how her talent and instinctive car control skills kept her and her competitors safe. We know there are more great things yet to come from Courtney.”