With many of the NHRA’s top nitro teams set to begin testing at the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida in less than two weeks, its high time for Silly Season to shift into high gear and the off season rumors come to fruition or die a quick and necessary death.
John Force Racing has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday, January 10, that’s expected to be the impending announcement of Courtney Force’s professional debut behind the wheel of a fuel flopper this season, along with the introduction of her new sponsor.
Rumors have been persistent this offseason that a team or teams were in serious negotiations with radio-controlled car maker Traxxas, and some believe that team to be John Force Racing. Given Force’s penchant for acquiring non-automotive sponsors, such a scenario is probable, but we’ll have to wait until the official announcement to find out.
Courtney, 23, tested extensively last season behind the wheel of one of JFR’s Ford Mustangs, completing a number of very competitive laps on her mission to gain her Funny Car license. The youngest of Force’s four daughters, she first earned her competition license in 2005 and has competed in Super Comp and Top Alcohol Dragster.
This off season, John Force Racing added crew chiefs Danny DeGennaro and Dickie Venables, who helped Tony Pedregon win a pair of championships, to its crew chief “brain trust,” thus setting itself up for the possible expansion of another full-time race team in 2012 or beyond.