John Force Racing made a statement this weekend at the 32nd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil when it claimed both nitro category victories with Brittany Force winning in Top Fuel and Robert Hight winning in Funny Car on Sunday at Houston Raceway powered by Pennzoil.

That statement? The crews at JFR are ready to play ball this year during the 2019 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster

B. Force entered race day qualified No. 1 with hopes to repeat her win at Houston from a year ago. On her way to victory, she took out Top Fuel racers Cameron Ferre, Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican and finally three-time world champion Antron Brown in the final with her lap of 3.749-seconds at 302.14 mph in her Advance Auto Parts dragster.

“All of John Force Racing was on a mission this morning,” B. Force said. “My dad and I were No. 1, the first time father and daughter have ever qualified No. 1 at an event. That’s something very special my dad and I will share. We were looking for a win but to be able to do it with Robert Hight by my side in that Auto Club car, that’s pretty awesome.”

In the Funny Car ranks, Hight picked up his third victory of the 2019 season in his AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and his third career win at Houston. He defeated Jonnie Lindberg, 2018 Funny Car champ J.R. Todd, JFR owner and No. 1 qualifier John Force and finally Matt Hagan in the final with a lap of 3.941 at 310.84.

“I’m proud of [my team], never disbelieved in them,” Hight said. “That’s why we have three wins already this season because they’re so good. Down at the other end, they said, ‘How do you keep your team in check?’ Really, it’s the other way around. They keep me in check. I’ve never seen a more focused group of individuals. They keep their heads down, work hard, don’t do a lot of talking and we got the job done.

“Brittany and I, this is the third time we’ve got to double-up. We seem to do really well together in these circumstances. It was really cool to be down there when she made the [turn off] and throw a bunch of Mello Yello on her car.”

Houston marks the third JFR team double-up win in the nitro categories, all earned by B. Force and Hight. The first win came in 2016 in Gainesville and the second in 2017 in Dallas, the year the pair both went on to win championships in their respective categories.

Steve Jackson got some redemption over Todd Tutterow on Sunday at the 32nd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil when he drove to a victory at Houston Raceway powered by Pennzoil during the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service final round.

Jackson and Tutterow met in the final at the Pro Mod season opener in Gainesville, resulting in Tutterow with a holeshot win over Jackson. This week in Houston, it was Jackson who claimed the win with his 5.675-second pass at 255.00 mph.

“I came into this race with a chip on my shoulder after that runner up in Gainesville,” Jackson said. “Todd and I talked about meeting in the finals again this race and I’m really glad it worked out in my favor this time. Can’t wait for Charlotte!”

Houston marks the second of 12 races on the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season. The class will return to action in at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C. April 26-28.

Sunday’s final results from the 32nd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park powered by Pennzoil. The race is the fifth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: 

Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.749 seconds, 302.14 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.995 seconds, 233.48 mph.

Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.941, 310.84 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.966, 311.70.

Pro Modified — Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.675, 255.00 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 13.471, 76.06.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Megan Meyer, 5.231, 279.15 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., 5.266, 275.90.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Brian Hough, Chevy Camaro, 5.705, 263.31 def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 10.066, 89.54.

Super Stock — Pete Peery, Olds Calais, 9.198, 138.97 def. Darrin Christen, Chevy II, 9.922, 129.85.

Stock Eliminator — Jacob Pitt, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.468, 122.93 def. Brett Candies, Ford Mustang, 9.367, 142.16.

Super Comp — Veron Rowland, Dragster, 8.890, 166.52 def. Chris Vang, Dragster, 8.873, 171.12.

Super Gas — Robert Rowan, Chevy Corvette, 9.908, 161.92 def. Koy Collier, Chevy Camaro, 9.882, 151.51.

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Ross Laris, Dragster, 6.106, 227.38 def. William Kruse, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Top Fuel Harley — Jay Turner, JTR, 6.792, 163.63 def. Mike Scott, JTR, 7.027, 164.55.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock — John DeFlorian Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.434, 90.12 def. JR Carr, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.