INov19 Britney Force sets Top Fuel Speed Record

I woke up early and drove on to Las Vegas. I stopped at the Petro Gas Station just off Speedway Drive and had breakfast in their restaurant. I had chicken fried steak and eggs. I have eaten there several times before but it wasn't that good this time.

After breakfast I drove the short distance to the race track. As I was heading to the ticket booth a scalper approached me and sold me a single day (Friday) general seating ticket for $40, saving about $10. After I got the dogs all settled in so they would be comfortable for a couple of hours I walked around the pit area for a bit. At first I didn't think the John Force Team was there but I later found their trailers parked in a different area than previous races. I had not followed drag racing this year but It was apparent that Courtney Force was not racing. I did see her sister Britney Force's trailer and some of the maintenance team was working on her top fuel dragster. I also saw a new top fuel dragster sponsored by Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist. The car and Austin Prock had been added to the team.

After I got the dogs all settled in so they would be comfortable for a couple of hours I walked around the pit area for a bit. At first I didn't think the John Force Team was there but I later found their trailers parked in a different area than previous races. I had not followed drag racing this year but It was apparent that Courtney Force was not racing. I did see her sister Britney Force's trailer and some of the maintenance team was working on her top fuel dragster. I also saw a new top fuel dragster sponsored by Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist. The car and Austin Prock had been added to the team.

After

Next I walked over to the general seating area which is on the far (East) side of the track. I watched the alcohol dragsters and funny cars run their first qualifying round. The top fuel cars were scheduled to run at 1 so I decided to go back to the car and check on the dogs.

When I got back to the track for some reason there weren't any attendants at the gates of the assigned seating side of the track so I went and found a great seat close to starting line. I was able to watch all the top fuel cars run their first qualifying run from this great location. The Top Fuel Funny Cars put on a great show with most of the cars running less than four second ETs. There were some close races even though that isn't relevant in qualifying. The top fuel dragster didn't put on as good of a show but I enjoyed the sound, vibrations and smell none the less.

After the top fuel cars ran I decided to go back to the car and drive somewhere for an early dinner. I Wound up eating at KFC.

When I got back to the track the Top Fuel Funny Cars were already running their second round of qualifying. I think I missed a couple sets of cars run. There were some good runs but not as many as before. The top fuel dragster ran about the same as before except for an incredible run by Britney Force who set the all time speed record for Top Fuel Dragsters at 338.17 MPH. Her ET 3.56 was not a record but darn quick none the less.

My first ever drag race was an event in Oklahoma City that my Dad took me and my friend Jimmy to. I know that Don Garlitz and Don snake Prudhomme ran during that event. I think Prudhomme set the track record during the event but I don't know what his speed or ET was. After a little research it appears that top fuel cars ran mid seven second ETs at that time. I was addicted to top fuel drag racing after that race.

After the top fuel cars ran I went and checked on the dogs. After that I walked around the pit area for a while and then was able to get back into the reserved seating area and watched the second round of alcohol cars run. For the final event of the day there were three jet cars, none of which ran well.

It was dark before I got back to the car. I started driving on to the Grand Canyon but stopped at a WinCo on the east side of Vegas to get a sandwich. WinCo sells a deli combo package with a sandwich, chips, two cookies and a chocolate mint for $3.08. After eating in the car I decided to spend the night there in the WinCo parking lot. I moved to a good location and arranged things to make room for the mattress. After walking the dogs one last time I called it a day.