BAYTOWN – In NHRA drag racing the most coveted prize for a racer to win is a Wally trophy.
The Wally, which was named in honor of the late NHRA founder Wally Parks, stands at more than one-foot tall with a classy brass finish. He stands on a solid wooden platform and is the most sought after man in the world of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing.
Over the years many racers have spent countless hours and thousands of dollars chasing the dream of winning a Wally. Some of them prevail while most drivers are denied.
Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force knows what it is like to win a Wally. He has 143 and counting, which is a record in the NHRA history books.
His daughters Ashley, Courtney and Brittany also know how important and rare it is to win a Wally trophy. They all now have their own collection.
Brittany, who drives the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster, scored a breakthrough victory in her 75th career race by winning the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.
“When I saw that win light come on I could not believe that,” Brittany said. “It just didn’t seem possible because there was so many times that I came close and made it to the finals but didn’t win. So when I saw that first win light come on it was just pure excitement.
“When I climbed out on the other end it really did not settle in until they handed me the Wally. I have held so many Wally trophies: my sisters’ Ashley and Courtney, and Robert, and my dad. But for one to actually be handed to me was a wow kind of moment. I can’t believe this is happening. It was so surreal. I have been chasing it for so long and it finally was happening to me. It felt really good and it was a proud moment.”
Two races later at last weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., Brittany became the first female Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win the four-wide event.
“Winning the Four-Wide Nationals felt good because it’s not easy and it’s a struggle for all drivers,” Brittany said. “I struggled with it in qualifying big time. I got lost and barely even made it down the race track. To come back from that and bring home the win, it felt really good. I am always very confident in my team that they can put together an awesome race car. It was a shame that I screwed up and cost us the run but it felt good to bring that win home for everybody.”
Brittany’s victories came with an emotional outpouring from her sister, Courtney and father, John, especially at her first win at the Gatornationals.
“It was amazing because I had seen her go to so many final rounds,” Courtney said. “At that race we said that this could really be it and I had a really good feeling that day that she was going to win it. Standing on the starting line you get the first big burst of excitement and then dad and I start looking at each other and we started crying.”
Courtney added, “I remember giving him a hug and we hopped on his bike and headed down the top end to see her. I think that I am standing in the background of all of her pictures just sobbing like a proud sister. Dad walked over to me and he was crying too and I told him that we were pathetic. We are a very close family. We were just waiting for her to get that win. It was a proud moment because now all of his daughters achieved a national event win and now have a Wally trophy.”
Brittany’s father said he will also cherish that special moment.
“It was exciting to see her win,” John said. “I was the typical father because it was like her getting her first touchdown. I had all girls and they sometimes played football too.
“It was awesome and then two weeks later she comes back to win the Four-Wide Nationals. That is a hard race to run and win. For anyone to win is something because crew chiefs are really tested with lane choice and tune up. She did a real good job of just taking on the pressure and pressure is what hurts a lot of them.”
Brittany scoring a Wally this season was a major milestone for the already successful drag racing dynasty of John Force Racing.
The Force sisters’ brother-in-law Robert Hight, who drives the AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, scored his 37th career win at the Gatornationals this year. His crew chief Mike Neff, had 10 Funny Car wins during his career. Add Ashley’s four career wins and Courtney’s seven victories, plus Brittany’s two new trophies and that totals 203 Wallys that are currently in the John Force Racing stable.
“To do it for the sponsors and fans and to be part of a family that each of us can say that we have a national event win is really something special that we have accomplished,” Courtney said. “We see the hundreds that dad has around the shop and we grew up seeing that but it takes a totally different spin when you can hold it and know that it is your own. It’s cool to see that all of my sisters and I have had that chance and to be able to win one. It’s pretty rare and pretty cool.”
Her father agrees.
“It’s unique in a sport like this and unheard of in NASCAR and IndyCar,” John said. “My daughters helped me build this race team. We were putting together sponsors in a Fuel and Super Comp and having them move up the ladder. They had a lot of pre-training for the first 20 years of their life. I am really proud of all of them with trophies now. It was the highest of highs and to see her win two of them was a blessing from above.”
Heading into Sunday’s final rounds at the O’Reilly NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, John Force Racing has a strong chance at having either putting John, Courtney, Brittany or Robert Hight in Victory Lane. John has won six times at Royal Purple Raceway, Robert has two victories here (2005 and 2014) and Courtney and Brittany have been within striking distance the past few years.
“I don’t know if you ever get used to these wins,” Brittany said. “I have only had two of them but I am on top of the world from just the first one and then there was the second one. I don’t know if you ever get used to the excitement from taking home a win but I can say that it is truly special.”
