Courtney Force
Drag racing //
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Courtney Force dominated NHRA Funny Car racing with 12 wins, becoming the most successful female in the category while inspiring a new generation of women racers.
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As a female in a male-dominated sport, you want to keep proving yourself. But at the end of the day, I just want people to see me as a great driver, not just a great female driver.
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FULL BIO: Courtney Force
Courtney Force established herself as one of the most successful female drivers in NHRA history, becoming the winningest female Funny Car driver with 12 career victories while competing from 2012-2019.
EARLY YEARS
Born June 20, 1988, in Yorba Linda, California, Courtney grew up immersed in motorsports as the daughter of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and Laurie Force. By age 3, she was already in the pits at NHRA events, handing tools to crew members and watching her father race. At 11, she announced her racing ambitions despite her father’s initial resistance, and by 15, she was racing a junior dragster, winning her debut event in 2003 at California Speedway in Fontana.
EARLY SUCCESS
At 16, Courtney spray-painted “Future Driver” on her father’s spare helmet—a declaration that would become reality. She developed her racing skills while balancing academics, eventually earning a communications degree from Cal State Fullerton. In 2009, her talent was recognized when she was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category, setting the stage for her professional career.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2009: Named NHRA Rookie of the Year in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category[1].
- 2012: Secured first professional Funny Car victory at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Northwest Nationals in Seattle on August 12[1].
- 2013: Won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout in Charlotte, becoming the first female to win the event on September 14[1].
- 2014: First female Funny Car driver to lead the points standings[2].
- 2017: Set the national speed record for Funny Car at 338.94 mph during the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix on February 26[1].
- 2018: Won the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona on February 11, marking her 13th and final NHRA victory before announcing a hiatus from full-time racing[1].
REPUTATION
Known for her exceptional reaction times at the starting line, Courtney became one of the most marketable drivers in the sport. Her natural talent behind the wheel combined with her media presence helped grow the sport’s popularity through appearances and sponsorship activations with major brands like Advance Auto Parts and Traxxas. By the time she stepped away from racing, she had accumulated 12 career wins, 17 No. 1 qualifiers, and 29 final round appearances, cementing her legacy as one of NHRA’s most accomplished competitors regardless of gender.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
References:
NHRA.com – Courtney Force Bio
Autoweek – “Courtney Force’s Unstoppable Drive”
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