BY RYAN MURRAY | PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK BELDEN

HE 2022 SEASON will be known as the year Brittany Force took a blowtorch to the record books .

The Top Fuel star – led by dynamic crew chief David Grubnic – set 16 track records a year ago , including the fastest run in class history with an improbable blast of 338.94 mph in Pomona . She made the fastest run in track history at 12 different facilities , and the entire top 10 list of fastest speeds belongs to Force , who also won a career-best five races en route to a second Top Fuel world championship .

Oh yeah , she ’ s also confident the team is capable of accomplishing even more .

“ This team is pumped coming into the 2023 season after finishing so strong and winning a championship together . We are looking forward to seeing what we can do this season ,” Force says . “ Last season we had five wins and we want to go beyond that . We want more wins . We ’ d like to set more track records , but the ultimate game plan is to win another championship for this team .”

It may seem incomprehensible that Force and company could somehow top some of the other-worldly performance numbers they reached in 2022 , but Force doesn ’ t dare put anything by Grubnic .

The pair have developed a unique and special relationship over the years and it ’ s paid off with the ultimate glory in the sport . Force claimed her second championship , while Grubnic , often the name forgotten about when it comes to the top tuners , laid waste to those notions with the world title .

But the duo has continued to forge forward together . While Force has clearly come into her own as a driver and a personality – and drag racing career path – different from her sisters , Ashley and Courtney , and her legendary father , John , she continues to seek more .

She relished the championship and the spectacular accomplishments , but was just as excited to see a first world title come Grubnic ’ s way .

“ It was such a strong season from start to finish . The records we set , track records , wins , it was

just incredible ,” says Force , who now owns 25 track records and both ends of the national record . “ This was the first championship for them , and it was so cool to share it with them . It was such a surreal moment and just an outstanding season for our team .”

But that was then and this is now and there ’ s no let-up from Force , who remains driven to continue to improve and accomplish much more .

It ’ s a great thing for the sport , as Force ’ s star continues to grow , but she ’ s also motivated by a team that ’ s just as eager to defend their crown .

They tried several new things through several different test sessions at Gainesville , with Grubnic and company learning new ways to stay as aggressive as ever .

For Force , she can continue to take pride in the steps she ’ s made as a driver . In clutch situations in the Countdown to the Championship , Force rose to the occasion , winning in Las Vegas and jumping back in the lead in a championship chase that seemed to be slipping away .

Force won on a holeshot in the final round against Mike Salinas and then remained cool under pressure while the litany of title contenders all fell in the first round in Pomona , yet another sign of her development as a clutch performer .

“ When we [ got to Pomona ] and warmed up the car , it was just this calm feeling ,” Force remembers . “[ But ] first round is always the toughest . Once you get in the mix and get going , you ’ re ready and motivated , but something about first round is so tough . But we turned a win light on , and then we watched it all go down . I can ’ t believe how it all unfolded , but it worked in our favor .”

But , again , this is now , and Force is again thinking big . Last year she found a way to convert No . 1 qualifiers into wins , which could make her even more dangerous going into 2023 . After seeing how early-season momentum benefitted her a year ago , that remains the goal in what she hopes is another attack on the record books .

“ There ’ s going to be pressure going into day one ,” Force says . “ We go right into the season , and it ’ s going to be exciting . What every team wants to do is start your season with a win . You ’ ve been out of the seat way too long , so we ’ re all anxious to get out here . We ’ re jumping right into it . You want to start with a win , and that really sets the groove for the season . A win would be great , and that ’ s our goal , but it ’ s going to be tough .” DI

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