Brittany Force sealed her place in drag racing history with a record-breaking run at the Northwest Nationals in Seattle, fueled by the backing of Rick Hendrick and HendrickCars.com. In an electrifying semifinal showdown on July 21, 2025, Force stunned fans with a 341.85 mph Top Fuel pass, outpacing Tony Stewart and setting a new benchmark for the category, cementing the impact of the
“Rick Hendrick powers Brittany Force victory”
narrative this season.
Force’s pursuit of excellence began earlier in the year during the New England Nationals, where she faced Tony Stewart in the final round. At that event, Stewart was poised to add a second Top Fuel win to his accolades. Yet, Force delivered a 3.694-second charge down the strip, leaving no doubt about her skill and composure under intense pressure, and capturing a Wally trophy in the process. That moment set the tone for a season marked by relentless pursuit and escalating achievements.
Force’s Path to Dominance: Consistency, Preparation, and Teamwork
Arriving in Seattle, Brittany Force had already reinvented her approach through her partnership with Rick Hendrick and HendrickCars.com. The collaboration brought not just sponsorship but enhanced resources, technical expertise, and deeper structural support. As a result, Force’s 0.079-second average reaction time ranked her among the NHRA’s elite starters for the 2024–25 season, reflecting both her personal growth and the benefit of a reinforced operation. Heading into Seattle, she held fifth place in points, trailing Shawn Langdon by 227 but closing in fast off the momentum of her Epping victory earlier that season.
This constant refinement shaped a weekend where Force displayed the full force of her resolve. Each round built anticipation, with the crowd aware that something extraordinary was brewing with every run she made down the track.
Shattering Records: A 341.85 mph Sprint Into the NHRA Record Books
The defining moment occurred during the semifinals at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, where Brittany Force unleashed a run for the ages. She sped to 341.85 mph in just 3.659 seconds, making it the fastest 1,000-foot pass recorded in NHRA Top Fuel history. Fans in the packed grandstands witnessed a new milestone as John Force Racing’s social channels quickly spread the news, leaving the drag racing world in awe. Although she missed setting a new elapsed time (ET) record by mere fractions of a second, Force continued her remarkable streak of speed records—she broke her own previous mark of 341.59 mph, achieved only months earlier.
Obviously the highlight of our weekend was in the semifinals when we made a killer run and went even faster than our (previous) national record,
—Brittany Force, Top Fuel Driver
It’s really exciting for this whole team. We work really hard to turn on win lights and put the best numbers up on the board and we’re hoping that record will hold for a while.
—Brittany Force, Top Fuel Driver
Not only did Force eclipse her own record, but she also surpassed the speed of her teammate Austin Prock—who previously held the record at 341.68 mph. In a demonstration of sustained dominance, Force has now made five of the six fastest runs in Top Fuel history, all within a single NHRA season, an unprecedented accomplishment that sets her apart from her competitors. Yet, the summit of this achievement was not without drama.
The anticipation built as Force entered the final round against Shawn Langdon, but a technical issue intervened. Her car’s engine safety system detected excessive pan pressure and shut down the engine mid-race. Force was relegated to coasting across the finish line, conceding victory to Langdon but exiting the event on a wave of positivity.
Pan pressure automatically shut us off in the final,
—Brittany Force, Top Fuel Driver
I had no power and was just coasting to the finish line and saw Shawn go around me.
—Brittany Force, Top Fuel Driver
Overall, it was a pretty solid outing for this team. We were able to make our way to the final round but, unfortunately, came up short.
—Brittany Force, Top Fuel Driver
Even without a final round victory, Force left her competitors and the NHRA community with no uncertainty about her standing: she is driving at a level few can match, and her season is now the standard by which others must measure their efforts.
Historic Feats and Sporting Rivalries: Force Ahead of the Pack
Brittany Force’s sustained excellence and elite Top Fuel performance did not happen by coincidence. The synergy with Rick Hendrick, a fixture and builder of champions in motorsports, fundamentally transformed Force’s approach. The resources and structure supplied by HendrickCars.com, paired with the technical leadership of David Grubnic and Jonnie Lindberg, have been instrumental. Force’s team operates with military precision—turning raw speed into reliable execution, race after race.
At the same time, the storyline between Force and Tony Stewart added fresh intrigue to the Top Fuel scene. Stewart, celebrated for his legacy in motorsport, brought renewed attention to the discipline. However, in their head-to-head battles this year, Force has had the upper hand—her ability to summon record-breaking performances has consistently kept Stewart, and other rivals, a step behind. Their matchups are charged with drama and have played out as a central narrative for the NHRA season.
Recently, in the pivotal Seattle contest, Force demonstrated both technical mastery and strategic poise, affirming that her dominance is more than a series of lucky breaks. The rivalry with Stewart continues to provide compelling viewing for fans, yet Force’s relentless innovation and consistency have established her as the sport’s undisputed pace-setter.
The Impact: What Brittany Force’s Record Means for Drag Racing
Brittany Force’s achievement at the Northwest Nationals resonates far beyond one race or record. It stands as a reflection of both the evolving role of women in motorsports and the relentless pursuit of technical excellence within the NHRA. Her ability to set and reset records while withstanding season-long pressure showcases remarkable poise and resilience—a performance resonating throughout the drag racing world and challenging her peers to raise their standards.
With Rick Hendrick’s influence as a steady backdrop, John Force’s family legacy in her corner, and the tuning expertise of Grubnic and Lindberg pushing technical boundaries, Force is charting a new future for Top Fuel competition. While Tony Stewart and Shawn Langdon remain formidable, the way Brittany Force has redefined the upper limits of performance underlines that the bar for success has moved higher in the NHRA.
As the season continues, all eyes will remain fixed on Force and her team. The story of the
“Rick Hendrick powers Brittany Force victory”
is far from over—new records, fierce rivalries, and further milestones are likely on the horizon as some of racing’s most talented drivers strive to keep up with a champion defining her own era.
