Brittany Force ready to slow up, focus on family

Winningest female driver in NHRA top fuel calls her decision to break ‘bittersweet.’

- By ANTHONY SOLORZANO

Weather permitting, Brittany Force wants to enjoy every single moment of her last event of the year with her team.

At the NHRA Finals in Pomona starting on Thursday, the winningest female driver in the top fuel division of the National Hot Rod Assn. began her road to closing this phase of her career in the winner's circle.

In September, the 39-year-old driver announced she would take a break from the tracks at the end of the season in order to start a family with her husband, Bobby Lyons.

The announcement came a few days after Force went 343.51 mph at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the fastest run in NHRA history.

“It’s been a really difficult decision; the best way to describe it would be bittersweet,” Force said in an interview with The Times this week. “I wish I could do both, but there’s no space for being able to drive and try to start a family in the sport.”

In her previous event, the NHRA Nevada Nationals last week in Las Vegas, Force took home the victory after defeating Shawn Langdon in the final round. Her 19th career win gave her the most by a woman driver, a mark she held with Shirley Muldowney.

Combined with her father John Force’s 16 funny car championships, her win added another trophy to the family’s dominating run. As she looks ahead to Pomona, she’s hoping for the perfect ending to this chapter.