Brittany Force could hardly hold back the emotions as she exited her dragster Sunday afternoon.

In one day, the defending NHRA Top Fuel champion managed to erase what has been a season of heartbreak, frustration, and disappointment with four consecutive round wins at the NHRA Springnationals at Royal Purple Raceway, located outside of Houston, Texas.

Force debuted a new dragster replacing the one she crashed at the season-opener and likewise showcased renewed enthusiasm befitting of a world champion.

"This is a big win for our team," Force said, as she fought back the emotion. "Everything that we've been through since Pomona ... it was not easy to get back in the car. You dream of this, this is what pushes you. It pushes your team.

"It's because of this Monster team, they've always had my back. This is a big win for us. I am very proud."

Force, who up until this weekend had only one 2018 round win to her credit, stopped an upset-minded Terry McMillen in the final round.

“That emotion is built off of the championship," Force admitted. "It was built off of Pomona this season. Leaving Pomona last season we were on a huge high. We won the championship and that is something every driver dreams about. We were able to do that and then coming out to the opening race of the season at the same track in Pomona it was the ultimate low. It was really tough in Phoenix getting back in that car.

"My guys knew it and for me I didn’t care about winning the race. All I cared about was getting back in the car and making runs. Gainesville was game on and Pomona is behind us. This is a huge surprise because looking at last season we got our first win a lot later in the year. This win is big for us. It puts Pomona behind us and it pushes us towards another championship.”

“I feel great now. I am back in the gym but not 100% back.”
 
Ironically, Force and McMillen will forever be linked in their careers. It was in 2016, she beat McMillen in the finals of the NHRA Gatornationals to win her first-career Top Fuel race. Two races later, McMillan crashed his dragster in Houston.

Fast-forward to October 2017, McMillen stopped Force at the Vegas-2 event to score his first career NHRA Top Fuel race win. Two races later, Force crashed her dragster in Pomona.

Time heals all wounds.

Force jumped off to a great start, pacing Friday's qualifying sessions. She fell to No. 2 with a 3.701 behind Leah Pritchett, who took the top spot.

Today's victory was not exacty four rounds of smooth sailing. Force, in her first round match against Terry Haddock, experienced a considerable engine explosion in the victory.

“I feel like all the runs were a handful," Force said. "It has been quite a ride all weekend. Every single run it was moving around a lot. It is a good learning experience.”

Force then scored wins over Doug Kalitta and Tony Schumacher before settling into the final round match with McMillen. She launched first on McMillen and led him through the traps with a 3.762, 299.46 to a 3.818, 311.56.
 
For his part, McMillen qualified in the No. 12 spot with a 3.783 best elapsed time. He then methodically worked his way through his side of the ladder taking out Antron Brown, Billy Torrence and No. 1 qualifier Pritchett.

The victory vaulted Force into the seventh spot in the championship points, with McMillen climbed into ninth.

The victory also ensured each member of the four-driver John Force Racing team has now won at Royal Purple Raceway.

"“That is something special," Force said. "We will all share that. We have all won here. Now this track is really a special place for us.”