Brittany Force, a two-time and reigning NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world champion, has been nominated for the 2023 ESPYS Best Driver Award. This is the second time Force has received the nomination following her 2017 championship season.
Force’s impressive performance in the 2022 season earned her this year’s nomination. Driver of the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, she finished the 2022 season with five victories and 10 No. 1 qualifying positions, leading the points standings for a total of 12 races. Her team even set a national record speed of 338.94 mph in the season finale.
Reacting to her nomination, Force expressed excitement and pride for her team and NHRA in an official statement. “Out of all the different series and motorsports, to be one of only four drivers nominated is huge. That in itself really elevates the sport of NHRA drag racing,” she said.
Joining Force on the ESPYS Best Driver ballot are NASCAR’s Kyle Larson, IndyCar’s Josef Newgarden, and Formula1’s Max Verstappen.
The ESPY Awards were created by ESPN in 1993, recognizing excellence in sports performance yearly. Fans can vote for Brittany and their favorite athletes via an online poll at ESPN.com/ESPYS until 8 p.m. (ET) on July 9. The ESPY Awards will air on July 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
If Force can win, she will become the first drag racer to score the title.
Brittany Force Career Highlights
· 2017, 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel World Champion
· Holds NHRA Elapsed Time National Record: 3.623 secs., Sept. 2019, Reading, Pa.
· Holds NHRA National Speed Record: 338.94 mph, Nov. 2022, Pomona, Calif.
· 16 Career Victories
· 45 Career No. 1 Qualifiers
· Made the top 10 fastest runs in NHRA history
· 13 track speed records
· 9 track elapsed time records
Past 10 ESPYS Best Drive Award winners
2022 – Kyle Larson, NASCAR
2021 – Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
2020 – Not Awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Kyle Busch, NASCAR
2018 – Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR
2017- Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
2016 – Kyle Busch, NASCAR
2015 – Kevin Harvick, NASCAR
2014 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, IndyCar
2013 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, IndyCar
