Entering her third season behind the wheel of the BrandSource A Fuel Dragster Brittany Force has been an eager student. Sure the occasional butterflies start stirring before a run but the 23 year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate puts those feelings on the back burner before she makes a 275 mph pass. As the 2010 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series seasons starts Force will continue her education both on and off the track as a racer and a student teacher.

“I am excited to be back from a quick Winter Break and to start off the season at my home track in Pomona. It’s been a few months since climbing into my BrandSource A Fuel dragster and thinking about making my first pass of the year down the track puts butterflies in my stomach in a good, exciting way. Due to the rigorous schedule I am beginning for student teaching I won't get to make all the qualifying runs I would like but I hope the ones I do make will lock me into the show. I can't wait and hope for a great weekend for the Force team,” said Force.

Entering her third season behind the wheel of the BrandSource A Fuel Dragster Brittany Force has been an eager student. Sure the occasional butterflies start stirring before a run but the 23 year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate puts those feelings on the back burner before she makes a 275 mph pass. As the 2010 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series seasons starts Force will continue her education both on and off the track as a racer and a student teacher.

“I am excited to be back from a quick Winter Break and to start off the season at my home track in Pomona. It’s been a few months since climbing into my BrandSource A Fuel dragster and thinking about making my first pass of the year down the track puts butterflies in my stomach in a good, exciting way. Due to the rigorous schedule I am beginning for student teaching I won't get to make all the qualifying runs I would like but I hope the ones I do make will lock me into the show. I can't wait and hope for a great weekend for the Force team,” said Force.

When the up and coming driver is not on the track she will be spending most of her time in front of middle school students getting valuable teaching experience. She is participating in a post degree teaching credential program instructing classes 3-4 days a week. This rigorous schedule may limit her on track time but Force plans to make the most of her available schedule. The first stage of her 2010 season will begin on Thursday afternoon when qualifying begins at 1:30 p.m. at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the 50th annual Kragen-O’Reilly Winternationals.

She will continue to race in tandem, sharing information and experiences with her younger sister Courtney there will be a healthy competition between the two youngest Force daughters. Courtney’s path to her two final rounds in 2009 led through Brittany and that fact is not lost on her.

“I know sooner or later I will be running against my sister in the lane next to me. We are both very competitive but also enjoy having fun when running against each other. My no. 1 goal this season is to get that first win,” said Force.

Now that Gary Densham has retired from his day job as an auto shop teacher, the designation of “world’s fastest schoolteacher” could fall to Brittany Force, who will be splitting time between a middle school classroom and the cockpit of the BrandSource A/Fuel dragster.

“I think there are some similarities between racing and teaching. You have to be patient in both situations and you definitely have to be prepared. To get up in front of a room full of kids and teach them is a great feeling. I am still learning in both environments and I think I get a nice balance from being able to focus on two different worlds,” said Force.

The third youngest of drag racing icon John Force’s four daughters, Brittany is moving forward this year with plans for a teaching career while at the same time improving her driving skills in her Top Alcohol Dragster prepared by veteran crew chief Jerry Darien.

After completing a semester of study at Hunter College, the largest school in the City University of New York system last year Brittany graduated from Cal State-Fullerton with an English degree.

Identified by Force as his “problem child,” Brittany initially eschewed a job at John Force Racing, Inc., to work instead at a pizza café, a manifestation of her independence.

Nevertheless, her “need for speed” brought her back to JFR where she races alongside her father, older sister Ashley and younger sister Courtney. Like her father, the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion, she is intensely competitive once she climbs into the cockpit.

“She’s tough when she’s in the car,” Force said. “She’s always done things her own way, kinda like me, but if she really wants to race, I’ll do all I can to give her a chance (to succeed).”           

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying will continue on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. with eliminations beginning on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.