For the past several NHRA seasons, Top Fuel driver Brittany Force has been dominant in qualifying.

That trend continued at the SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park Friday night.

Force clocked a 3.695-second elapsed time, the quickest ET in the storied history of Houston Raceway Park, which is writing its final chapter this season as it is closing.

“That’s just huge for our team and everyone who is part of it tonight,” Force said. “The fans are out here; it is the final race here in Houston and to be able to put on a show for them like that is pretty exciting for all of us. We hope it holds becuse that was our target - that was what we were aiming for, and we were right on. We’re looking forward to (Saturday) and getting two more good runs. We still could still possibly get bumped out, but we feel safe that we are in the show.”

Force clocked a speed of 333.58 mph during her electric run, and she talked about what she expects in Houston, which is at sea level.

“Just looking at our season so far, we have put up some pretty big mph numbers,” Force said. “When you have David Grubnic tuning for you, you never know what he’s going to put up there. The 333 mph was pretty cool. You could feel it down there when you throw those chutes and shut your car off. 

Again, it is cool to put on a show like that for the fans being that this is the final race here in Houston.”

If Force keeps the No. 1 spot it would be the 34th of her career and second of the season. Force was the No. 1 qualifier at the season-opening Winternationals. She has one win this year in Las Vegas on April 3.

“It is always our plan,” Force said. “When we come out it is always our best qualifying shot in the night qualifying session that you have the conditions that you run well. You question really pushing the car and getting that killer number but possibly not making a run at all and you’re not in the show and you have to battle it out with only two runs the next day. That’s always on the line and you always debate that. We put a target down and we nailed it and we feel good that we are locked in the show. 

Now (Saturday) we could really push it if we want and see what we can get out of it in the heat of the day.”

Force arrived in Houston second in the points, and she has a 6-3 elimination round record.

“Coming off that win in Vegas, that just united the whole team and pumped us up,” Force said. “That got us motivated. We had two weeks off and I didn’t want the two weeks off I wanted to be back in the seat. When you’re sitting in that winner’s circle with your team celebrating all your hard work all season long. That was our first win of the season, you don’t want to be away from it for too long. You want to get back in and do it all over again.

“I’m finally happy that we are here in Houston. It is just an extra energy in the pits. We are pumped and we are excited. We have a win under our belt for the season, but we want more.”

Force took a trip down memory lane talking about how she started coming to the track as a little girl with her father, legendary John Force, and was the provisional No. 1 qualifier Friday night in Top Fuel.

“Absolutely not,” said Brittany, when asked if she thought she would be standing where she was April 22. “This is a track my sisters and I came to. We would sit in the stands and cheer my dad on. Then we go No. 1. If you would have asked me 20 years ago if I would be driving one of these things, I would have told you H*ll no. There’s no way I ain’t never getting in one of those things. It is funny how things turn around. I went down a different path and fell in love with the sport from the driver’s seat, not the stands. I absolutely love driving this car. I love being out here with my team. I especially like going No. 1.”