Brittany Force had a lousy Friday.

It was far from a typical opening day for the best qualifier on the NHRA tour. Coming into the weekend having qualified in the top half of the field at every race this year, Force struggled during both of her runs - puting a hole out early in Q1 and then seeing her machine shut off due to a mechanical issue during Q2 - leaving the second place driver in Top Fuel points 14th on the ladder.

On Saturday, however, Force showed exactly why her John Force Racing-backed team is the best at setting the bar. Force rebounded with two tremendous runs on day two, ending with her fourth top qualifier award of the season at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

“Yesterday we had two runs where, unfortunately, we didn’t get down there. It is a little frustrating, but we came back and looked at everything and figured out what the problem was,” Force said. “Today we started over with fresh runs down the racetrack and both of them were successful.”

Looking up at Leah Pruett for much of the weekend, Force saved her best effort for last when she drove her Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevy dragster to the top spot following a rain shower and dramatic shift in the weather, recording a 3.758-second pass at 325.61 mph - the fourth quickest time on the mountain. The achievement gave Force her second No. 1 qualifier in a row and the 36th of her career.

“We are excited about our runs today. We struggled yesterday and we couldn't get down there. It was problem after problem and today we definitely turned it around,” Force said. “Rolling in this morning, we were sitting right on that bump and it was nerve racking. There are 17 cars here this weekend and we want to make sure we stay in the show and we want to be in the top four or five. We turned it around and made two solid passes.

“We saw the conditions after our run earlier and we knew we could push and see what we could get away with. Lucky for us, we went to the top.”

What made her achievement all that more impressive was the fact that the two runs were made in dramatically different conditions following a rain shower earlier in the day. Thankfully, that shift in the weather gave her team an opportunity to see the track in various degrees of change, helping set the stage for Sunday.

“We made a run in the heat and then finished the evening with a 75 that moved us up to the number one spot,” Force said. “We are feeling good and we are in a great position. I think tomorrow will be a whole new ballgame. It is going to be hot and we are going to have to adjust for that and look for four solid runs.”

Justin Ashley placed his machine just behind Force in second with a solid 3.765 at 327.51 mph also during the final session. Pruett, who held the top spot after two rounds on Friday, improved on time, but slipped to third with a 3.771 at 322.50 mph. Mike Salinas (3.783) and Greg Carrillo (3.794) rounded out the top five.

After qualifying, Force was quick to praise her team and crew chiefs David Grubnic and Mac Savage for their great work adjusting to the conditions as the team now shifts its focus to Sunday.

“We can finally catch our breath. Now it is game on for tomorrow,” Force said. “I believe in this team and they believe in me and, as a whole, we are very strong. It is tough here, there is no other track like it, but I know we are capable.”

Force will face Terry Totten in round one on Sunday as she looks for her first career win in Denver - or at any of the tracks on the famed Western Swing.

“It would be huge,” Force admitted. “I’ve never won here in Denver. It is one of my favorite circuits we do and our plan tomorrow is to end up in the winners circle.”