It seems only fitting that after last year’s Virginia Motorsports Park tragedy involving John Force, his team would deliver in their return to the track located outside of Richmond, Va. And it did so in a big way.
Brittany Force, Jack Beckman, and Brayden Davis each secured No. 1 qualifier positions Saturday during the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
The event marked the ninth race in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, with all qualifying rounds completed in one day amid high heat.
Brittany Force led Top Fuel qualifying with a 3.839-second pass at 327.98 mph in her Chevrolet dragster. It was her second No. 1 qualifier of the year and 54th of her career.
She made two consistent runs Saturday and will face points leader Tony Stewart in Sunday’s opening elimination round. Stewart struggled throughout all three qualifying sessions, with a best attempt of 8.979 seconds.
“It’s definitely tough coming back to this racetrack with the memories I have from this place,” Force said. “It’s like the only thing I really remember is Sunday last year when my dad wrecked and everything that came with that.”
Clay Millican posted a 3.864 at 324.90 to qualify second, while Steve Torrence’s 3.877 run in the Mission Challenge placed him third.
Beckman clocked the only three-second run of the day in Funny Car, recording a 3.988 at 320.51 mph in John Force’s Peak Chevrolet SS. The former champion claimed his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 31st of his career.
Beckman will face Jim Campbell in the opening round and is eyeing another win for JFR. He credited the Richmond track surface as among the best on the tour.
“Our car is superb on cool racetracks with throwdown runs,” Beckman said. “I actually think our car is even better on hot race tracks, and I think we’ve proven that a few times.”
Austin Prock, Beckman’s JFR teammate, qualified second with a 4.004 at 320.36, followed by J.R. Todd’s 4.018 at 320.05.
Davis continued his breakout season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, earning his second consecutive No. 1 qualifier with a 6.757-second run at 198.65 mph. It’s only his third career start. He also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge earlier in the day and will begin eliminations against Marc Ingwersen. Davis is seeking his first NHRA win.
“I’m enjoying the moment and the ride while I have it,” Davis said. “I really feel like we have a good shot at it tomorrow.”
Matt Smith qualified second with a 6.768 at 201.43, and John Hall followed with a 6.787 at 199.97.
Eliminations for the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EDT on Sunday.
