Ever since Advance Auto Parts replaced Traxxas as primary sponsor for Courtney Force, many nitro-class racers had no idea what would become of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout bonus races that have taken place in September at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
 
John Force put their uncertainty to rest.
 
“They’re still going to do the Shootout. Great people,” Force said during preseason testing near Phoenix.
 
“They’re not with us [as sponsors], but they’re going to do the Shootout. They’re going to be at the racetrack, [doing] everything they always did,” he said.
 
“They spent a lot of money on this car [the Courtney Force Funny Car]. Things change. Five years – that’s a lot of time,” the team owner and 16-time champion said. “So I was lucky I got a deal for my daughter Courtney.”
 
The Traxxas Nitro Shootout has separate Top Fuel and Funny Car editions, and both are $100,000-to-win events that take place during qualifying. Each is referred to as a race within a race.