The day after her sister Brittany earned her A-Fuel license, Courtney Force was behind the wheel of the Jerry Darien owned and tuned A-Fuel dragster competing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional race at Firebird Raceway.

In the only Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying session of the day, the former high school cheerleader and auto shop student laid down a 5.711 sec., 252.14 mph pass which has her in the No. 9 qualifying position. Only the eight quickest Top Alcohol Dragsters will advance to eliminations and the bump spot (8th quickest time) is 5.634 seconds.

“I felt a lot more comfortable in the dragster today. I don’t know if I’ll ever be as comfortable as I was in Super Comp. I am not as nervous as I was before Pomona. I am still learning and I know there is so much more I have to experience.”

The 19-year-old Santiago Canyon College student is competing for the second time in the John Force Racing backed dragster. Courtney opened the season as the No. 14 qualifier at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Pomona, Calif., before dropping her first round match-up to Joey Severance.

A sizable cheering section was rooting the youngest Force on including her father, 14-time Funny Car champion John Force, 2007 rookie of the year and sister Ashley, sister Brittany and mother Laurie.

“It is a lot of fun to have my family here. Ashley is giving me tips and my dad is also telling me all the things I need to be concerned with. The divisional is much more laid back than the first national event.”

Both Courtney and Brittany Force spent the past two seasons building their racing resume in the ultra-competitive Super Comp class before stepping up to the Top Alcohol Dragster class this season.