It has been a historic year for Courtney Force. Most notably she won the 100th NHRA event by a female earlier this year. Today, she became the first female in NHRA history to win back-to-back national Funny Car events. She won last week at Dallas. This is also her fourth Funny Car win this season, the most event wins in one season by a female Funny Car driver. And this is her seventh career win, once again the most by female in Funny Car.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Bike) were all winners in their respective classes at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals held at Gateway Motorsports Park. This was also the third of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
Funny Car
Courtney Force posted a pass at 4.094 at 313.44 mph sneaking past Matt Hagen who posted 4.121 at 309.77 mph in the Funny Car final. For Hagen, the former 2011 Funny Car world champion, now has two runner-up finishes at the St. Louis event. This is the second time Force has beat Hagen in a final and she holds 9-5 overall advantage against him.
“Pretty awesome for sure,” said Force describing what it means to win and break so many records.
“I’m proud of my guys for giving me a great race car,” said Force.
The win is her first at Gateway Motorsports Park. Force moved to within 30 points of the series leader, her dad, John Force.
“Everyone is so tough in this class that I’m definitely going to savor this moment with Dad and I at Number 1 and 2,” said Force.
Another record, the first time a father and daughter have been 1-2 in Mello Yello Series point standings.
Top Fuel
Today’s win for Antron Brown was his third straight win at Gateway Motorsport Park and his fourth overall in St. Louis. This win snaps a three-race first round loss streak for Brown. But most importantly Brown moves to fourth in the points standings, 80 back of series leader Tony Schumacher.
“St. Louis has always been a good turning point for us,” Brown said.
Asked about his emotions when his teammate and series point leader Tony Schumacher lost in the first round, Antron responded outwardly in a neutral stance.
“We never cheer for anyone to win or loose,” said Brown. “You can’t depend on other people. We have to focus on our own team. Everything else will take care of itself.”
But Schumacher’s loss did allow for movement in the Top Fuel class. Langdon moved into second place with his runner up finish to Brown. Steve Torrence is now in third followed by Brown in fourth.
Pro Stock
Dave Connolly won the Pro Stock race. He is a member of the Gray Motorsports team and the win is the fourth consecutive win for the team. Shane Gray won the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Johnathon Gray won the NHRA Carolina Nationals the week after and Dave Connolloy won the most recent event last week in Dallas.
“The four wins in a row, that’s what is most impressive to me,” said Connolly. “That tells you the depth at Gray Motorsports.”
Connolly has now won 26 times in Pro Stock. He won at Gateway previously in 2007 and was runner up in 2008. Connolly ran an ET of 6.562 at 211.53 mph over runner up Jason Line who had a run of 6.565 at 211.66 mph. For Line he was able to maintain his series lead with the runner-up finish. He is also a two time Pro Stock World Champion.
“If Jason had won, he would have been up by three rounds,” said Connolly. “Instead, we cut it back to one.”
Connolly is in second overall in the NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock countdown championship, 26 points behind.
Pro Bike
Jerry Savoie captured his very first career victory in NHRA Pro Bikes. He is called the alligator man because he moonlights as an alligator farmer during the day.
“We had been good all weekend,” said Savoie.
Most of the Pro Bike teams came to the start line to witness Savoie’s first win.
“I always said I won one these races I would retire,” said the 55 year old Savoie. “I lied. Right now I have the fastest Suzuki on the planet earth”
CLICK HERE FOR RACE COVERAGE OF ALL THE ROUNDS INCLUDING MORE PHOTOS AT GATEWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK!
Photos by Larry Vancil
Story by Kevin Proot
St. Louis Motor Racing News