Courtney Force: Funny Car Drag Racer, Three-Time National NHRA Event Winner Reveals Her Exercise, Diet and Beauty Secrets

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

8 years ago

Courtney Force is a Funny Car drag racer for John Force Racing. She is the youngest daughter of 16-time NHRA Funny Car national champion John Force and his wife Laurie. She is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton having majored in Communications.

On July 19, 2009 Courtney won her first National event in the Top Alcohol Dragster category at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Washington. She ended up amassing enough points in that season to win the Top Alcohol Championship. Courtney became the fourth driver for John Force Racing, driving the Traxxas Ford Mustang.

Courtney Force, 25, has emerged as one of the most exciting young stars in the Mello Yello Series as the driver of the Traxxas Ford Mustang. Blessed with her father’s gift for gab, the former high school cheerleader has become one of the most popular interviewees in the series. Always considered the daughter most likely to join her father in the family business, Courtney hasn’t disappointed.

The third-year professional driver approached the 2014 season a true championship contender after two strong top ten finishes in 2012 and 2013. Since her Funny Car debut, Courtney has qualified for every national event, started from the front of the Funny Car field three times, taken her Traxxas Ford Mustang to five final rounds and claimed three Funny Car victories (O’Reilly Northwest Nationals at Seattle, Wash., the Auto-Plus New England Nationals at Epping, N.H., and the 2013 Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.).

“It’s strange to think I’m already in my third professional year in the Funny Car category. I’m constantly learning new things and I’m eager to see what we can accomplish in 2014.

Each year I set standards for myself a little higher and this year our team has our eyes set on that Championship.”

In 2012, Courtney received the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year after finishing fifth in the driver standings, equaling the best ever showing for a Funny Car rookie. She is also in her third year representing Ford Driving Skills for Life as the program’s spokesperson.

Having the ability to drive a 10,000 hp Mustang capable of zero-to-320 mile per hour acceleration in little more than four seconds won the attention of ESPN The Magazine, who placed Courtney on the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue along with a piece on fitness and health in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In addition, Courtney has appeared on the cover of Traxxas Magazine, Speed Sport News, National Dragster, Drag Racing Action and Autoweek over her three year career.

The 25-year-old earned a degree in Communication from Cal State-Fullerton and is now making the most of her opportunity to compete at drag racing’s highest level. Her preparation for a pro career included a six-year apprenticeship in Super Comp and Top Alcohol dragsters. She attended Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, where she was tutored by one of her current rivals, 2012 Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman, followed by private tutoring in sister Ashley Force Hood’s informal “Funny Car 101″ class and a full season of testing in a Funny Car.

After turning pro, the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton won a race in her rookie season and two more in her second year including the prestigious NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, Calif. Racing for crew chiefs Ron Douglas and Dan Hood, she has covered the 1,000 foot course in an official 4.016 seconds at 319.98 miles per hour.

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Courtney sped into the spotlight after being named “Top Agent” in the Fiesta Movement, a 2010 Ford marketing program in which 100 “agents” drove Ford Fiestas and then shared their experiences on various national social media platforms. Courtney Force was featured with her family on A&E’s reality show Driving Force.

“I grew up watching my dad race and I knew that was what I wanted to do. I went to Cal State-Fullerton and I got a degree similar to Ashley’s. She has a degree in Radio and Television; mine is in Communications. When Ashley got her start in Funny Car I couldn’t wait to join my family in the funny car ranks. I knew from the time I was a little kid I wanted to be a race car driver.”

Courtney Force is a Funny Car drag racer for John Force Racing. She is winner of Top Alcohol Dragster category at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals. In year 2012 she won Future Award as Rookie of the Year. She became first female Funny Car driver to win O’Reily Auto Parts Winternationals 2013. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President – Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your love with racing cars began at a young age, by 22 years of age you started professional car racing in funny car category and later your professional career propelled to the height where you have been at the top of the world of professional car racing by women by winning O’Reily Auto Parts Winternationals in 2013. Tell us something about this journey of success?

Ms. Courtney Force: It has been such an amazing journey from the start; as a kid growing up out at the NHRA races watching my dad race and dreaming of driving a Funny Car.

At 16 years old, I started my journey by racing in Super Comp Dragster and competing for three years, then graduating into the Top Alcohol Dragster class where I raced and won throughout my three years of driving.

While racing I was also attending Cal State Fullerton where I earned by BA in Communications with an emphasis in Entertainment Studies. By 22 years old I had the opportunity to start testing in a Funny Car with my dad’s team at John Force Racing. Now, I compete among some of the toughest guys out here and champion drivers, and I have won three national events in a little over two years of driving professionally! It has been the most surreal experience and I have loved every moment of it. It’s an honor to be a part of the NHRA, a sport where men and women compete professionally on the same playing field.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are a graduate of Cal State Fullerton having majored in Communications. How has this helped you in your approach and understanding of making a career in professional car racing?

Ms. Courtney Force: I was very determined to get my college degree before pursuing a career in racing, just so I could have a fall back plan. Having a degree in Communications definitely helped me see both sides of the entertainment business as well as how to understand and work with the media side of my job. This has helped me to be more comfortable in front of the camera and understanding of the ins and outs of communicating and the hard work it takes to reach my goal.

Being a race car driver is only part of the job. Being able to manage everything else is the difficult part. You have to be able to handle being pulled in multiple directions, keep it under control and keep your focus, not only for your team, but for your sponsors and fans as well.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have selected a sport which requires a lot of cohesiveness and absolute understanding between your team of technicians, your machine and you to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?

Ms. Courtney Force: Teamwork is the most important thing to succeed out here. As a driver, your life is in the hands of your team and you need to be able to communicate and trust them. Having a team bond cannot be forced and is very important along the path to ultimate success. My team keeps me motivated as a driver, they are constantly encouraging me, and I continue to motivate them to stay positive every weekend.

We have struggles, but it is how you handle the downs in order to appreciate the ups in this business. So, trust and communication is what helps my Traxxas Ford Mustang team to succeed on race weekends.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?

Ms. Courtney Force: I do a lot of strength training in the gym and cardio. It’s important to build your upper body strength when handling one of these 10,000 horsepower race cars. In these cars anything can happen when you’re reaching speeds over 300mph so you need to be mentally and physically prepared for anything. After working with a trainer I’ve learned so many great moves and workouts that I have added to my routine and taken on the road with me.

I work out in gyms across the country during race weekends and enjoy getting prepared for the upcoming race! It’s always important to mix up your routine so your body doesn’t get used to the same old thing. I’m always looking for new tips and ideas when working out to shock my body, and get it working hard for every workout.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Courtney Force: It’s tough to follow a strict diet when you’re on the road, but I eat small meals throughout the day to keep my energy level up. I am always relying on protein and do my best to cut out the carbs especially over a race weekend. When I need a snack I always grab fruit or almonds to hold me over.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hairs. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hairs to make them look so stunning?

Ms. Courtney Force: I’ve got a great routine of using facial scrub and moisturizers and am always taking my vitamins and using L’oreal intense nourishing shampoo/conditioner.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding professional car racing girls who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to ladder of success in field of car racing?

Ms. Courtney Force: Don’t give up! Success doesn’t happen overnight. There will be many struggles but it’s the ones that are motivated and strong enough to handle the set-backs that will come out on top in the end. Be patient and you will reach your goals!

Ms. Namita Nayyar: How did you feel before and after when on 5 August 2012 you won your first TF/FC race by defeating Matt Hagan in the final round of The Northwest Nationals, at Seattle, Washington and you became the third woman to win in TF/FC?

Ms. Courtney Force: I was extremely nervous going into my third professional final round of my rookie season. I was up against a former champion, but my Traxxas team had given me a consistent race car and that was the confidence I needed. I was nervous, but as a rookie, I felt I had nothing to lose and was just excited to have reached a final.

When my win light turned on at the finish line I was in shock and overjoyed.

I pulled off the race track to see my team and my mom and dad cheering me on! It was such a huge accomplishment for our team and it was a very proud moment for me to achieve that win, and this dream I had had since I was a little girl. Everything seemed so surreal and too good to be true. Becoming the third woman to win in Funny car was a huge honor!

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have done bold photo shoots for ESPN body issue. How you are so body confident and advice to your compatriots?

Ms. Courtney Force: Nobody is perfect. I work hard in the gym so that I can be a better driver and so I can keep up with the men that I compete against. I’m proud of all the time and hard work I have put into my body and thought it was a great way to be fearless and showcase one of the different types of bodies of an athlete. It’s about being a strong woman from within to achieve your goals and having the strength and passion for what you do, inside and out.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Courtney Force: There are so many interesting and informative reads and great tips on womenfitness.net. It’s an all-around fun atmosphere and I’m excited to be a part of this great site. I hope all the readers enjoy being exposed to so many great fitness, nutrition, beauty tips, shopping and expert advice while visiting!

To know more about Courtney Force, Check out at: http://www.courtneyforce.com

Women Fitness Team thanks Courtney Force for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and shall also like to thank Sarah Adams Public Relation from John Force Racing Inc who made this interview happen.

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