Competing within the NHRA’s premier Prime Gasoline class on the Northwest Nationals in Seattle, 39-year-old Brittany Drive delivered a blistering 341.85 mph (550.17 kph) in her semifinal matchup in opposition to Doug Kalitta — the quickest run ever recorded because the collection switched from the normal quarter-mile to the present 1,000-foot race distance in 2008.
It was Drive’s personal earlier report – set simply in April at 341.59 mph (549.74 kph) – that she surpassed. Though her velocity was unmatched, she narrowly missed out on setting a brand new elapsed time report. Her 3.659-second run was simply 0.018 seconds shy of her private finest (3.641s, 2022).
“Clearly the spotlight of our weekend was within the semifinals once we made a killer run and went even quicker than our (earlier) nationwide report (341.59 mph), the quickest of all time,” she mentioned. “It’s actually thrilling for this complete group. We work actually laborious to activate win lights and put the most effective numbers up on the board and we’re hoping that report will maintain for some time.”
5 of the Six quickest runs – All by Drive
Drive had already made her intentions clear in qualifying with a 340.47 mph run. In spherical one, she backed it up with 340.82 mph in opposition to former European Champion Ida Zetterström.
The end result? Drive now holds 5 of the six quickest speeds ever recorded within the Prime Gasoline class – a dominant stat in a fiercely aggressive class. However the weekend didn’t finish as hoped: within the last in opposition to Shawn Langdon, her automobile shut down as a result of an engine security sensor.
“Pan stress routinely shut us off within the last,” she mentioned of the protection system that routinely prompts in sure conditions. “I had no energy and was simply coasting to the end line and noticed Shawn go round me.”
“General, it was a reasonably strong outing for this group,” mentioned the one girl to have received as many as 300 aggressive rounds in drag racing’s signature class. “We have been in a position to make our approach to the ultimate spherical however, sadly, got here up brief.
John Drive’s lengthy highway again
This season has been emotionally charged for the group. Brittany’s father, drag racing icon John Drive, suffered a severe crash in Virginia in June 2024. The 75-year-old sustained a number of accidents, together with a traumatic mind harm, and required intensive care.
Now in rehabilitation, the 16-time Humorous Automotive champion is on the sluggish path to restoration. He not too long ago gave his first in-depth replace in an NHRA interview, saying he now not sees a return to driving in his future however plans to remain within the sport.
John Drive is extensively thought to be the face of American drag racing, having formed the game over many years. His legacy is sustained by his daughters Brittany, Courtney, and Ashley – all of whom grew to become drag racers. Courtney is married to IndyCar veteran Graham Rahal.
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