JUPITER, Fla. -- Rain washed out the final day of the PRO Winter Warmup at Palm Beach International Raceway Saturday, leaving some of drag racing’s top touring pros to wonder what would have happened if they had been allowed to determine bragging rights before the start of the NHRA’s 2013 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The Ford Mustangs of John Force Racing were well positioned to do some damage Saturday had a late-afternoon thunderstorm not forced the cancellation of a program that was to have included eliminations. That leaves some questions unanswered entering the 53rd annual O’Reilly Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., Feb. 14-17.

Courtney Force, last year’s Rookie of the Year, set the Funny Car pace with a scintillating 4.018 at 322.73 miles per hour, the latter the fastest speed ever recorded at the 1,000 foot distance.  The time was a career best for the 24-year-old who last year took her Traxxas Ford to four final rounds while earning a breakthrough at Seattle, Wash., that helped secure the No. 5 finishing position.

Former series champion Robert Hight was second quickest at 4.021 in the Auto Club Ford and 15-time champion John Force third quickest at 4.053 in a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang now tuned by Mike Neff.  Bob Tasca III, who won a Countdown race last season in the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang, was seventh best at 4.109.

Nevertheless, because there was no opportunity for anyone to perform under the kind of “game conditions” anticipated on Saturday, there likely will be a considerable amount of speculation before the start of the season, particularly among the automakers in the Funny Car and Pro Stock classes.

One of the biggest issues will be the anticipated impact of newcomers to the circuit.  In fact, the 2013 season could produce one of the most competitive battles in history for the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award, which identifies the tour’s top rookie.

Brittany Force, Courtney’s 26-year-old sister, is expected to figure prominently in that mix as the driver of the first ever JFR Top Fuel dragster, a Castrol EDGE hybrid powered by the Ford BOSS 500 nitro engine. The schoolteacher-to-be underscored that candidacy during the Warmup by stopping the 1,000-foot timers in 3.796 seconds at 324.26 mph, making her third quickest behind only veterans Doug Kalitta and Tony Schumacher.

Nevertheless, the rookie field also is likely to include former JFR crew member Chad Head, who tested at 4.061 and 4.074 in his dad Jim’s Toyota and former Pro Modified standout Leah Pruett, who also will compete this year with Brittany in Top Fuel.

“It was disappointing,” John Force said of the rainout.  “All these kids. It would have been fun to line up and see what we’ve got. I’m excited about the season. I’m excited about my baby girls.  Brittany is evolving in the dragster. She ran 3.79 at 324 -- and we don’t even have the canopy on it, yet. Nobody else on this team has ever been that quick. I know it’s Top Fuel, but I still couldn’t be prouder of her or her team or of the BOSS 500 motor. It’s exciting. And Courtney’s car is awesome. I tell everybody she looks like her mom, but she drives like her dad. 

“As for my ol’ hot rod, we’ll just get it ready for Pomona and see what we can do,” said the 134-time tour winner who will roll into the opener as the defending Funny Car champion.

“At the end of the day, my Castrol GTX Mustang shows potential and it looks like Robert Hight and Jimmy Prock are back on their game for Auto Club but we both still are chasing the girls.”

 

 

1. Robert Hight, 4.048, 315.56 mph
2. Matt Hagan, 4.060, 312.78 mph

3. Chad Head, 4.061, 313.15 mph

4. Johnny Gray, 4.066, 311.92 mph

5. Del Worsham, 4.067, 311.34 mph

6. Bob Tasca 3, 4.073, 315,42 mph

7. Ron Capps, 4.075, 316.52 mph

8. Alexis DeJoria, 4.081, 308.21 mph

9. Cruz Pedregon, 4.106, 297.61 mph

10. Jack Beckman, 4.160, 307.16 mph

11. Courtney Force, 7.505, 76.25 mph

12. John Force, 7.895, 87.41 mph

 

Top Fuel – First Session
1. Doug Kalitta, (Mac Tools dragster) 3.759, 328.30 mph
2. Tony Schumacher, 3.776, 324.59 mph

3. Bob Vandergriff Jr., 3.825, 321.50 mph

4. Clay Millican, 3.828, 321.42 mph

5. Leah Pruett, 3.850, 307.16 mph

6. Antron Brown, 3.860, 302.28 mph

7. Brittany Force, 3.860, 290.88 mph

8. Dave Grubnic, 3.870, 271.08 mph

9. Sidnei Firgo, 3.883, 318.24 mph

10. Doug Kalitta (Geico dragster), 6.860, 92.87 mph

 

Funny Car - Second Session
1. Courtney Force, 4.018, 322.73 mph
2. Robert Hight, 4.021, 318.24 mph

3. John Force, 4.053, 308.35 mph

4. Chad Head, 4.074, 313.51 mph

5. Jack Beckman, 4.085, 311.99 mph

6. Alexis DeJoria, 4.102, 301.60 mph

7. Bob Tasca III, 4.109, 312.71 mph

8. Del Worsham, 8.563, 91.68 mph

9. Matt Hagan, 9.602, 76.73 mph

10. Johnny Gray, 9.709, 78.34 mph

11. Ron Capps, 10.273, 76.02 mph

 

Top Fuel – Second Session
1. Doug Kalitta/Geico dragster, 3.787, 322.58 mph
2. Tony Schumacher, 3.794, 325.30 mph

3. Brittany Force, 3.796, 324.26 mph

4. Clay Millican, 3.804, 322.73 mph

5. Bob Vandergriff Jr., 3.848, 320.51 mph

6. Dave Grubinc, 3.970, 225.79 mph

7. Leah Pruitt, 4.279, 188.07 mph

8. Doug Kalitta/Mac Tools dragster, 5.245. 134.27 mph

9. Antron Brown, 6.512, 98.45 mph

10. Sidnei Firgo, 10.385, 75.32 mph