Brittany Force

Rebel With a Cause

Now that Gary Densham has retired from his day job as an auto shop teacher, the designation of "world's fastest schoolteacher" could fall to 23-year-old Brittany Force, who may soon be splitting time between an elementary school classroom and the cockpit of the BrandSource A/Fuel dragster.

The second youngest of drag racing icon John Force's four daughters, Brittany, is moving forward this year with plans for a teaching career while at the same time competing for a Top Alcohol Dragster championship in a 275 mile-an-hour dragster prepared by veteran crew chief Jerry Darien.

After completing a semester of study at Hunter College, the largest school in the City University of New York system, Brittany soon will graduate from Cal State-Fullerton where she majored in elementary education.

Identified by Force as his "problem child," Brittany initially eschewed a job at John Force Racing, Inc., to work instead at a pizza café, a manifestation of her independence.

Nevertheless, her "need for speed" brought her back to JFR where she races alongside her father, older sister Ashley and younger sister Courtney. Like her father, the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion, she is intensely competitive once she climbs into the cockpit.

"She's tough when she's in the car," Force said. "She's always done things her own way, kinda like me, but if she really wants to race, I'll do all I can to give her a chance (to succeed)."

One of the stars of the A&E Network series Driving Force, which ended a two-year run in 2007, Brittany is looking for payback this year with Courtney, who emerged victorious in two all-Force semifinals last season.