BROWNSBURG — The 2012 NHRA funny car series has a new face, although the last name should be familiar to most. Meet Courtney Force, a regular girl with an infectious smile, as she follows in the footsteps of her father, John Force, and sisters, Ashley Force Hood, and Brittany.

Courtney, the youngest of Force’s daughters, is looking forward to her rookie season on the heels of her college graduation from Cal-State Fullerton, where she graduated with a degree in communications.

“It was odd when I got to college, sitting in front of counselors,” she said. “I told him I was thinking of going the entertainment route because I didn’t want to tell them that I wanted to be a race car

driver. They asked specifically what I wanted to do in entertainment and I just said I wanted to do something, maybe in the drag racing industry. I think they thought I was confused, and then I just came out and said I wanted to be a race car driver and they said they couldn’t really help me with that. I ended up going with communications with an entertainment background.”

She said staying grounded and finishing her degree should help her both on and off the track.

“I think it was a good thing,” she said. “I knew leaving high school I wanted to be a driver, but I wanted to finish college also. I wanted to have a degree behind me in case anything went sour ... I was glad

my parents pushed me to finish and get through all of it. I was a little embarrassed, a girl coming into this big college world and I was just trying to fit in, not cause a big commotion. My sister Ashley had gone through the same process though, so I got to watch her. I just wanted to figure out my major and go from there, because when you say you want to be a race car driver, it sort of throws people off.”

Still, it was a goal that had driven Courtney since she was 5, and she recalls drawing pictures of funny cars where she and her father are racing. Looking up to her sisters and father only helped fuel the fire of getting to where she is today. After testing the car and learning the nuances of the driving for a year, she said the opportunity is surreal.

“The first time I saw my funny car was unreal,” she said of the jet black Traxxas funny car which she helped to design. “It was a change and it’s very, very exciting. It’s a fresh new look, and seeing my name on the side of my car — wow! It was just unreal to see that when I’m so used to seeing “John Force” above the window.” Courtney had a six-year apprenticeship and admits that there’s a

learning curve involved.

“The steering process has probably been the biggest difference,” she said. “Steering the car from a long-wheel base to a short-wheel base is different. You don’t want to over correct and you’ve got to be careful. I think that’s the biggest thing, knowing that it’s not just little tiny adjustments. So my dad always tells me I need to manhandle the car more at this level. Other than that, I was worried I might be claustrophobic with the body coming down over the top of me, but it ended up not being too bad.

“It’s been a new adventure, going from a dragster to a funny car, and I’ve had to learn how to manhandle it, so it’s been tougher but it’s more fun,” she said. “The motor is in front instead of behind, so there’s a lot more action that way, but I’ve been taking advice from my dad, Mike Neff, Ashley (Force Hood), and Robert (Hight) and getting as much seat time as possible is the best thing I can do to learn.”

Courtney said she’s learned a lot from her father, and not just about cars.

“I hit the gym with dad all last season and just watched what he did with weights, with cardio, and I learned to get stronger, just like him,” she said. “There’s pressure growing up with your dad as a 15-time funny car champ. Ashley came in and blew everyone away and was winning and setting records, so I know I have big shoes to fill, but I’m working hard and have great teachers to get me there.”

John Force knows winning is not the priority, and father always knows best.

“I worry about her getting hurt,” he said. “That’s what a dad worries about. That’s the most important thing. We lost Eric (Medlen) in ‘07 and a race car tore my arms and legs off. I just had another knee

surgery and I’m going to be better. Of course, I always say that. But we’ve got to keep these kids safe. These cars can hurt you, and you’ve got to respect them. We’ve just got to keep building them better and better. That’s what the kids are doing here, building cars that won’t fail when they do crash. They’ll be there to protect you. That’s my biggest worry and she doesn’t understand that. I can’t let

anything happen to her or any other racer in the sport.

“It’s not all about winning. That comes in time. She’ll be fighting all season now that she’s stepping up to the big leagues and the boys will be tough on her. They all like her, but they need to win for their

sponsors too. With all that though, the biggest thing is her safety.”

Courtney is already setting lofty goals for herself, but says she understands the challenges as well.

“I’m taking it day by day,” she said. “I want to get out there and get qualified for that first race of the season at the Winter Nationals, maybe grab a trophy along the way. But I understand it’s going to be

tough competition.

“It’s going to be overwhelming. It will be strange seeing my name on someone’s T-shirt with my face on it, but it’s exciting. I watched my dad and Ashley go through it as well, and it was so cool to see someone wearing a hat with Ashley’s name on it. It’s so cool to be someone that people are rooting for and having that fan support is the biggest part of this and I’m thankful and excited.”

As for all the trappings that come with fame? What girl wouldn't want to design her own apparel and car?

"I like to be a part of it way more than anybody I think," she laughs. "I'm always studying paint schemes and apparel ideas. I don't want to put my name on something I don't approve of. I like making it stand out, show who I am as a person, and reflect that."

So has she been back to see that counselor who did not have a major for a prospective race car driver?

“I haven’t been back,” she laughs. “I was too embarassed to face him again so I switched counselors.”

And that is Courtney Force in a nutshell: Regular girl, irregular superstar.