NASCAR Cup Series

NHRA star Courtney Force named honorary pace car driver for Clash at Daytona

Published Feb. 14, 2017 5:29 p.m. ET

Chase Wilhelm

On Tuesday, Daytona International Speedway announced Courtney Force, the winningest female funny car drag race in the NHRA, will be the honorary pace car for Saturday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash (8 p.m. ET on FS1).

Force, daughter of NHRA champion John Force, drives the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS for her father’s team in the Funny Car division.

“I'm so thrilled to be the honorary pace car driver for the Advance Auto Parts Clash.” Force said. “I'm extremely nervous but honored at the same time to be driving that Chevy pace car before the veterans and young up-and-comers take on the track. Being a girl that races the NHRA in a straight line for a living at over 330 mph, I hope I can keep the pace in front of the pack and keep turning left.”

The Clash at Daytona is the annual non-points exhibition race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, featuring an exclusive field of drivers who are 2016 pole winners, former Clash champions, former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2016, as well as drivers from the 2016 playoffs.