What’s more pressure for Courtney Force? Making up 73 points or getting married?

BROWNSBURG – The countdown is on for drag racer Courtney Force, and only part of it involves this weekend’s U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

While earning a spot in NHRA’s playoffs is the task at hand, Force has reminders that her wedding to Graham Rahal is approaching like a dragster – or an Indy car depending on the side of the aisle you’re seated.

Yes, Force has a wedding planner for the heavy lifting, but she conceded Friday that some details, like choosing a dress, have been taxing.

“Driving a car is a lot less stressful,” she said. “I know what to do there. I’ve never planned a wedding before.”

Force of the third of John Force’s four daughters to marry, and pops is starting to get the hang of it. He participated in setting the budget – “I could have bought a plane,” he joked -- and advising on date (following the season). After that, he’s been told to be supportive and be dressed on time.

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The date is a secret, but it won’t be too long after NHRA’s finale Nov. 15. The families and their guests will gather at a Pacific Ocean beach in Southern California, where the Forces live. Even that has John Force concerned.

“They said, ‘We’re in the middle of a California drought, dad; it’s not going to rain,’ ” he said. “Well, I was just told the Godzilla of El Ninos is coming, and it’s going to hit the coast that weekend, and there ain’t no tents that can stand up to El Nino.

“But, it’s their life.”

That’s John Force, possessor of an opinion on anything and everything. Well, almost. Rahal found a subject the 16-time Funny Car champion couldn’t answer to: Giving approval when Rahal asked for Courtney’s hand in marriage.

Rahal laughs about that moment last year in the Yorba Linda, Calif., restaurant. Force was momentarily speechless.

“He got kind of like he does in awkward situations,” Rahal said. “He got quiet.”

One of the first words out of Force’s mouth were, “Did you think about prenups?”

Of course, neither side of the soon-to-be-wedded family is overly concerned about financial statements. Both fathers own impressive Brownsburg-based race teams after being championship-winning drivers. They’ve invested well.

Bobby Rahal won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986. Force has won the U.S. Nationals four times, with his daughter, Ashley, a two-time champion here and son-in-law Robert Hight (married to Adria) a winner on three occasions. Mike Neff (twice) and Gary Densham have also won this event for John Force Racing. Combined, they’ve won 18 national drag racing championships.

Courtney, 27, and Graham, 26, have spent this racing season juggling race schedules, attending each other’s events when possible. She attended last week’s IndyCar Series finale at Sonoma Raceway; he will be here this weekend.

She has encouraged him to assist with invitation and cake selection. His preference on the latter was chocolate with peanut butter.

“I’m a Buckeye, right?” the Ohio native said.

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Courtney believes they have found a baker who will do a confetti cake, which they both approve of.

Of current significance is Courtney’s 73-point deficit to Alexis DeJoria for the final Funny Car playoff spot. The field for the six-race Countdown to the Championship will be set after this event, and only 10 per national class will qualify.

Additional points are on the line here, which makes Courtney’s task easier, but she’ll need to advance at least two rounds farther than DeJoria in Monday’s finals. The pressure is magnified by JFR’s struggle this season – it has won only three of 17 Funny Car events -- and the investment Traxxas has made in her car.

The pressure is real, particularly when considering she’s never failed to earn a spot.

“Oh, my gosh, there’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “There’s a lot on my team’s minds.”

That includes five rounds of qualifying plus Sunday’s Traxxas-sponsored Funny Car Shootout involving eight cars.

Said John: “I have to accept all the pressure because it’s one of my drivers and then you throw on the fact it’s my daughter, and it’s a very important sponsor. She’s got her work cut out for her.”

Graham hopes to provide perspective as he’s done all season.

“This is the first year that’s been trying for her,” he said. “I went through this a couple of times the last few years, so I’ve tried to be that little voice of reason.

“I keep telling her she needs to enjoy (her career). With what we do, we’ve got to have fun, and if she doesn’t make (the Countdown) she can play a valuable role as a teammate to John and Robert the rest of the season.”

But even Graham admits, “this is the biggest week of her career.”

Try that on for size, with a wedding to come.

“It’s a lot,” she said.

A lot coming at once.

Follow Star reporter Curt Cavin on Facebook and on Twitter: @curtcavin.