Two of motorsports’ biggest entities have merged into one.
We’re talking, of course, about this past Saturday’s wedding of NHRA drag racing star Courtney Force and IndyCar star Graham Rahal.
Thanks to a great report by Cathy Kightlinger of IndyCar.com, the newlyweds were married Saturday on the picturesque edge of a cliff at Dos Pueblos Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
“Courtney arrived for their wedding in a 1929 Bentley, owned and driven by longtime Rahal family friend Bruce Meyer, a vintage and historic car collector and Petersen Automotive Museum board member. Courtney wore a dramatic Galia Lahav Haute Couture dress,” Kightlinger wrote in her blog.
While both Courtney and Graham make their living driving fast, their chariot to and from the chariot was a bit slower in pace, namely, a 1929 Bentley.
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“There were 10 bridesmaids, including two of Graham’s sisters, Michaela Hatcher and Samantha Rahal, all wearing royal blue dresses,” Kightlinger wrote. “Courtney’s sisters, Brittany Force and Ashley Force Hood, were her co-maids of honor and Graham’s brother, Jarrad Rahal, was the best man. Graham’s two youngest sisters – Isabella and Ava Rahal – served as flower girls.”
Courtney is the daughter of 16-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force, while Rahal is the son of three-time IndyCar champ and 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal.
To congratulate the newlyweds, who embark on their honeymoon to Fiji this Saturday, here’s a photo essay of Twitter and Instagram posts:
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Yesterday was the best day ever & I got to marry this amazing man. Thanks to all who traveled to be there with us! pic.twitter.com/7TF1mlM0EB
— Courtney Force (@courtneyforce) November 22, 2015
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Congrats to @courtneyforce & @grahamrahal on your wedding!! An incredible night ❤️ #ForceRahalWedding #NHRAfamily pic.twitter.com/4wQu4EKrvI
— Taylor Nicole (@TNSracing) November 22, 2015
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Pre-hair & makeup with my maids of honor 😘👰🏼 Love my sisters & so happy to have them here w/ me yesterday morning! pic.twitter.com/GN7e4s4P5H
— Courtney Force (@courtneyforce) November 22, 2015
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Right before the ceremony with @courtneyforce & all the bridesmaids. #ForceRahalWedding 👰🏼💄💒 pic.twitter.com/2ZetdUmPS8
— Sarah Marie Simon (@OnlySarahMarie) November 23, 2015
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Even Amy Reimann, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fiancée, got into the congratulations. And then Courtney responded by giving Amy a pre-wedding suggestion of her own.
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Congratulations to @courtneyforce & @GrahamRahal on their nuptials! Courtney your dress was beautiful!!
— Amy Earnhardt (@AmyEarnhardt) November 23, 2015
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@Amy_Reimann @GrahamRahal Thank you so much!! 😊 You should check out @GaliaLahav 😉
— Courtney Force (@courtneyforce) November 23, 2015
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Graham also got into the act to give some advice to Junior:
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Thanks Amy! Coming soon for you and the man @DaleJr! https://t.co/wxBs6kcsGd
— Graham Rahal (@GrahamRahal) November 23, 2015
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On a personal note, we still think fondly of an interview we had earlier this year with Bobby Rahal, who attended the NHRA event at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
The elder Rahal, a native of suburban Chicago, had two classic lines related to his son’s upcoming betrothal.
* “No, I’m not nervous because I don’t have to pay for that wedding,” he said with a laugh. “I called John up and left a message on his voicemail that this was going to be the most expensive wedding in Southern California in 2015.”
* When asked if he imparted any advice to his son, Rahal said he told his son about Graham’s gregarious father-in-law: “I told Graham, “You do realize you’re marrying John, too, right?”
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