Ashley Force Hood – An Unstoppable Force
Ashley Force Hood – An Unstoppable Force
There is almost as much to say about the daughter of driving legend John Force as there is to say about the icon himself.
Ashley Force Hood, who attended Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School as a 16th birthday present from her father, began racing out of high school. After graduating with a degree in communications with an emphasis in television and video in 2003 from California State University – Fullerton, Ashley began driving in the Top Alcohol division in 2004, where she won three out of the five final races and shared the winner’s circle with her father at Pomona.
Ashley quickly moved into the professional arena and entered into the Funny Car division of the NHRA in 2007. She joined the John Force Racing team (surprise!) and began speeding up the ranks. Driving her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, Ashley became the first woman to compete in a national series Funny Car final round. Although she lost to Tony Pedregon in that race, the year marked the first of many great accomplishments for the young driver.
In April, 2008, Ashley claimed her first-ever NHRA Funny Car win, completing the race with the second fastest elapsed Funny Car time of the weekend. Not only that, but she did it against her father … the great John Force!
Ashley Force Hood’s career continued to sky rocket, with multiple #1 qualifier wins under her belt. At the Mac Tools US Nationals in 2009, she won over Robert Hight (another JFR team driver), earning her two distinctions: the first female Funny Car driver to win at Indianapolis, and the first female driver to win in two different classes. The entire 2009 season was great for Ashley, as she became the highest woman finisher in Funny Car history, ending the year second in points.
Unfortunately, Ashley Force Hood had to take a step out of the cockpit this year, as she has taken on two very big new roles: one as the President of John Force Entertainment (a JFR marketing company), and the other as a mother. Ashley and her husband, Daniel Hood (who also works for the John Force Racing team) welcomed their first child, Jacob John Hood, into the world on August 18, 2011.
Although she has taken a driving hiatus, we are sure that we’ll see her back on the track in the future. If not, at least we will surely be able to enjoy the results of the great work she is doing at John Force Entertainment. There is no doubt in our minds that Ashley Force Hood will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
About the Author:
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