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NHRA: Ashley Force Becomes First Woman to Win in Funny Car
Written by: NHRA Communications   
04/28/2008 - 09:04 AM
Commerce, Ga.
 
Ashley Force bested her superstar dad to score her first Funny Car win. (NHRA photo) » More Photos

In a final round for the ages Ashley Force beat father John, becoming the first woman in NHRA history to win a national event in Funny Car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

Ashley faced father and NHRA legend John Force in the final round, driving her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang pass the iconic legend with a run of 4.837 at 320.36. Though John was competing in his 500th race and came within one round win of reaching 1,000, it was the younger Force who stood in the winner’s circle at the end of the event.

"I’m just happy to win an event," said Force. "That was the main thing. Being a female, that’s exciting for the record books and everything, but my team, we just wanted to get our first win. To get it finally done here in Atlanta, we’re just a little bit relieved but so excited as well."

Force’s win gave her a 59-point cushion for the lead in Funny Car over Tim Wilkerson.
The 2009 updated "JOHN FORCE" biography by Erik Arneson includes more stats and the career of Ashley Force. (NHRA photo) » More Photos

Antron Brown picked up his second win of the season in Top Fuel, beating points leader Tony Schumacher in the final
round. Brown drove his Matco Tools dragster to a 4.537 run at 325.14, beating Schumacher on a holeshot.

"We just take it round by round at each race," said Brown. "I’m just tickled to death to be a part of this race team and this car."

In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards picked up his first win in over two years, driving his Young Life Pontiac GXP to a 6.680 run at 206.20. Edwards’ run was just enough to beat runner-up Jason Line, who appeared in his second consecutive final round.

"You just can’t describe the feeling of winning one of these races in this class," said Edwards, whose last win had come nearly two years previous. "There are so many good teams and it’s been so long since I last won. It’s just an unbelievable feeling to win one of these races."

Andrew Hines proved his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson Motorcycle winning with a run of 6.946 at 191.40.

"My motorcycle was just flawless," said Hines. "I can’t say enough on what the guys have done for the engines on these things.”
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