Ashley Force; How to handle life with 7,000 horsepower when your dad is the best at it
It's the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals in Englishtown, N.J., and Ashley Force is in her element.
It's a few hours before she wriggles into her flame-retardant suit and launches her funny car to 320 m.p.h. (510 km-h) for John Force Racing, competing with her legendary father John Force.
"I'm excited because its cool, it doesn't feel very humid. It's great conditions; the drier the air the better." She speaks over the cackle of the engines, instinctively pausing when the roar is too deafening.
It's June, mid way through her first season competing in the Funny Car division ...
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Tags: Ashley Force, Force, Funny Car, John Force, NHRA, racingDixon, Head are quickest of cautious first day pack at National Time Trials
Two-time NHRA POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon made it the furthest down Firebird International Raceway Friday during the first of three days of preseason testing at the National Time Trials in Phoenix. Using the knowledge he gained a week ago in his first test session, Dixon did the best of taming a green FIR with his 1,000-foot squirt of 4.715 at 263.51 mph in his U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster.
John Force's youngest daughter Courtney also looked sharp in her first full pass in Darien & Meadows Top Alcohol Dragster, running a 5.907 at 237.30 mph. The quickest Funny Car on the property was Jim Head's 6.269 at 144.12 mph in his Toyota Solara. Most of the 14 Top Fuel racers and 12 Funny Car pros couldn't get past halftrack under power as they got their first chance at running under the new 90-percent nitro rule...
Tags: Force, Funny Car, Jim Head, John Force, NHRA, Nitro, Powerade, race, Testing, Top Fuel, ToyotaJohn Force says he will be ready
John Force is getting his health back after his horrific crash. His physical therapist says Force's goal of participating in the Phoenix pre-season testing January 27-30 is achievable.
The National Speed Sport News has this article:
YORBA LINDA, Calif. — Just over three months after suffering severe injuries to his feet, hands and legs in a 300 mile-per-hour crash, John Force climbed into and out of the cockpit of his Castrol Ford Mustang Funny Car last week in a special rehabilitation session at the John Force Racing complex supervised by physical therapy director Robert Ortmayer.
“It wasn’t easy,” Force said, “but I could do it. I said I’d be ready (for the NHRA’s 2008 season) and I will.” ...
Rehabbing Force expects to be back at Phoenix test
Just over three months after suffering severe injuries to his feet, hands, and legs in a 300-mph crash, John Force climbed into and out of the cockpit of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car last week in a special rehabilitation session at the John Force Racing complex supervised by physical therapy director Robert Ortmayer...
Tags: crash, Force, Ford, Funny Car, John Force, NHRA, racingForce intent on returning to NHRA
Funny Car king John Force, always a local favorite when the NHRA tour hits Bristol Dragway, is apparently intent on returning to the sport where he has captured a possibly untouchable 14 world championships with a record 125 victories...
Story by By Rick Sheek
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After getting the offer of a lifetime from Force, Neff prepping … – NHRA.com
Imagine for a moment that John Force, the most prolific drag racer in history, winner of 125 races and 14 championships, is pursuing you to drive one of his high-powered Funny Cars. You don't have any experience driving one of the 7,000-horsepower beasts and yet he gives you a full two months to ponder the offer, telling you there are no real expectations of success, especially early on in your learning process...
Tags: car, Force, Funny Car, John Force, Mike Neff, Neff, NHRA, racePOWERade champions crowned and silly season roars to life as year ends
The 2007 POWERade Drag Racing Series roared to a spectacular conclusion in the fourth quarter with Tony Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin, and Matt Smith earning the hardware in their respective categories. The final installment of NHRA.com's year in review points out all the exciting happenings of October, November, and December.
Aside from the four champions being crowned, the final quarter was highlighted by "Hot Rod" Fuller's big double win in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas and Dave Connolly's incredible streak of five victories in a row. Whit Bazemore, Chip Ellis, and Peggy Llewellyn all lost their jobs, while previously dismissed professionals Angelle Sampey, Antron Brown, and Tommy Johnson Jr. all managed to find new rides for 2008.
Tags: Antron, Antron Brown, Brown, Burkart, car, drag racing, Force, Ford, Funny Car, John Force, Johnson, NHRA, Pedregon, Phil Burkart, points, Powerade, racing, Tommy Johnson, Tony PedregonThe end of Force’s qualifying streak the big news of year’s 2nd quarter
In a harbinger of things to come in the Funny Car class, the second quarter of 2007 started with a shocker as legend John Force failed to qualify for a national event, ending a streak of 395 races that dated back to the Reagan administration. Almost as surprising was four-time champion Gary Scelzi's announcement that he'd be hanging his helmet and firesuit up at the end of the season.
NHRA.com is reviewing the headlines of the past season in quarterly installments. Aside from Force and Scelzi's news-making activities, April, May, and June were highlighted by Warren Johnson's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, NHRA signing a definitive agreement with HD Partners Acquisition Corporation,...
Tags: car, Force, Funny Car, Gary Scelzi, John Force, Johnson, King, motorsports, NHRA, race, Scelzi