A Force to be Reckoned With
Ashley Force was born on 29 November 1982 – the daughter of John and Laurie Force. John Force has been National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) champion fourteen times, so it came as no surprise that Ashley showed an interest in auto racing at an early age. After high school, Ashley attended California State University-Fullerton graduating with a B.A. in communications, specializing in television and video. In 2007 Ashley Force was voted by an AOL Sport Poll as the Hottest Athlete, chosen over Tom Brady and Danica Patrick.
Ashley Force was born on 29 November 1982 – the daughter of John and Laurie Force. John Force has been National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) champion fourteen times, so it came as no surprise that Ashley showed an interest in auto racing at an early age. After high school, Ashley attended California State University-Fullerton graduating with a B.A. in communications, specializing in television and video. In 2007 Ashley Force was voted by an AOL Sport Poll as the Hottest Athlete, chosen over Tom Brady and Danica Patrick.
Ashley finished 4th in driver points in 2004 after winning three of the final five races of the season as a Top Alcohol division rookie. One of her victories was the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals held at Indianapolis. Ashley and her father John made NHRA history as the first ever father-daughter winners at the season finale race of the Automobile Club of Southern California held at Pomona.
In 2007 Ashley progressed to driving a Castrol-sponsored Mustang in the professional Funny Car division for John Force Racing. Her first race in this division found Ashley up against, and losing to, her brother-in-law, Robert Hight. In April 2007 Ashley and John Force, as father and daughter, again made NHRA history – this time for competing against each other in Atlanta. Ashley won the race with a top speed of 317.05 miles per hour in a time of 4.779 seconds. She went through to the semifinals which ended in a tie, recorded as the highest ever Funny Car event finish by a female.
Ashley has continued with her love for movies and television, thereby putting her B.A. degree to good use. She is featured on “Driving Force“, an A&E reality show focusing on her father, John Force and his drag racing daughters – Ashley, Courtney, Brittany and Adria (Ashley’s half-sister). “Driving Force” follows the day-to-day life of John while he balances his business with family responsibilities.
Ashley’s mother, Laurie, relinquished her role of managing contracts for John Force Racing so that she could focus on raising her children. John Force, having established a successful business, has resolved to devote more time to his daughters, and fully supports their interest in racing.
Auto racing fans are assured of interesting times ahead as they track the progress of the Force family. Ashley Force has certainly shown that she has what it takes to succeed in her chosen career.