Who is Ashley Force Hood, former funny car drag racer?

Ashley Force Hood is a much respected figure in NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) history. Her accomplishments, coupled with her family lineage, make her one of the most recognizable figures in funny car racing. We’ll take a look back at her career, and how she’s impacted the sport.

Ashley Force Hood is the daughter of drag racing legend, John Force. Force dominated the sport back in the 1990s and early 2000s. According to Speed Sport, he won at least 10 races in the 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Remarkably, John Force is still competing in NHRA drag races at the age of 74. While he hasn’t had the same success he posted early in his career, Force remains passionate about competing behind the wheel. He told Speed Sport “I just can’t believe I’m still doing this, but man, I love it so much. And if I quit, that’s what really scares me.”

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Ashley was born on November 29, 1982, and was a teenager when her father was laps ahead of the competition in the 1990s. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as her drag racing interest would evolve as she got older.

Force Hood told The Podium Finish that she had a packed schedule in her late teens and early 20s. “When I started in SuperComp, I was going to college. I would make my classes on Monday nights, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings. Shortly thereafter, I could fly out to whatever race I was headed to and do the race weekend.”

Force Hood was committed to getting her degree, but knew she needed to be all-in on racing as a career. As per The Podium Finish, she said, “To do this, you’re going to commit to the travel and the racing life. I also had sponsors and they wanted to see their car as much as possible. My dad, he never was a racecar driver who also had a job at home. In our whole life, we always raced.”

One might surmise that it’s not easy for a child to follow in the footsteps of the same discipline their parent excelled in, but Force Hood didn’t see it that way. “I felt a little pressure, but the pressure I had was just put on by myself,” she told The Podium Finish.

Ashley Force Hood competed in the Funny Car division of NHRA racing for a few years. According to NBC Sports, she had four wins in 16 final round appearances. She won U.S. Nationals, the sport’s premier race, twice in her career.

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In May 2008, she became the first woman to win an NHRA Funny Car national event title. Ironically, it was her father John that she defeated to claim her place in racing history.

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Force Hood said to John Force Racing’s website, “To get to compete against my father in the final round was really exciting. There wasn’t the nervousness or pressure that usually comes with a final round because John Force Racing had already won. I remember being in the lanes with his team and mine, joking with each other, and it was just a really great night.”

Many people not familiar with drag racing might wonder what a funny car is, or is considered to be for the purposes of the NHRA. According to Auto Week, Fran Hernandez in 1964 called a Super Stock car “funny looking,” and the name stuck. “Funny cars” tend to have a flip-top body or tube chassis, which gives them a distinctive look.

Force Hood stopped driving in 2010 to start a family. While respecting her decision to take care of his first child, the Review Journal believed that Force Hood’s retirement in the prime of her career hurt the sport.

Even though she wouldn’t get behind the wheel of another funny car in a professional race, Force Hood’s impact has continued on the business side. In 2015, she was named vice president of John Force Racing, Inc. It was said that she would focus on entertainment production and commercial development, but would also be more involved in the racing part of the business.

After the shift in corporate structure, John Force told Drag Illustrated, “There will be no noticeable change as far as how we are doing business. Ashley will continue to build and manage the entertainment area of the John Force Racing company. She is coming to more races as Jacob and Noah (her sons) get older.”

Even though Ashley Force Hood stepped away from funny car racing, her sisters Courtney and Brittany Force (pictured) were NHRA fixtures after Ashley’s retirement. Ashley told John Force Racing’s website in 2018, “I’m so proud of how well my sisters are doing in their careers, not only the driving part, but also handling the pressures that come along with it.”

Even though it appears like Force Hood’s racing days are long gone, she has continued to renew her funny car license. This might leave the door slightly open for a return to the track one day.

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