Ashley Force Hood, who a year ago became the first female to win an NHRA funny car race, enters next weekend’s Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway atop the funny car standings.
In 12 races, the daughter of 14-time NHRA champion John Force has made five final-round appearances, winning once and advancing to the semifinals a division-most seven times.
Given the magnificent history of John Force Racing, her success is not surprising — unless you compare it with how her three teammates with identical equipment have been running.
John Force, Mike Neff and Robert Hight are eighth, ninth and 12th in the points, respectively, and are all winless on the year. Combined, Force, Neff and Hight have made one less semifinal appearance (six) than the less-experienced Force Hood.
“She’s just doing real good, keeping her nose clean, and she has a great team that has some magic right now,” John Force said last week by phone. “I just told her to not get a big head, take it a week at a time, a round at a time, and keep loving what she’s doing.”
As for the statistical discrepancies from his daughter, who is in her third funny car season, and the three more experienced drivers, Force is dumbfounded.
“We can’t figure it out. Same combinations, basically, same cars,” he said. “I just think, when’s it’s your time, it’s your time. Her car just goes down the racetrack.”
Force Hood, 26, says her team might just have better luck.
“I’m very proud of my team. Our camp has really been on a roll, but we haven’t gotten egos about it,” she said by phone. “It’s strange how it works out, with the experience all four teams have, that we’re the only one on a roll.
“But that is how drag-racing is. You go through slumps, you go through rolls. We’re thankful we’ve been able to keep out of the slumps, but we’re not taking it for granted because it could all change quickly.”
Western swing begins.
Bandimere will again kick off what is known as the “three races in three weeks” Western swing. Last year, top fuel’s Tony Schumacher captured all three races to become the sixth driver to do so. The others are Joe Amato (top fuel, 1991), John Force (funny car, 1994), Cory McClenathan (top fuel, 1997, Larry Dixon (top fuel, 2003) and Greg Anderson (pro stock, 2004).
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
