Championship Drag Racing

Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Chicago, Ill.
(June 5-8)

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Driver Profile
Ashley Force
Castrol GTX Ford Mustang

Force wows crowd with provisional pole performance

Chicago, Friday:  As the air cooled and the sun set at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Castrol GTX driver Ashley Force electrified the crowd with a 4.759 second run at a booming 329.10 mph. The speed was a career best for the reigning Rookie of the Year and combined with the low ET of the day it has the Yorba Linda, Calif. racer poised to grab another piece of history in her young career.

“We’re racers and that speed means something.  By far my fastest (speed) by four miles an hour.  I haven’t had any effects from it (the wind) other than it pushed me around the pit area as you can see by my hairdo going on right now.  But, as far as on the track, I couldn’t really tell anything. Both lanes seemed good,” said Force. 

No female has ever qualified No.1 in NHRA Funny Car competition. Adding this record to her resume is not the top priority for the first female to win a Funny Car national event or the first female to hold down the No. 1 position in the Funny Car point standings. Another win and consistency is what Force has her eye on.

"I think it’s a matter of time before one of us (Force or Melanie Troxel) is going to get that No. 1 spot, hopefully, because we both have really good teams.  It would be nice to do because that would mean that we have a great car for (race day),” said the sophomore driver. “No. 1 qualifier or breaking records for females or whatever, when it comes down to it, we’re here to win a race.  If you go into race day with good qualifying laps then you just know you’ve got a better chance of winning.” 


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