In a recent news article appearing the in the Orange County (Calif.) Register, the possibilities of when Ashley Force will make the leap from a Top Alcohol Dragster to a full blown Nitro breathing Funny Car was discussed. The idea of Ashley running part-time in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in 2007 could become a reality but could jeopardize her rookie status.
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past three years, you know that Ashley Force is the oldest of three daughters to John and Laurie Force. Ashley was the first to show interest in the family business and started slowly, cutting her teeth in the sportsman category, Super Comp. She moved to Alcohol Dragster in 2004 and has shown talent and experienced success in that time frame. She won the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and also shared the winners’ podium with her dad in Pomona, Calif., their home track. Now this season, Ashley earned her Funny Car license in April by covering the quarter-mile at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 4.936 seconds at 315.86 mph. She has also been testing her dad’s car on the Monday’s following NHRA national events to gain more experience and seat time in a nitro Funny Car. By the time Ashley makes the transition and starts qualifying and racing on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, she will be well prepared and the best equipped. When that happens and how it happens could be a cause for concern.
In Damian Dottore’s article, John Force said that Ashley would potentially split time between her Alcohol Dragster and Funny Cars. From what I gathered, Ashley would run in the alcohol ranks full time (About 16 races) and would race the Funny Car when her alcohol car takes the weekend off. The NHRA POWERAde Series holds 23 races a year. The schedule is not out for 2007 but I am rather confident that the all 16 race dates for her alcohol car will not conveniently fall on weekends the professional tour is idle. Splitting time between the two series could severely hamper Ashley’s chances of winning the Auto Club Road to the Future Award, The NHRA’s Rookie of the Year award. The eligibility for status of a rookie is a driver that has not competed in more than four NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in a single season. Once Ashley runs five or more races in a Funny Car, she will be considered a rookie in the POWERade series. If she is not running full time in a Funny Car, it makes no sense to essentially burn up her rookie eligibility if she is going to be concentrating on the alcohol ranks and not the professional car. I am unaware of who will be brand new to the NHRA professional ranks in 2007 but no matter who the rookies will be, they stand a better chance of winning the award if they run all 23 events than Ashley who could split time.
You would think that John Force would want to give his daughter the best chance of being named the Rookie of the Year. Robert Hight, John’s son in law, was named the Triple-A Road to the Future Award winner in 2005. You would assume he would want the same for Ashley. The extra $20,000 that goes along with the award is not too bad either.
We all know John Force is all about winning races and championships. Getting more seat time and experience for Ashley will put her in the best position to do that. Then again, you only have one shot to be a rookie of the year and why eat up that status by only running part-time? Will the extra year of training and experience hurt her? Not at all. It actually will prepare her more. If Ashley is not ready to run full-time in a Funny Car, then continue on the path John Force Racing has taken this season. Let Ashley run the alcohol dragster as her primary car in 2007, test on Mondays following NHRA national events and continue to get experience. Ashley is only 23 years-old. It is not like John needs to rush her into the car quickly. She will have the best equipment and the best crew and the best financial backing of any rookie in recent history. You obviously want to give her the best chance of winning an award that only comes along once in her career. I am sure the sponsors and fans are chomping at the bit to get Ashley in a Funny Car. Imagine the media frenzy she would create almost to the level of what we have seen with Danica Patrick. Then again, patience is a virtue and rushing her into a 7,000 horsepower, fire breathing Funny Car might not be the best choice right now.