Ashley Force Hood had fun on her final run. She wasn’t going to but looking over at Jack Beckman reminded her of a lesson he taught her when she first started driving.

“Jack taught me when I first learned to drive a race car, it was a Super Comp dragster, when I was 16,” Force Hood remembered. “It’s just amazing that ten years later he and I are still driving, Nitro Funny Cars. I always love running him because you see how much fun he’s having and I tend to get nervous. It’s a serious thing, you’re going into the final. You want to do well.

“I pull up there and he’s having fun with his guys and that reminded our team we need to have some fun; we’re in the final round at Houston. It changed my nerves for the better.”

Ashley Force Hood had fun on her final run. She wasn’t going to but looking over at Jack Beckman reminded her of a lesson he taught her when she first started driving.

“Jack taught me when I first learned to drive a race car, it was a Super Comp dragster, when I was 16,” Force Hood remembered. “It’s just amazing that ten years later he and I are still driving, Nitro Funny Cars. I always love running him because you see how much fun he’s having and I tend to get nervous. It’s a serious thing, you’re going into the final. You want to do well.

“I pull up there and he’s having fun with his guys and that reminded our team we need to have some fun; we’re in the final round at Houston. It changed my nerves for the better.”

Feeling better, Force entered the right lane knowing it was not the best. Yet, when all was send and done, she was the winner.

“Him and I went up there and had our race and fortunately we came out on top and I was surprised. That right lane, I knew a lot of people were struggling. I just wanted to get A to B; not make any mistakes. I was sure surprised when that win light came on. And then, I double checked about ten times on my radio to make sure it was actually my win light.“

While Force’s first win cam against her father, she was happy this one did not, despite having to meet him in the semi final round.

“I’m glad we didn’t have to match him in the final,” she admitted. “I am glad I was able to race him sooner than that.  You know, it’s been something our team has had to deal with - that our first win had to be against  Dad. I’ve had a lot of people, not to many, say, ‘Oh you think you’re dad gave it to you’. It’s just heartbreaking because we know, NO, my dad would never give away any round win.”

Beating Beckman in the final takes away all those questions.  Ashley Force is not just a winner, she’s a two-time winner who’s father definitely showed how happy he was. Pumping his fist high in the air, Force suddenly flung his sunglasses and his hat into the grandstands as he celebrated another Force Racing victory.

THANKS ASHLEY, LOVE DAD - The first thing John Force told his daughter Ashley Force Hood after she bested Jack Beckman in the finals of the Funny Car ranks at Houston Raceway Park was, “thanks”.

“He said thank you because it’s been a tough couple of years that this team has gone through,” explained Ashley. “We haven’t had the success that he’s had in the past.  I think it’s a big part of how competitive this funny car field is. I think to get that win for our sponsors, to show them that we’re still in it and not out of it was big. I think that’s what he was most happy about.”

Happy enough, in fact, to start the celebration without his daughter.

“Oh yeah, he’s out there celebrating right now,” said Ashley as she finished up the post race interviews. “He’s still out there partying like crazy, but I’m just happy that he didn’t fall off his bike because that normally happens. He gets so excited, but he forgets he’s on a scooter.”

Sounds like the day he forgot Ashley was in the car, left it in drive and it rolled down a small embankment.