When Ashley Force Hood begins to mentally prepare for the intense challenge of a 300 mph side-by-side race in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, part of her routine is to evaluate her competition. She analyzes her opponents’ strengths and examines their tendencies during their pre-race routines at the starting line. Ultimately she will try to exploit any weaknesses that she sees.

While that process works well for the majority of her rivals in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, there are two drivers that she feels like she may know just a little bit too well: her father, John Force, and her brother-in-law, Robert Hight.

When Ashley Force Hood begins to mentally prepare for the intense challenge of a 300 mph side-by-side race in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, part of her routine is to evaluate her competition. She analyzes her opponents’ strengths and examines their tendencies during their pre-race routines at the starting line. Ultimately she will try to exploit any weaknesses that she sees.

While that process works well for the majority of her rivals in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, there are two drivers that she feels like she may know just a little bit too well: her father, John Force, and her brother-in-law, Robert Hight.

Both are currently at the top of their game and among the drivers Force Hood may have to defeat if she is going to win the 41st annual NHRA SuperNationals, June 10-13 at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Force Hood, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang and the first female to win a Funny Car race in NHRA history, says while facing one of her teammates on the dragstrip can be a tough chore, ultimately it is more of a stress-free race, knowing that no matter the outcome, the team is going to advance to the next round.

 “When I run against them, the pressure is off,” said the three-time tour winner who has earned 10 No. 1 qualifying positions in her career. “I feel when I run dad or Robert, we can have some fun, not make ourselves nervous or sick, but may the best car win.  It’s a different feeling than running another team, the (Don) Schumacher (Racing) teams, (Cruz or Tony) Pedregon, (Del) Worsham, all the other teams we compete against.  You do feel different going against them.”

Force Hood says the strength in numbers philosophy gives her a reason to cheer even after her day may be over at the track. If her teammates are still alive in competition, she has the opportunity to turn from driver to cheerleader, and wave the team flag.

“When you go out (of the race), it’s a saving grace for you that even though you lost, you still have people to go up on the starting line to root for and cheer on,” she said.

  Last season Force and Hight did a lot of cheering for Force Hood early in the season. She had her best season to date, winning twice in eight final rounds and finishing second in the final season standings. Her father had his worst season in more than two decades in 2009 and Hight struggled early in the season before a late rally allowed him to win the season championship. This year, both Force and Hight are off to very strong starts with three wins apiece and Hight just overtook Force – the season-long points leader – atop the Funny Car standings with his fourth straight final round. Force Hood has been in a couple of final rounds and is currently tied for third place entering this weekend’s second race in a grueling stretch of seven races in eight weeks.

“Last season around this time in the year, through the spring and summer, my team, everything kind of came together for us and we were running really good,” Force Hood said.  “We were winning races, going to final rounds, leading the points a few times during the season.  It was very bittersweet because we were so excited to be a newer team and be doing so well, yet our own teammates were both struggling.  My dad and his team, who won so many years, had such success, who we learned from, and also Robert’s team, who came so close year after year to that championship.  Those were the two that we really felt would be the ones going after the No. 1 spot, yet we found ourselves in that position.”

As the trio are once again 1-2-3 in the point standings (with Matt Hagan tied for third with Force Hood), Force Hood says she would like to see the final Funny Car finish order be that way. She would be happy if any of the three secures the No. 1 for their car.

“But the thing I can say about that is both of those teams (last year), they never showed that they were envious or upset,” she said.  “They were just a hundred percent supportive.  They cheered us on.  They were on that starting line whether it was a semi or final that we were in.  Even if it was them that we beat the round before, they would come over and help us out.  They really did feel at the end of the day we were one big team.  It was great to know they were happy for us.   Now when the tables are turned, we can give our support as well.  If we struggle, we’ll be there cheering them on.  Coming November, we want any of these cars to be in the No. 1 spot.  To be 1‑2‑3 would be amazing.”