Ashley Force Hood’s bid to succeed her father as champion of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals came up just short Sunday at Heartland Park-Topeka where points leader Ron Capps sped to his fourth victory of the season.
The No. 1 qualifier, Force Hood was victimized in the final round by something her Castrol GTX team has avoided much of the season – a loss of traction.
With her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang ahead near half track, Ashley suddenly had her hands full as the 8,000 horsepower hybrid darted toward the left side guard wall. For all intents, that ended the 26-year-old’s bid for her third pro victory.
“It was a wild ride,” said the graduate of Cal State-Fullerton. “It was going good but then it got into trouble. I was trying to pedal it and steer it. It really was making sudden moves. I was just fortunate that I was able to keep it in between everything. I always think it’s further down track, but they said it was about half track.
“When it was getting in trouble, that’s when I saw him come around me,” said the first woman ever to win an NHRA Funny Car race. “I did my best but he would have had to had troubles, too, for me to have caught up to him after that.”
Despite the result, Ashley moved from fourth to third in Full Throttle points behind Capps and Del Worsham as the tour moves now to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., for this week’s U.A. Route 66 Nationals.
“We’re gonna keep our sights set on that No. 1 spot,” Ashley said. “I don’t think it’s out of our reach. We just kind of need to stay focused.and keep fighting the fight.”
Ashley’s performance salvaged the weekend for Team Castrol whose other Funny Car members were eliminated in the first two rounds.
John Force, who had won the Summer Nationals a record nine times previously, appeared to have a car capable of adding No. 10 until it slowed down in a second round race against Capps.
“My car hauls ass one run and the next run it won’t. Why? I don’t why. That’s what we’re trying to find out,” said the 126-time tour winner who will move on to Joliet in ninth place in the Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang.
It was a one round day for the other two team members, Robert Hight and Mike Neff, drivers of the Auto Club and Ford Drive One Mustangs, respectively, and the result left both outside the Top 10.
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