NHRA results: Ashley beats father John in all-Force final

Published 7:49 pm Sunday, April 27, 2008

COMMERCE, Ga. — Ashley Force beat father John on Sunday in the NHRA Southern Nationals to become the first female driver to win a national Funny Car event.

Ashley had a winning run of 4.837 seconds at 320.36 mph at Atlanta Dragway in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to take a 59-point lead over Tim Wilkerson in the season standings. John, seeking his 1,000th career round win, lost traction at the start, finishing way behind Ashley with an 11.223-second run.

“I’m just happy to win an event. That was the main thing,” Ashley said. “Being a female, that’s exciting as far as the records and everything, but my team, we just wanted to get our first win. We went a whole year last year and got close a few times. To finally get it done, we’re just so excited.”

She beat Del Worsham, Jim Head and Ron Capps en route to the final.

“At the top end, Dad just came over and congratulated me and told me and my team, ‘Good job.’ I think Dad’s done this enough years that he has the same routine and doesn’t care who’s next to him, whether you’re related to him or not.

“I’m the one who needs to practice and not be thinking about that. He wants his 1,000th win as well. Mom and I had it figured out, though. He can get it next week on his birthday — that will be special — and I can get my first win here.”

Antron Brown picked up his second win of the season in Top Fuel, beating points leader Tony Schumacher in the final round. Brown drove his Matco Tools dragster to a 4.537 run at 325.14, beating Schumacher on a holeshot.

In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards raced to his first win in over two years, driving his Young Life Pontiac GXP to a 6.680 run at 206.20. Edwards’ run was just enough to beat runner-up Jason Line, who appeared in his second consecutive final round.

Andrew Hines topped the two-wheelers with a run of 6.946 at 191.40.

NHRA-Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals results

Sunday at Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga.

Top Fuel

1. Antron Brown. 2. Tony Schumacher. 3. Rod Fuller. 4. Bob Vandergriff. 5. Cory McClenathan. 6. Hillary Will. 7. J.R. Todd. 8. Doug Herbert. 9. David Grubnic. 10. Morgan Lucas. 11. Brandon Bernstein. 12. Terry McMillen. 13. Alan Bradshaw. 14. Doug Kalitta. 15. Todd Paton. 16. Larry Dixon.

Funny Car

1. Ashley Force, Ford Mustang. 2. John Force, Mustang. 3. Bob Tasca III, Mustang. 4. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger. 5. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala. 6. Gary Densham, Impala. 7. Cruz Pedregon, Impala. 8. Jim Head, Toyota Solara. 9. Tony Pedregon, Impala. 10. Jack Beckman, Charger. 11. Robert Hight, Mustang. 12. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo. 13. Jerry Toliver, Charger. 14. Mike Neff, Mustang. 15. Gary Scelzi, Charger. 16. Del Worsham, Impala.

Pro Stock

1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP. 2. Jason Line, GXP. 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt. 4. Justin Humphreys, GXP. 5. Ron Krisher, Cobalt. 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt. 7. Greg Anderson, GXP. 8. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus. 9. Dave Connolly, Cobalt. 10. Warren Johnson, GXP. 11. Greg Stanfield, GXP. 12. Rickie Jones, Stratus. 13. Dave Northrop, Pontiac GTO. 14. V. Gaines, Stratus. 15. Bill Glidden, GTO. 16. Todd Hoerner, Stratus.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson. 2. Chip Ellis, Suzuki. 3. Craig Treble, Suzuki. 4. Angelle Sampey, Buell. 5. Matt Guidera, Buell. 6. Shawn Gann, Suzuki. 7. Matt Smith, Buell. 8. Chris Rivas, Buell. 9. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki. 11. Hector Arana, Buell. 12. Mike Berry, Suzuki. 13. Junior Pippin, Buell. 14. Edward Murphy, Suzuki. 15. Michael Phillips, Suzuki. 16. Steve Johnson, Suzuki.

Finals

Top Fuel

Antron Brown, 4.537 seconds, 325.14 mph., def. Tony Schumacher, 4.521, 329.58.

Funny Car

Ashley Force, Ford Mustang, 4.837, 320.36, def. John Force, Mustang, 11.223, 85.97.

Pro Stock

Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.680, 206.20, def. Jason Line, GXP, 6.680, 206.92.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.946, 191.40, def. Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.958, 190.70.

Point Standings

Top Fuel

1. Tony Schumacher, 511. 2. Antron Brown, 485. 3. Larry Dixon, 415. 4. Cory McClenathan, 386. 5. Brandon Bernstein, 322. 6. Rod Fuller, 321. 7. Hillary Will, 305. 8. Doug Herbert, 278. 9. David Grubnic, 265. 10. Doug Kalitta, 254.<

Funny Car

1. Ashley Force, 438. 2. Tim Wilkerson, 379. 3. Cruz Pedregon, 351. 4. Robert Hight, 323. 5. John Force, 321. 6. Tony Pedregon, 319. 7. Gary Densham, 315. 8. Jack Beckman, 311. 9. Ron Capps, 276. 10. Del Worsham, 253.<

Pro Stock

1. Jason Line, 489. 2. Jeg Coughlin, 465. 3. Greg Anderson, 428. 4. Kurt Johnson, 394. 5. Allen Johnson, 372. 6. Mike Edwards, 359. 7. V. Gaines, 314. 8. Warren Johnson, 307. 9. Justin Humphreys, 276. 10. Greg Stanfield, 275.<

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Andrew Hines, 289. 2. Matt Guidera, 264. 3. Matt Smith, 251. 4. Chip Ellis, 248. 5. Angelle Sampey, 177. 6. Eddie Krawiec, 145. 7. Chris Rivas, 139. 8. Hector Arana, 118. 9. Shawn Gann, 117. 10. Craig Treble, 114.