Ashley Corinne Force Hood (born November 29, 1982) is a former NHRA Funny Car drag racer who competed for John Force Racing, following in the footsteps of her legendary father, 16-time NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car champion John Force. Known for breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of drag racing, Ashley became the first woman to win in the TF/FC category. She is also a media executive and mother, balancing a successful career with family life.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Ashley grew up immersed in the world of drag racing. After graduating from Esperanza High School in Anaheim, California, where she was a cheerleader, she earned a B.A. in Communications from California State University, Fullerton in 2003. Despite her media aspirations, racing was always in her blood.
She made her professional debut in 2004 as a Top Alcohol Dragster driver. That year, she won three of the season's final five races, including the prestigious 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. By the end of the season, she ranked fourth in national points, setting the stage for her meteoric rise in NHRA drag racing.
Professional Racing Career
In 2007, Ashley Force Hood advanced to the NHRA Professional ranks, driving a Castrol-sponsored Mustang Funny Car for John Force Racing. That same year, she made history as she and her father, John Force, became the first father-daughter duo to race each other. Ashley not only won the race but also tied for the best-ever Funny Car event finish by a female driver at that time.
Ashley continued to break records throughout 2008. On April 27, she secured her first NHRA Professional-category win at the Summit Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia, defeating her father in the final round. This victory made her the first woman ever to claim an NHRA Funny Car win, and she continued to dominate the circuit with several other podium finishes throughout the season.
By 2009, Ashley had cemented her place in drag racing history, winning her second event at the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals and becoming the first woman to win at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two different classes. She finished the 2009 season in second place overall, marking the highest finish for a woman in Funny Car history.
Shift to Media and Retirement from Racing
In 2011, Ashley took a break from competitive racing as she and her husband, Daniel Hood, prepared for the birth of their first child. During this time, she transitioned into a new role as President of John Force Entertainment, a media subsidiary of John Force Racing, focusing on developing media content and projects.
While her hiatus from racing was originally planned as temporary, Ashley later announced her retirement from competitive racing to focus on her growing family and media career. However, in 2014, she briefly returned to the track during a test session, renewing her NHRA Funny Car license. This allows her to remain involved with the sport as a reserve driver if needed.
Personal Life
Ashley married Daniel Hood, a parts manager for the Castrol GTX Funny Car team, on December 13, 2008, in Lake Tahoe. The couple welcomed their first son, Jacob John Hood, on August 18, 2011. Outside of racing, Ashley and Daniel are the proud owners of two American Bobtail cats, Simba and Gizmo, who were featured on Animal Planet’s Cats 101 in 2010.
As of 2012, Ashley remains actively involved with John Force Entertainment, where she creates media content and videos for fans. She has successfully transitioned from a racing icon to a media entrepreneur, continuing to make her mark in the world of motorsports.
Ashley Force Hood’s legacy is a testament to her skill, determination, and ability to break barriers in both racing and media.
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