Ashley Force Englishtown notes

ASHLEY FORCE RUNNER-UP IN LUCAS SERIES RACE

MERCIER, MANZO CLAIM SPORTSMAN TITLES AT ENGLISHTOWN

Canadian Dan Mercier ended Ashley Force's two-year reign as Top Alcohol Dragster champion and Frank Manzo extended his dominance of the Top Alcohol Funny Car division in Sunday's Lucas Sportsman Series stop at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Ms. Force, 23-year-old daughter of 13-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force, struggled in qualifying at the wheel of the Castrol dragster owned by Californians Jerry Darien and Ken Meadows before finding her game in eliminations.

The No. 6 qualifier, she beat Jeff Veale in round one and Mike Kosky in round two before being turned back by Mercier, 5.562 to 5.613. It was Ashley's third trip to the final round in five Lucas Series appearances this year. Although she has won twice this season in the NHRA POWERade Series (at Gainesville, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga.), she still is seeking her first win at the regional level.

A licensed fuel Funny Car driver who is expected to move up in classification either next year or the year after, Ashley won the Englishtown race in 2004 and 2005.

Manzo, who last week won the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind., took out arch-rival Bob Newberry in the Funny Car final.

-credit: jfr