Ashley Force Gainesville summary

ASHLEY LOSES BY .005 OF A SECOND IN LUCAS SERIES FINAL

Ashley Force, 23-year-old daughter of drag racing icon John Force, fell just short of winning her first event of the 2006 season when she was beaten by .005 of a second (approximately two feet) in the final round of a Lucas Sportsman Series race at Gainesville Raceway.

Ms. Force gave herself a chance against favored Aaron Olivarez when she forged a .031 of a second advantage at the starting line. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite enough to overcome Olivarez' 5.507 second quarter mile. Ironically, it was a re-run of the final round from last year's NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville -- with the same result.

The number five qualifier in the Top Alcohol Dragster field, Ashley beat John Finke in round one and upset No. 1 qualifier Bill Reichert of Owosso, Mich., in the semifinals.

After the race, Ashley flew to Phoenix, Ariz., where on Tuesday she was to test in one of her dad's Castrol Ford Funny Cars.

TEAM CASTROL Details:

ASHLEY FORCE, 23, Castrol Top Alcohol  Dragster

Qualifying position and performance: 5th at 5.425 seconds,  261.93 mph.

Race results: Beat John Finke, Bill Reichert; lost to Aaron Olivarez.

Notable: The final against Olivarez was a replay of the final  round of the
2005 Mac Tools Gatornationals, also contested at Gainesville  Raceway.

Quotable: "We had a very consistent race car and it was good  to win some
rounds.  We just need to find a way to beat Aaron."

-johnforceracing