“But I do have one advantage other drivers don’t. When you’ve seen your dad roll down a hill in a ball of snow or run a Chinese fire drill around your rental car in a big sombrero, you don’t look at him the same way another driver might.”
Even without the sombrero, John Force casts a broad shadow over racing. In addition to his 14 series titles, he displays the spoils from 122 event victories at the former Yorba Linda car dealership that is now home to John Force Racing.
And perhaps more powerful than his car is his personality. A tireless promoter at age 57, he can talk till he’s hoarse, and then talk some more. No one works a room or a fan rope line like Force, who looks so much like Gary Busey that there can be only one choice to play him in the movies.
His story does have a lot of Hollywood in it. Former truck driver who grew up in a trailer park pulls himself up by his racing bootstraps to become a sports hero. But along the way his driven nature sabotages relationships with his wife and children, until he finds redemption in the third-act reconnection with his progeny via the very thing that tore them apart: racing.
Of course, it wouldn’t hurt that the children were young and attractive women.
Enter Ashley and her amateur racing sisters Brittany, 19, and Courtney, 17. Right behind them come the reality TV producers.
It’s been two years since producer Brent Travers first started following the family around with a handheld camera, and other crews became part of the Forces’ daily lives. “Driving Force” debuted in July on A&E, earning ratings strong enough that the original commitment of six shows expanded to 14. There are expectations of a second season, although nothing is final yet.
Ashley calls her TV experience positive, and the Force sisters now affectionately refer to Travers as “the brother we never wanted.”
Travers says Ashley is a key reason the show has succeeded.
“If it were just about drag racing, the story wouldn’t be that interesting for us,” he said. “But once I met with John and Ashley, I could see the interesting family dynamic. John, of course, is a very strong-willed person, but Ashley can hold her own with him or with anyone. Behind her quiet exterior is a bright and clever young woman.”
In one episode, John warns Ashley about the potential dangers of Funny Car driving as she prepares for a testing run. He details the times he’s been on fire and how a rival driver lost part of a foot to a clutch malfunction. Then there’s a pause.
“Don’t ever take up a career in motivational speaking,” Ashley deadpans.
