DEARBORN -- Ashley Force, who is zeroing in on the NHRA Funny Car record book, was among the Ford drivers participating in Thursday's Ford Employee Appreciation Day at the company's World Headquarters.
Just a rookie, the Ford Mustang Funny Car drag racer and daughter of NHRA legend John Force already has become the first female Funny Car driver to reach a semifinal round -- she's done it twice this season -- and is bidding to set other female firsts in the division, including winning a Funny Car event. Ashley Force currently is seventh in points, ahead of her famous father and many other competitors.

"As a driver, she's unbelievable; (she) puts it in the groove. Under pressure, she never shows it," beamed John Force, a 14-time NHRA champion who lost to his daughter in the NHRA's first dad-vs.-daughter matchup this year in Atlanta. "Ever see the baseball movie 'The Natural'? I wasn't a natural. But she seems to be a natural."

Ashley Force says she's had her highs and lows this season and credits her father and teammates Robert Hight and the late Eric Medlen for preparing her for the rigors of drag racing -- both on and off the track.

While she patiently signed autographs for Ford employees on Thursday, the line grew longer with both men and women. Among them was Ford accountant Kari Theisen.

"I think she's a great addition to the John Force Team. I wouldn't mind her being my mentor and me (drag racing) one day. It won't happen, but I'd love to do it," said Theisen.

Marty Willim, who works at Ford's Woodhaven (Mich.) Stamping Plant, was another fan who braved near-90-degree heat to meet Force.

"Ashley is an excellent driver now, and she's going to be even better when she gets a little more experience under her belt," he predicted.

Force says she's proud to be involved in a sport that is attracting a variety of fans, especially kids and females.

"I am glad to see so many women out there enjoying the sport because when I grew up, I loved it. My sisters loved being at the races as well," said Force, who is featured with her father and the rest of the family in the A&E reality show "Driving Force." "There are a lot of things you can do besides just sitting the stands and watching the races. It really is kind of family-oriented."

Ashley and John Force were joined by other Ford drivers, including 2003 Nextel Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, for the Ford employee event, which also featured a question-and-answer session.

"We want to give back a little bit to the employees who have sacrificed so much to carry out the Way Forward plan," said Bill Wynne, North America Motorsports marketing manager, Ford Racing Technology. "We have some very rabid Ford Racing fans among our employees, and this is a way of saying thanks."

Following the program, the drivers took the wheels of the company's production vehicles at the Dearborn Development Center to help familiarize them with the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups.

"Our primary objective is to polish the Blue Oval by winning races, but our drivers also have opportunities to talk up the company's production vehicles," explained Wynne. "So, we want them to experience our products first-hand."

Source: ford.com

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