Two minutes with NHRA’s Ashley Force Hood and Robert Hight

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Fifty has been a lucky number for John Force Racing. John Force won the NHRA’s 50th anniversary race at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Robert Hight is the No. 1 qualifier for today’s 50th National Hot Rod Assn. Winternationals in Pomona.

During qualifying for the Winternationals on Saturday, Ashley Force Hood was watching her dad, John, race down the strip. Between races, the track announcer asked a trivia question: Which female driver has not won a Winternationals race? Shirley Muldowney and Melanie Troxel were among the incorrect answers.

Force Hood, much to her disappointment, was the right answer. When her name was announced, the crowd cheered. Force Hood said that wasn’t the best way to have her name celebrated at the drag strip and she would like nothing more than to change the answer to that question by winning today’s race.

Force Hood finished second in the NHRA funny car standings last year. Hight won his first NHRA funny car championship last year. Expectations are high at John Force Racing.

Before the elimination rounds began for the Winternationals, coincidentally on Valentine’s Day, Hight and Force Hood talked about, among other things, how they celebrate Valentine’s Day with their spouses, what it’s going to take to win the funny championship, and why Force Hood brings her two cats to the races.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for more video interviews of the drivers in the NHRA’s 50th Winternationals.

-- Tim Haddock