Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Force says he can help daughter, focus on own racing

Thursday, March 7, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Now that 11-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force is adding his daughter's Super Comp dragster to his already busy stable, there is a buzz around the pits that the 52-year-old Force is getting soft.

Force, who is one win away from notching his 100th career victory, is adamant that helping 19-year-old Ashley break into drag racing will not effect his quest for his 100th win or a 10th consecutive Funny Car championship.

"I've already heard it from people: 'He is going to lose focus because of his daughter and he is going to forget how to race,' " Force said. "Let me tell those people something: I have more than 25 years of learning how to win. I know when you have to focus on winning and I know when you have to focus on your daughter.

"Trust me, at 52 years old, they are talking to a polished veteran with a clean medical report. I'm ready to race -- more than ever because I have something to prove. I need to prove that I can win a 10th championship in a row and I need to prove that I can win a championship in general. I can also prove that at 52, you are as good as ever."

The gregarious Force, who is one of the most popular drivers on the circuit, said being around his daughter has allowed him to make up for lost time.

"I may have failed her in the first 19 years of her life (but) I don't want to fail in the next 20 years," Force said. "This damn NHRA, I've been on the road 25 years. I've been a good father as far as loving my children and as far as supplying them with all that they need (but) I don't believe that a phone call from Englishtown, New Jersey, is as good as a hug and putting them to bed.

"I missed all that in the last 19 years with Ashley and especially my oldest, Adria. The best thing about Ashley racing is that I get to be around my daughter."

Troxel will be driving Rick and Larry Michaels' Western Rock dragster, which the Michaels family purchased from the widow of the late Bobby Baldwin.

Troxel, 29, posted career-best runs of 4.576 seconds and 326.08 mph during her brief stint with Schumacher Racing in 2000. She will replace Wyatt Radke behind the wheel of the Western Rock dragster. Wyatt was released as the driver after the Michaels' bought the team.

The second points race of the 2002 National Performance Center E.T. Bracket Series will take place on Sunday. Sunday's competition also will feature the Jerry's Nugget Casino Reaction Time Bonus Award.

Gates open both days at 8 a.m., time trials begin at 9 and eliminations start at noon.