Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Force finally getting chance to be with daughter

Thursday, June 17, 2004 | 9:07 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.

John Force said he would have mixed feelings as he spends this Father's Day racing with his daughter, Ashley, at the K&N Filters SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

On one hand, Force, the 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion, said he is thrilled to finally be spending time with a daughter he admits he never got to know as she was growing up because he was busy racing. On the other hand, Force said watching his 21-year-old offspring race a Top Alcohol Dragster at 270 mph has its moments of terror.

"There's that fear factor that I hate," the elder Force said. "She's driving a 270 mile-an-hour racecar and that's no piece of cake. She's done very well, but she's my kid and you just feel a lot more responsibility."

In Ashley Force's case, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. The Cal State Fullerton graduate earned her first NHRA victory last weekend in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Rusk, Texas, and leads the Top Alcohol Dragster national points standings after 10 events.

Despite the occasional bouts of nervousness, the elder Force said he is enjoying the opportunity to get to know his daughter.

"Well, in the first 18 years of her growing up, I can actually say that I didn't know her," he said. "She was my kid and I loved her, but I just didn't know what made her tick because (I was) so busy out here chasing the dream.

"Probably in the last two years, I've spent more time with her than I ever did (before). I always say what NHRA took away from me, now they've given back to me by allowing her a place to play and to do what she loves. And it's starting to appear that she truly does love it -- which is all I ever really wanted; for her to love drag racing as much as I do."

John Force, who red-lighted against Phil Burkart in the second round of eliminations last weekend at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio, has two victories this season and is third in the NHRA Funny Car standings, 83 points behind front-running Whit Bazemore.

According to several news outlets, which quoted a Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office report, Nicky Savoie, 30, allegedly broke into his estranged wife's house and fired his gun into the floor. After Angelle Savoie tried to escape, Nicky Savoie brought her back inside the house to discuss their pending divorce, the report said.

Nicky Savoie, who played tight end at Louisiana State University and spent one season in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, surrendered at the sheriff's office and was released from jail on $100,000 bond. He is charged with phone harassment, false imprisonment, illegal discharge of a firearm, simple battery and domestic aggravated burglary, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.

After one newspaper account of the incident was posted on a racing Web site, Nitromater.com, Angelle Savoie called the report "inaccurate" in a posting titled "Don't Believe Everything You Read Or Hear," on her own Web site, angmotorsports.com.

"Let me start by saying that the ridiculous article that has been posted on Nitromater does not state facts, that is not what happened. And even if it were ... it's is (sic) nobody's business but mine," her post began.

"I am touched by the concern most have shown for my safety and sanity but this is so incredibly unbelievable that I can't have issues at home without them being plastered on the web (with total inaccuracy at that!). Do not believe everything you read or hear. Nicky has not been at the races because he has been fishing. And that is the only reason."

Nicky Savoie owns a boat charter company in Mathews, La.

Angelle Savoie has one Pro Stock Bike victory this season and is fourth in points heading into this weekend's K&N Filter SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

A complete schedule of the weekend's events can be found at www.lvms.com.