NHRA News: Force is a grandfather; Ashley is an aunt (9/10/2004)

Force is a grandfather; Ashley is an aunt

9/10/2004

Twelve-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force became a grandfather for the first time and Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Champion Ashley Force an aunt following the Friday birth of Autumn Danielle Hight to Force's oldest daughter, Adria, and her husband, Robert.

The birth came at 1:05 p.m. (PDT) at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, Calif. Autumn Danielle weighed six pounds, eight ounces at birth and was 18 inches tall.

Adria Hight, 35, is the CFO for John Force Racing, Inc. Her husband was the clutch specialist on Force's Castrol GTX Funny Car for five championship seasons and now is the California Facility Manager and test driver for drag racing's most successful team. He earned his Funny Car license earlier this year after attending Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in Gainesville, Fla.

Although the parents chose not to determine in advance whether the baby would be a boy or a girl, Force assured the media during the U.S. Nationals that it would, in fact, be a girl. "Us Forces don't have boys," he quipped, a reference to his four children, all girls.

Unfortunately, the proud grandfather had little time to enjoy the moment. He was booked on a redeye flight Friday night to Rhode Island, where he is scheduled to make a Saturday appearance, along with rookie teammate Eric Medlen, at Tasca Ford.

The 113-time tour winner canceled a morning flight so that he could be with his daughter for the birth.

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