Racetrack Insider - News and Views of the Motorsports Industry from Insiders Drew Patey and Buddy Judy

Ashley Force Hood Wins NHRA US Nationals

If you can win just one race in your career, the US Nationals is the one. On Monday, Ashley Force Hood stepped into the history books by scoring the victory in the Funny Car class of the NHRA and taking Safety-Kleen to the winners circle. She won the 2004 "Big Go" in the Alcohol Dragster class and on Monday got the chance to add a Funny Car win by reaching her sixth final of the season. The road to the winners circle was not easy as Ashley had to defeat Matt Hagan, followed with wins over Jeff Arend and a tough Tony Pedregon. The final round was a contest pitting two John Force Racing teammates - Ashley against her brother-in-law Robert Hight. At the finish line, it was all Ashley as Robert's car was spitting parts and pieces out of the pipes and losing power at the finish line. In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher won for the eighth time this year. He beat TJ Zizzo, Rod Fuller and Brandon Bernstein on the way to the final round against Safety-Kleen supported Larry Dixon. In the money round, it was all Schumacher as Dixon smoked the tires in a 3.861, 314.17 to 4.20, 228.50 contest. In the Pro Stock final, it was Jeg Coughlin and Greg Stanfield in a rematch of the Las Vegas final. Coughlin won again, this time by only .001-second. Jeg collected his fourth Indy win and seventh this season with a run of 6.689, 206.48 to a loosing 6.691, 206.35. The Countdown to the Championship moves to Charlotte in two weeks with only six races left to determine the championships.