A First Round Loss for Ashley Force - Shreveport

A First Round Loss for Ashley


       SHREVEPORT, La. - For the first time this season and just the third time in her career, Ashley Force lost in the first round of eliminations at the South Central Division event last weekend at Red River Raceway.

	Force, the defending South Central Division champion was cursed throughout the weekend with an ill racecar.  Her 3,000 horsepower nitro-injected A/Fuel dragster's best run was a 6.010 second elapsed time, four hundredths off the competitive pace of the fastest cars in the field.

	After qualifying seventh, the twenty-two year was eliminated by number two qualifier, Brandon Pierce.  "We think the car may have a demon in it," Ashley said.  "It drops cylinders right at the hit, picks them back up and then drops other cylinders."

	Next weekend Ashley and her Castrol/Hot Wheels team will be taking on the Top Alcohol Dragster field at the 17th Annual O'Reilly Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kansas.
	
	"We'll get it figured out.  Jerry (Darien) is the best," the California girl smiled.