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A million hearts just BROKE

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Congrats to NHRA Funny Car driver Ashley Force and Danny Hood, who tied the knot on December 13th in Lake Tahoe amidst a beautiful snowfall.

Guests included other drag racing families such as the Bernstein, Worsham and Wilkerson families.

It was snowing on my wedding day and my photographers said they didn’t care that we were going to go out and take pictures outside in the snow. I am glad they did that now but at the time I was freezing and I would have liked to have been in my firesuit. — Ashley Force-Hood

And what did the girl who is most comfortable in a 20 layer clutch-dust ridden firesuit and a helmet think of her billowy white wedding dress and formal attire?

It was kind of fun to wear a dress. I thought I might not like it as much as I did. I loved the dress I picked but I was kind of dreading being in a dress and heels all night. I was thinking this is going to stink and I am going to be so miserable and uncomfortable but I think that since it is your one day in your life that you do that you try and enjoy it. I snuck in and wore, not race boots but, Ugg boots kind of the same style. That made it a lot easier to take off the heels after a while and slip on those boots.” –Ashley Force-Hood

*Shhhh!*

 

That sound you hear is about a million hearts breaking across the Drag Racing nation, as the 2007 AOL Hottest Athlete of the Year is officially off the market now.

 

I wonder if she will now be Mrs. Ashley Force-Hood or if Danny will just be Mr. Ashley Force? Hmmm.

Congrats to the newlyweds from all of us here at Horsepower & Heels!

 

Photos: (top left) Flower girl and niece Autumn Hight, Ashley, and Danny. (bottom right) the Bridal party all bundled up and shivering for snowy wedding portraits

 

All Photos courtesy: NHRA.com

Features Site: Female Racing News

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First off,

WELCOME ALL NEW READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS!

Thanks for stopping by and supporting Horsepower & Heels! We really appreciate you, and hope that you stick around and enjoy life behind the scenes with Horsepower & Heels Racing as we are getting ready to annouce some big new things…. AND…. GASP! Get the CAR back out to the racetrack! (I know, FINALLY!)

I wanted to take a moment to tell you all about a new site that is launching, Female Racing News. As most of you know, I’m a huge supporter of anything related to women in motorsports, and FRN’s creator, Amanda Martin, is working to give all women racing a place devoted to sharing their news and promoting women in the sport.

FYI: H&H TV Episode 1 is the Featured Video on the site. 🙂

For those ladies involved in motorsports reading this, FRN is definitely one to add to your list. And if you’re the outspoken type (or like me, who never shut up), they’re even recruiting writers to contribute to site. (yes, look for my ramblings to appear in a future FRN article to be announced)

Non-Subscribers: If you want to stay up-to-the-minute on Horsepower & Heels, I invite you to check out the little subscribe box at the top right of this blog (and on the Horsepower & Heels TV page as well!). By plugging in your email, you will automatically be notified of new posts, so you never miss any of the action. Best part… its FREE! (and you’ll be helping me out with potential sponsors, so THANKS!)

Lookout Barbie, a new pink car in town

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Ashley Force is debuting a pink rendition of her Castrol sponsored Mustang Nitro Funny car at “The Big GO” in Indy this weekend.

As much as she’s a proponent of Girl Power, I wondered why she had never incorporated a pink theme into her graphics. Well, this weekend she will be racing a Bubble Gum Pink racecar as her Rookie of the Year themed entry. The special edition is a one-race appearance, so unfortunately it will be short-lived.
What a great idea in getting back to the Shirley Muldowney-inspired symbolism! Big thumbs up for this one!
(photo courtesey: John Force Racing)

Ashley Force poetry

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Found this on Ashley Force’s Myspace. I think its great!

‘Twas the Week Before Indy…..
‘Twas the week before Indy and all through the town
I ran last minute errands in my Mustang all around
To the dry cleaners to pick up my dirty fire suit
The hair salon to touch up and condition my roots
Packing my luggage…I’d be gone for 12 days!
The piles of clothes in my closet had become quite a maze!
So hopeful I was for this upcoming race
To beat up on the boys and try to take first place
For now the big challenge was not to win rounds
But to pack up my luggage in less than 50 pounds
Off to LAX airport we hoped not to be late
We checked in, went to security, then up to our gate
Race credentials and schedules filled up my bags
But of course I had room to grab a couple gossip mags!
Now I sit on this plane thinking of my upcoming week
The packed schedule of race teams is not for the meek!
But I made sure to relax and get my rest
To be ready for our upcoming race and feel my best
Indy brings many memories, some high some low
Now it’s time again, so here we go!
First we stop by Chicago to visit family
Then Florida to film a show about Sanyo TV’s
Tuesday we head up to Indy on an evening flight
In time for dinner at Andy’s for our weekly team night
Wednesday a press conference in downtown Indianapolis
We’ll talk about the Indy race that no fan will want to miss!
Some radio, newspaper and magazine interviews
I’ll talk about racing dad, and how I hope not to lose!
And also how motivated Team Force is to win
Then it’s back to our Indy shop to film with ESPN
Wednesday winds to an end but the fun just began
We’ll head to the bowling alley with our crews and their fam
I’m not too good at bowling unless it’s on Wii
If you’re in the lane next to me you might want to flee!
Early the next morning after a quick Starbucks run
It’ll be off to Ford to meet fans and have a little fun
A few more interviews and a trip to Wal-mart
Things for my trailer and the race, fill up my cart
We’ll head to our home (the Comfort Inn Suites)
To clean up and change…and rest our feet!
Then back to the city for a Mac Tools event
After that it’s to bed…what a week! I’m spent!
As I climb in to bed I don’t have to count sheep
While brushing my teeth I’d twice fallen asleep!
What a crazy but fun busy week this has been
And tomorrow is when the race will actually begin!
I can’t wait to get to the track with my team
Meet with sponsors and fans and drive that Funny Car machine
We hope to race and get qualified so that we can play
On the day we all look forward to racing on…Race Day!
National Anthem, Prayer and then the cars start
Engines roaring to life is for sure the best part!
Many memories and great times at this historic place
And now I’m so excited to be a part of the big Indy Race!

More than a tomboy

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It never ceases to amaze me.

I do something as casual and unassuming as wearing a dress to work, and you’d think the apocalypse was upon us.

“Whoa, Erica! Look at you! You are actually wearing a DRESS! And, ::gasp:: you have LEGS!?!”

NEWSFLASH: Despite my inclination to wear racing tanks/t-shirts and a firesuit, I DO actually wear a dress and heels from time-to-time in everyday life.

So for those who are in disbelief that I might actually look like a girl sometimes, here you go:

Yes, I do wear skirts and dresses.

Yes, I do *actually* wear heels on a regular basis.

And yes, occasionally, you might even catch me wearing make-up too.

(oh, and yes, that is my little teacup chihuahua, Blanca)

Now that we have that myth debunked, we can all carry on….

The year of girl power

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What a year its shaping up to be for women in Motorsports!

Danica Patrick started it off getting her first win for IRL in Japan. She became the first woman to do so for the league.
Then, Ashley Force grabs her first win in NHRA Funny Car at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta. Ashley became the first woman to ever win in NHRA Nitro Funny Car, making history in a win over her father.

She was followed close behind by Melanie Troxel also in Funny Car. Melanie became the first woman to win both in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, in only her 8th start in the floppers.
And now Hillary Will, the lone Top Fuel lady for 2008 grabs her first win in T/F Dragster!
Congratulations ladies and thanks for representing us women and what we are capable of in Motorsports!