Ashley Force Reynolds wrap up

ASHLEY RUNNER-UP AT SILVER DOLLAR RACEWAY

Ashley Force drove the Castrol dragster all the way to the final round of the Lucas Sportsman Series race at Silver Dollar Dragway in Reynolds, Ga., before dropping a narrow decision to Aaron Olivarez.

Despite the final round setback, Ms. Force moved up to fourth place in national points by reaching the money round for the fourth time this year in Lucas Series competition. Although she has yet to win at the regional level, the 23-year-old was the Top Alcohol Dragster champion at the ACDelco Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., and at the Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta.

The number three qualifier at Silver Dollar, Ashley beat Artie Allen in round one and then avenged a final round loss to Dan Mercier at last month's Lucas race at Englishtown, N.J., by turning back the Canadian driver in the semifinals. In the final, her 5.528 wasn't quite good enough to cover the 5.495 put up by Olivarez.

It was the next-to-last appearance of the season for the daughter of 13-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force. She will close out her year at the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona, Calif.

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