The Driving Woman

Bright and early Thursday morning, we discover the momentum behind the Driving Force, A & E's new hit reality television series, starring NHRA Legend John Force and his racing family -- his wife Laurie and three competitive daughters -- all cutting their chops as race car drivers. Drag racing might conjure up images of Grease Lightening and Rizzo waving the starting flags, but in actuality this is the world's largest motorsport, governed by the National Hot Rod Association. Ford Motor Company provides the hardware for teams like Force Racing that rely on a number of sponsors to operate, and in return, the crews tinker with technology to create the fastest vehicles possible, which eventually into commercial products.

The eldest daughter and 2005 top ten finisher Ashley Force and Eric Medlen (last week's big NHRA funny car winner at Sonoma) greet us for a full tour of the racecar shop -- likeable to a  training center for Olympians. Here is one of the Force programs two secret laboratories, where race cars are produced for drivers like Force to drive upwards of 275 miles per hour. The main headquarters are in California, but the Indy multi-million dollar complex plays an increasing role in the expanding enterprise.

While racing is both sport and business, to hear Force folks tell it, it's like a family with equal members, which is why the television show rooted in
reality works. Eric's father John Medlen is the his longtime crew chief. With Force providing the larger umbrella operation, it's a family living under the guise of a business, framed by a frank father who doles out his thoughts to his young adult daughters, growing pains included. With a candor that has capitivated a cross section of race fans and reality TV fans, the Force show has found its niche, extending taping beyond four initial episodes. They started filming in January at races and in typcial teen angst situations - like pre-prom interrogation.  While being trailed by a camera crew can sometimes be strangely invasive for the Forces, Ashley seems to be taking it in stride, with a gracious manner and calm, collected dispostion (Makes sense for a woman who battles G-Force for a living.)

From the business as usual approach at the shop, it doesn't seem like they're in the midst of celebrityhubbub - it's the prime of the race season, and racing takes first priority. Still, it can be sticky to negotiate a camera in everyday life. "In Houston we played an April Fool's joke on my dad that went horribly wrong. That show doesn't capture how wrong it went" Ashley shares as we peer at trophies attesting the Force Racing record. "I had to walk off and sit up in the stands, but I didn't have the right pass," she giggles at the absurdity of the memory. I asked if we could have a time out because we needed to race later that day."

Our touring group, composed of Ford Chief Operating Officer Anne Stevens, drivers Alison Macleod and Stephanie Mockler,  three lady car writers, and a couple Ford PR folks wander into Ashley's brand new trailer. She's only come to Indiana for the day, and the trailer is new to her, too.Her face lights up at the result. Soon it will be quite familiar, as she will spend much of her life on the road here, resting on violet trim benches watching her flat screen TV, between races.

While the Forces are helping bring new audiences to drag racing, the presence of women in the NHRA is remarkably strong compared to some of the motorsports. Later that day Melanie Troxel,  who is 32 and a champion drag racer shares some of her thoughts with me.  "I feel like I'm one of the elders. I think fans have always been great supporters. The big change we needed to see is people in decision making position. We needed to open their eyes to capable female drivers available. We'll see the success follow."

And just how do I get to chatting with Melanie Troxel? More on women, motorsports, and moments of empowering inspiration to come from Inidianapolis.