The racing world is mourning a deeply personal loss following the reported passing of Adria Hight, the eldest daughter of NHRA legend John Force. She passed away on April 28 at the age of 56 in Indianapolis, Indiana, with loved ones by her side. The cause of her death has not been announced.
Motorsports journalist Aaron ‘AJ’ England announced the sad news of Force’s daughter’s death on X, writing:
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“Adria Hight (John Force’s oldest daughter) has passed away at 56. While much of her work happened behind the scenes, she was there from the very beginning of JFR, helping build it from the ground up. Thinking of the Force family during this time.”
Force had four daughters, and Adria Hight was the oldest one. She worked behind the scenes and serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for John Force Racing (JFR), playing a key role in the team’s rise and success.
As she worked behind the scenes, her influence within the organization was widely acknowledged by those close to the sport. From the JFR’s early struggles to its championship-winning years, she remained a constant presence, contributing to its operations and growth in meaningful ways.
Unlike her sisters, Adria joined the family drag racing business, working for her father after completing her graduation.
John Force is the greatest drag racer in NHRA history
Last year, John Force hung up his helmet from formal racing after a historic 46-year-long career. He is arguably the greatest Funny Car driver of all time, a 16-time NHRA and one-time AHRA Funny Car champion driver, a 22-time champion as a car owner, and a winner of 157 NHRA national events.
The 76-year-old was known for his often-called unmatched dominance, long burnouts, and being the owner of JFR.
NASCAR legend Tony Stewart, who has spent some time racing alongside Force in the NHRA paddock, once praised his fame and charisma, saying they extend far beyond drag racing.
“I wasn’t even into drag racing and I knew who John Force was and was a big fan of John. You get the opportunity to actually race around the guy and be in the pit with him and get to know him before he got hurt… I don’t know anybody can emulate that. John’s just a one of a kind personality. I mean, He truly is a larger-than-life personality. That’s the only way to describe him.” Stewart said.
Force now continues to lead his team JFR, a major dynasty in drag racing with 24 total championships.
Edited by Yash Soni