‘RIP’: Motorsport World Rallies Around American Legend After Daughter’s Tragic Passing

Adria (Force) Hight — June 4, 1969 – April 28, 2026

From gathering Matchbox automobiles in childhood alongside the California coast to working together with her father as one of many first staff of John Force Racing, Adria Force Hight was the foundational pillar in among the finest groups in NHRA historical past.

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Born on June 4, 1969, in Huntington Park, California, the one youngster from John Force’s first marriage, Adria grew up in Huntington Beach, the place the chaos of drag racing was at all times someplace within the background.

When the crew was nonetheless in a budding stage, she did all of it — from answering telephones to promoting T-shirts out of the race trailer. That tireless dedication finally led to her changing into the CFO of the crew, as she helped rework a household operation into some of the profitable groups in motorsports historical past.

But Hight was greater than an excellent businesswoman and crew member. At house, she was the enjoyable massive sister to Ashley, Brittany, and Courtney. Slumber events at her apartment together with her pet JoJo, journeys to the curler rink, live shows, and hours spent hanging round recording studios have been their type of weekend.

Music ran by every thing Adria did. She sang and performed tambourine in a band referred to as Mad Man Billy, they usually weren’t simply playing around both; they recorded CDs, performed automotive exhibits and native eating places, and even obtained out on the sand at Pismo Beach. Beyond performing, Adria had an actual ear for expertise, so she channeled that very same ardour into Civil Defense Music, her personal firm devoted to giving rising artists a platform.

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While she was not a driver, she was the one who made it attainable for the operation to perform – the eldest sister who stayed behind the executive curtain whereas her youthful siblings took middle stage on the observe.

Ashley Force Hood turned an NHRA Funny Car driver, the primary daughter to drive professionally for the crew. Brittany Force turned some of the profitable Top Fuel drivers within the sport, successful a number of championships. Courtney Force drove Funny Car professionally earlier than retiring to boost a household with IndyCar driver Graham Rahal.

But Adria’s tasks prolonged far past. John Force as soon as candidly spoke about how the game introduced his household again collectively: “I failed as a father, miserably. But drag racing, NHRA, brought them all home to me.” And Adria was the one who, quietly and with out fanfare, helped construct the house all of them got here again to.

Her ardour for racing was handed on to her daughter, Autumn, whom she shared together with her former husband, Robert Hight, some of the achieved Funny Car drivers in NHRA historical past.

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Hight and her daughter would journey to race weekends to observe and cheer for his or her groups within the NHRA collection. But their time collectively wasn’t solely about racing. The two of them, typically with Grandma Lana on the town, traveled to locations like Memphis, Vegas, Hawaii, and Puerto Vallarta.

There have been additionally moments nearer to house, like wandering the LA farmers market collectively, preparing for the Country Music Awards, and watching American Idol. Wherever the three of them landed, they by no means stayed strangers for lengthy – due to Adria, who had that impact on folks. She walked right into a room and left with associates she’d identified ceaselessly, even when she’d simply met them 5 minutes in the past.

Even after she moved to Indiana together with her fiancé, Jimmy, a transfer made partly to be nearer to Autumn, Adria purchased a motor house in order that she may journey together with her daughter to her Super Comp races. She beloved spending time together with her daughter on the Norwalk, Bowling Green, and St. Louis racetracks.

Autumn is engaged to Nathan Prose, with plans to marry later in 2026, and Adria, by all accounts, can be smiling at her from above, passing down all the teachings that Autumn will at all times bear in mind.

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Adria handed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, surrounded by her household. She was 56, and personal providers might be held in accordance together with her needs, with burial at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, Indiana, and a celebration of her life is deliberate for later within the 12 months in California.

In an official assertion, John Force Racing introduced the information of his loss of life through their social media:

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Adria (Force) Hight, the oldest daughter of John Force. After graduating from Huntington Beach High School, Adria joined the family drag racing business, becoming one of the first employees of John Force Racing.”

Motorsports journalist Aaron England, who first shared the information publicly on