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

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

From collecting Matchbox cars in childhood along the California coast to working with her father as one of the first employees of John Force Racing, Adria Force Hight was the foundational pillar in one of the best teams in NHRA history.

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Born on June 4, 1969, in Huntington Park, California, the only child from John Force’s first marriage, Adria grew up in Huntington Beach, where the chaos of drag racing was always somewhere in the background.

When the team was still in a budding stage, she did it all — from answering phones to selling T-shirts out of the race trailer. That tireless dedication eventually led to her becoming the CFO of the team, as she helped transform a family operation into one of the most successful teams in motorsports history.

But Hight was more than a brilliant businesswoman and team member. At home, she was the fun big sister to Ashley, Brittany, and Courtney. Slumber parties at her condo with her puppy JoJo, trips to the roller rink, concerts, and hours spent hanging around recording studios were their kind of weekend.

Music ran through everything Adria did. She sang and played tambourine in a band called Mad Man Billy, and they weren’t just fooling around either; they recorded CDs, played car shows and local restaurants, and even got out on the sand at Pismo Beach. Beyond performing, Adria had a real ear for talent, so she channeled that same passion into Civil Defense Music, her own company dedicated to giving rising artists a platform.

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While she was not a driver, she was the one who made it possible for the operation to function – the eldest sister who stayed behind the administrative curtain while her younger siblings took center stage at the track.

Ashley Force Hood became an NHRA Funny Car driver, the first daughter to drive professionally for the team. Brittany Force became one of the most successful Top Fuel drivers in the sport, winning multiple championships. Courtney Force drove Funny Car professionally before retiring to raise a family with IndyCar driver Graham Rahal.

But Adria’s responsibilities extended far beyond. John Force once candidly spoke about how the sport brought his family back together: “I failed as a father, miserably. But drag racing, NHRA, brought them all home to me.” And Adria was the one who, quietly and without fanfare, helped build the home they all came back to.

Her passion for racing was passed on to her daughter, Autumn, whom she shared with her former husband, Robert Hight, one of the most accomplished Funny Car drivers in NHRA history.

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Hight and her daughter would travel to race weekends to watch and cheer for their teams in the NHRA series. But their time together wasn’t only about racing. The two of them, often with Grandma Lana in town, traveled to places like Memphis, Vegas, Hawaii, and Puerto Vallarta.

There were also moments closer to home, like wandering the LA farmers market together, dressing up for the Country Music Awards, and watching American Idol. Wherever the three of them landed, they never stayed strangers for long – because of Adria, who had that effect on people. She walked into a room and left with friends she’d known forever, even if she’d just met them five minutes ago.

Even after she moved to Indiana with her fiancé, Jimmy, a move made in part to be closer to Autumn, Adria bought a motor home so that she could travel with her daughter to her Super Comp races. She loved spending time with her daughter at 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, would be smiling at her from above, passing down all the lessons that Autumn will always remember.

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Adria passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, surrounded by her family. She was 56, and private services will be held in accordance with her wishes, with burial at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, Indiana, and a celebration of her life is planned for later in the year in California.

In an official statement, John Force Racing announced the news of her death via 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 news publicly on X, captured her impact simply: “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.”