Adria Force Hight, eldest daughter of NHRA legend John Force and CFO of his racing empire, dies at 56

Key facts

• Adria Force Hight died on April 28, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at age 56.
• She was the eldest daughter of 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force.
• Adria served as Chief Financial Officer of John Force Racing.
• She was one of the first employees of John Force Racing, starting after high school.
• Private services will be held, with burial at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, Indiana.
• A celebration of her life is planned later in 2026 in California.
• She is survived by her daughter Autumn Hight, fiancé Jimmy Collins, and her father John Force.

A life built around family and racing

Adria Force Hight, the eldest daughter of 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force and the former Chief Financial Officer of John Force Racing, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, surrounded by her family. She was 56. No cause of death has been disclosed. Born on June 4, 1969, in Huntington Park, California, Adria was the only child from John Force's first marriage, to Lana Starks. She grew up in Huntington Beach, where the sounds of drag racing were always in the background. Her childhood was filled with skating, swimming, collecting Matchbox cars, and playing restaurant with her siblings. After graduating from Huntington Beach High School, Adria joined the family business, becoming one of the first employees of what would become John Force Racing. The team was then a fledgling operation, and her early tasks included answering phones and selling T-shirts out of the race trailer at events.

From entry-level tasks to CFO of a motorsports powerhouse

Adria's tireless dedication helped transform a scrappy family operation into one of the most successful teams in motorsports history. She rose through the ranks to become Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the finances of a team that has won 16 Funny Car championships under her father. Her role was largely behind the scenes, but her impact was profound. As motorsports journalist Aaron England noted, "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." John Force Racing confirmed her passing via social media, calling her an instrumental figure in the organization's growth. Adria's siblings—Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force, and Courtney Force—all followed their father into professional drag racing, becoming drivers for the team. Adria, however, was the administrative anchor who made their careers possible, staying behind the curtain while they took center stage.

A mother, fiancée, and beloved sister

Adria was previously married to former NHRA Funny Car driver Robert Hight, with whom she had a daughter, Autumn Hight. Autumn is engaged to Nathan Prose, with plans to marry later in 2026. Adria and her fiancé, Jimmy Collins, recently moved to Indiana to be closer to Autumn. Her obituary described her as a devoted mother: "Adria loved being a mom to Autumn. They traveled the country going to the NHRA drag races and cheering on their family teams. Later on, Autumn started racing junior dragsters, and Adria was her biggest fan." Even after moving to Indiana, Adria bought a motor home to travel with Autumn to her Super Comp races at tracks in Norwalk, Bowling Green, and St. Louis. Beyond racing, Adria had a passion for music. She sang and played tambourine in a band called Mad Man Billy, which recorded CDs and performed at car shows and local restaurants. She also founded Civil Defense Music, a company dedicated to promoting rising artists.

Remembered for her warmth and ability to connect

Those who knew Adria described her as someone who could walk into a room and leave with friends she'd known forever, even if she'd just met them. She was the fun big sister who organized slumber parties with her puppy JoJo, trips to the roller rink, and concerts with her younger siblings. Her father, John Force, once reflected on how drag racing brought his family together: "I failed as a father, miserably. But drag racing, NHRA, brought them all home to me." Adria was the one who, quietly and without fanfare, helped build the home they all came back to. She is survived by her daughter Autumn Hight and her fiancé Nathan Prose; her mother Lana Starks; her father John Force and his wife Laurie Force; her fiancé Jimmy Collins; her siblings Ashley Force Hood and husband Daniel Hood, Brittany Force and husband Bobby Lyons, and Courtney Force and husband Graham Rahal; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Gracey and C.N. Bonee and Betty and Bill Force.

Private services and a future celebration of life

In accordance with Adria's wishes, private services will be held, with burial at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, Indiana. A celebration of her life is planned for later in the year in California, where friends and family will gather to honor her memory. The racing community has mourned her loss, with many noting her foundational role in John Force Racing. Her legacy is one of quiet dedication, building the infrastructure that allowed her family to achieve greatness on the track. As the obituary noted, "Adria was the foundational pillar in one of the best teams in NHRA history." Her daughter Autumn, engaged to be married, will carry forward the lessons her mother imparted, both at the racetrack and in life.

The bottom line

• Adria Force Hight, 56, died April 28, 2026, in Indianapolis; no cause given.
• She was the eldest daughter of John Force and CFO of John Force Racing.
• She started as one of the first employees, handling phones and selling merchandise, and rose to CFO.
• Adria was a devoted mother to Autumn Hight, who races junior dragsters.
• She also pursued music, fronting the band Mad Man Billy and founding Civil Defense Music.
• Private burial in Terre Haute, Indiana; a public celebration of life will be held later in California.