Ashley Force Is My New Danica Patrick

That's it. She's done it.

Ashley Force has officially stolen my heart.

Named "Hottest Athlete" just last year here on AOL, the drag racer Force won her first-ever NHRA Funny Car event late last month in Atlanta (yeah, take that, Danica!). With that, she officially stole the No. 1 spot in my heart among racing chicks. Here's why:

1) She's smokin' a whole lot more than tires: Face it, Ashley Force is much, much hotter than Danica Patrick and Sports Illustrated can ever make her out to be.

To me, Ashley has just got "it", while Danica was center stage for awhile because she was the best looking female available to racing fans' eyes when she jumped on scene in the IndyCar series. Ms. Force just deadened that thought.

Here's my vote for the next racing girl in the Swimsuit Issue to be of the drag racing variety.

All About Ashley

Ashley Force pulls off something no other female driver has ever done in history. The NHRA driver tops her father John on Sunday in the Southern Nationals to become the first woman to win a national Funny Car event.

Auto Imagery / AP

Force ran the quarter mile in 4.837 seconds at 320.36 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to deny her dad his 1,000th career round win. "It's great for her that she gets that win and gets that out of the way," said John Force.

Auto Imagery / AP

The 24-year-old Force accomplishes the feat less than a year after she was the overwhelming choice of AOL Sports readers in our Hottest Athlete Tournament. She credited her dedicated fans for driving her to the title.

NHRA / AP

According to Force Racing Web site, Ashley is the 10th woman in NHRA history to earn a license to compete in the Funny Car division. In Top Alcohol, she won five NHRA national events.

Gary Nastase Photography

Ashley and John Force made NHRA history in 2007 when they became the first father and daughter to race against each other. Ashley won then too, with a top speed of 317.05 mph.

Mark J. Rebilas, US Presswire

Her signature victory came at the 2004 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where she took the title in the Top Alcohol division.

NHRA

Force placed in the top 10 in national points in each of her three seasons in Top Alcohol Dragster, according to johnforceracing.com.

Mark J. Rebilas, US Presswire

The Force family is legendary in the world of drag racing: From left, mother Laurie, sister Courtney, father John, Ashley and sister Brittany.

A&E

Force grew up in California and lists her hobbies as movies, video production, shopping, kickboxing and spending time with family and friends.

John Sciulli, WireImage.com

2) Her win last month wasn't a surprise: When Danica won her first IndyCar race in Japan, the sports world was shocked. When Ashley Force beat her dad in the funny car final in Atlanta -- to keep him from his 1,000-career win, nonetheless -- the racing world applauded her, but didn't make a fanatical deal about it.

Why? Well, its been obvious for a while now Ashley is more than ready to continue a successful drag racing career in the NHRA. The previous two events before her win, she moved up the elimination ladder all the way to the finals each time.

Oh, and the fact that she is leading all other Funny Car drivers -- including her 14-time champion dad -- in the point standings says a little something, doesn't it?

3) She doesn't have the Danica attitude: There's really nothing worse than watching an IndyCar race that Danica doesn't win because undoubtedly ESPN will find a way to get a dejected Danica on air. And once she's there, she doesn't stop the complaining.

Of course, it all comes with quite the everyone-should-bow-down-to-me attitude -- similar to that of an irritated Tony Stewart.

I'm yet to see that with Ashley, even after she has involved in a particularly nasty crash. [Catch her interview at 4:07]

She takes her licks, thanks her team, and tries to move on. That's a racer.

Danica Patrick

Race driver Danica Patrick waits for the start of practice on the first day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 10, 2008. An accident Friday occurred in the pits, where Dale Coyne Racing crewman Charles Buckman was knocked to the ground by the front wing of Danica Patrick's car as she drove into her pit. Buckman, who was walking through the pits, was taken to the hospital with a concussion and cuts to his face and scalp. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Driver Danica Patrick sits on the pit lane wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis before the qualification session May 10, 2008. REUTERS/Brent Smith (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Driver Danica Patrick laughs while talking with her crew during practice time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis before the qualification session May 10, 2008. REUTERS/Brent Smith (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Charles Buckman, a crewman for Dale Coyne Racing, is treated by crewman and emergency personnel after he was struck by a car driven by Danica Patrick as she returned to her pit during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2008. He was taken to Methodist Hospital with a concussion and lacerations. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

Danica Patrick walks out of the pit area after her car struck a crewman from Dale Coyne Racing during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2008. Patrick was returning to her pit when her car struck Charles Buckman. He was taken to Methodist Hospital with a concussion and lacerations. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, leads teammate Danica Patrick through the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2008. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Danica Patrick heads through the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2008. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 9: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 9, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gavin Lawrence/Getty Images)

Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 9: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, looks on during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 9, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gavin Lawrence/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Driver Danica Patrick leans on the pit lane wall during practice time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis May 9, 2008 ahead of Indianapolis 500 qualifications on May 10. REUTERS/Geoff Miller (UNITED STATES)

Reuters