25 Reasons to Be Excited About Drag Racing: No. 1 – John Force is a Survivor
Going into the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, 16-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force was feeling as motivated as ever. At 75, just a few days away from the 37th anniversary of his first NHRA national event victory at Montreal in 1987, Force was seeking his third win of the season and the 158th of his esteemed career. He was also looking to add to his Richmond history, as he’s won four times in 12 appearances at Virginia.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #190, the State of Drag Issue, in September/ October of 2024.]
“This is the best car I’ve had in a long time,” Force said before the race, “and I want to give credit to [crew chief] Daniel Hood, [Chris] Cunningham, [Tim] Fabrisi and all the kids on the PEAK team that keep me motivated to keep going.
“I love driving and I love winning, and I’ve got a car that can compete,” he continued, “[but] I’ve got to get myself together. I got to the semis at Bristol [Tennessee, in the last race on the tour], but I should have been to the finals. All I had to do was be a little bit better on the light, but I wasn’t.”
Force was being a little hard on himself. After all, his .052 light against J.R. Todd in the semifinals at Bristol put him ahead of Todd and his .056 out of the gate, and his lights in the prior rounds weren’t that far off from teammate and Funny Car rookie phenom Austin Prock or any of the other frontrunners in the class. Even at 75, he’s proven he still has what it takes to compete in Funny Car with titans like Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III, and now Prock. He won at the Winternationals in Pomona, California, and the New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire. He left New England second in the Mission Foods Series points standings and held that position going into Virginia.
“I beat myself up when things go wrong,” he added, “because I’m racing with these kids for a title, and I’ve got to stay in fight mode.”
A few days later, Force would be fighting a different fight. As Force approached the 1,000-foot finish line in the opening round of Funny Car eliminations at the Virginia Nationals, a violent engine explosion blew apart the Chevrolet Camaro SS body on his PEAK Performance Funny Car, which then slammed into the left retaining wall at a high rate of speed. He actually turned on the win light over Terry Haddock, posting a 4.10-second E.T. at 302.62 MPH. After slamming into the left wall, Force’s car caught air and impacted the right wall before skidding to a stop.
Anyone watching the incident unfold live at the track or on the NHRA.tv live feed knew it wasn’t good, and when an update on Force’s condition was slow to come out after first responders reached him, it further drove home the point that this was one of Force’s worst crashes in a career speckled with fireballs and crashes. A collective sigh of relief came out when the NHRA on FOX cameras showed Force clearly in pain but alert on the stretcher as he was being taken from the car to the ambulance. He was then transferred to a medical helicopter to be transported to an ICU in Richmond for observation.
Hours after Force’s crash and a late afternoon rain shower that pushed the completion of Virginia Nationals eliminations into the evening, Prock and the Cornwell Tools team defeated Tasca III in the final round. It was Prock’s third win in nine races, and the 28-year-old dedicated it to his boss and friend.
“[The trophy] is going straight to the hospital to John Force,” Prock said from the winner’s circle. “He’s one tough son-of-a-bitch, I know that. It’s just tough to see somebody go through that, especially when it’s somebody you really care about, but I know he’ll be back. We’re race car drivers and we have to flip the switch. I know John wanted us to be out here, going rounds, and I’m glad we did our job.
“We wanted to get it done for him, but I almost felt like I was feeling the pressure early on in the day,” Prock also said. “I drove terrible in the second and third round. This team’s busting their tail out in this heat, and I don’t want to be the weak link and I wanted to get it done for John.”
The next day, John Force Racing released a statement saying Force remained in the ICU for continued observation. Due to the intense nature of the impact, doctors wanted to move slowly in assessing his injuries.
Four days after the crash, another statement announced that Force was moved from the trauma intensive care unit to the neuro intensive care unit, where the medical team could focus on his head injury. The same statement confirmed Force’s daughter, two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force, would sit out the coming Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, choosing to instead remain at the Richmond hospital, along with her mother, Laurie, and sisters Adria, Ashley, and Courtney.
On Sunday, June 30th, race day at Norwalk, JFR released another update on Force’s condition. The news was largely positive, and the good news spread quickly and led to some emotional moments during pre-race ceremonies at Norwalk, where Force raced for years in the track’s Night Under Fire match race long before the Ohio facility became an NHRA national event stop in 2007.
“Early in the treatment process of his Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), [Force] failed to follow the series of commands to open his eyes, squeeze the hands of his care providers and move his extremities,” the statement read. “Occasionally, he was able to respond with slight movements, but it wasn’t until he moved from trauma intensive care unit to neuro intensive care unit on Wednesday that he began to gain some momentum.
“He became more consistent responding to commands and finally opened his eyes on day five,” the statement continued. “Following days of failed attempts, his wife and daughters were overcome with emotion when he murmured his name, ‘John Force,’ and later when prompted, gave a thumbs up.
“The biggest challenge has been managing his extreme agitation and confusion, which causes him significant distress. He has repeatedly tried to get out of bed and has been restrained; his doctors have humorously described him as a raging bull. However, he recognized his daughters, and wife, Laurie, and called them each by name. And spoke the words, ‘I love you.’ This, along with continued daily progress, has uplifted their spirits.”
With the reassurance that one of the sport’s most beloved characters was on the mend, competitors in the NHRA Mission Foods Series got back to racing. Prock qualified No. 1 and appeared on track to get another win for Force, but Tasca stopped him with a .001-second margin-of-victory holeshot win in the semifinals.
The fans – of which Force has legions in the Norwalk area – weren’t the only ones who noticed his absence at Norwalk. Many of his friends and fellow competitors gave him shoutouts in top-end interviews and post-race press releases.
“It felt very weird this weekend not having the G.O.A.T. with us,” said motorsports legend and Top Fuel rookie Tony Stewart. “We are still thinking about John and their whole family. It’s a tough time for them and to not be at the track when you’re supposed to be at the track, it’s a hard feeling. It was great the team had the cars here and Austin [Prock] continued to race. I know John would want that. I’m glad John is plugging away. He’s a tough guy and doesn’t have any quit in him.”
Fans sign “Get Well Soon, John” banner at Summit Motorsports Park
Four-time and reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, who voiced his opposition of NHRA’s body tether rule in the days following Force’s crash, shared team owner Stewart’s sentiment as well after losing in the semifinals at Norwalk.
“We’re praying for John Force. It’s just not the same out here without that guy,” Hagan said. “It was great news today to hear he had opened his eyes and was talking and knew who he and who the girls are. We’re thinking a lot about him. He’s a big part of drag racing out here. When you think about things like that, it keeps everything in perspective about how little it matters to lose a round. I know everyone is working towards making these cars even safer.”
Though Prock didn’t get another trophy for Force, the Funny Car winner did dedicate his victory to Force. Tasca, whose team had an alliance with JFR in the early days of his Funny Car career, picked up his second win of the season.
“This morning when I woke up and I heard the positive news about John Force, it was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Tasca said. “This place is special to John and I dedicate this win to John Force. He will be back and he’s the toughest guy I know.”
The good news surrounding Force’s recovery continued on July 5th when JFR announced that Force was moved out of neuro-intensive care and into acute neuro care to continue treating his traumatic brain injury and the other injuries suffered in the crash, including a fractured sternum and wrist injury. The update added that while he still dealt with cognitive and behavioral symptoms, the 75-year-old was able to converse with medical staff and family members. He also regained his equilibrium, allowing him to start walking with assistance.
Four days later, and 15 days after he entered the ICU at VCU Medical Center, Force was released from the Virginia hospital. He then boarded an AirMed helicopter for a three-hour flight to a neurological rehab center in Arizona to continue treatment for his TBI.
With her father making strides in his recovery, Brittany Force returned to action in her Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for the 35th NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.
“I’m glad to get back to the racetrack after a tough few weeks,” said Brittany, who ran a special wrap to pay tribute to the late Frank Tiegs, a Northwest agriculture icon who supported JFR and its drivers through a few of his dozen-plus brands, namely Flav-R-Pac and Montana Brand Tools. “It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for our family since Richmond, but my dad has made great progress and we are all so proud of him. He has transferred now to a rehabilitation center closer to home.
“Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown,” Brittany said. “We’ve made great strides in our last few races and I’m eager to take that next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winner’s circle for the Tiegs family and my dad.
“It’s going to be hard to not have my dad at the track with me this weekend,” Force added, “but I know he will be watching from his rehab facility. Watching him fight his way back is what now motivates me to get back into the winner’s circle.”
Also in the days leading up to the Northwest Nationals, JFR announced the initial stages in the team’s plan to get Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS back in competition to continue contending for a world championship.
“After conversations with John’s team and with our partners, especially Brian Bohlander at PEAK and Jim Campbell at Chevrolet, and with John’s input and approval, we have begun taking the steps necessary to get the PEAK Chevy back on the racetrack,” said Robert Hight, the president of JFR.
The statement went on to say a to-be-announced driver would take over the driving duties of Force’s PEAK machine at Norwalk’s 47th Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire to get reacclimated and relicensed in a Funny Car.
While fans started speculating about the identity of the mystery driver, Prock went out and swept the Northwest Nationals, qualifying No. 1, winning the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and winning the overall event.
“There’s nothing better than racing for family and racing for John Force,” said Prock after securing his fourth win of the season. “An amazing day, another great day for this Cornwell Tools Camaro. I mean this year has been unreal, man. I can’t even put into words all the success that we’ve had. It’s just been a blur and I’ve been hanging on.
“[Force] told me before I got here, he said, ‘Hold down the fort for me,’ and we did just that,” Prock added.
A couple days after the Seattle race, Force was discharged from Barrow Neurological Institute. The JFR statement noted that Force will continue to receive treatment for his TBI, but on an outpatient basis near his California home. “He finally gets to sleep in his own bed,” said daughter Ashley Force-Hood.
On Tuesday, July 30th, JFR confirmed rumors when the team announced Jack Beckman as Force’s replacement driver for the balance of the 2024 season. The 2012 Funny Car world champion would make his debut in the PEAK Funny Car at Summit Motorsports Park’s Night Under Fire, where Force has been a headliner for decades.
“When you think about someone who can handle the driving, can deal with the media, take care of the sponsors and take care of the fans, there was only one obvious choice and that was Jack Beckman,” said Robert Hight. “Plus, he has history with Chris Cunningham [co-crew chief on the PEAK Chevy with Dan Hood and Tim Fabrisi] and has the respect of John’s family.”
Beckman was one of the top guesses fans would throw out on social media posts speculating about who would get the opportunity to drive Force’s iconic hot rod. The cancer survivor and U.S. Air Force veteran last raced competitively in 2020, spending the last few years as a full-time elevator technician. At 58 years old, Beckman didn’t necessarily envision a return to championship-contending Funny Car racing.
“It’s been nearly four years since I stood on the throttle, and I thought that feeling was something I’d never experience again,” Beckman said. “Though the circumstances that brought me back are regrettable, the opportunity presented to me is beyond my ability to find words. I’m not replacing John…nobody could ever do that. John is one of a kind, and his impact on this sport, and my life, cannot be overemphasized. I know how fortunate I am to have been picked to fill in for John, and I should be easy to spot in the pits. I’ll be the guy who can’t stop smiling.”
Beckman was an obvious choice for PEAK and its parent company, Old World Industries, thanks to his champion status, his repertoire with the fans, and the fact that he’s a genuine car guy.
“We’re happy to have the PEAK team back on track and Jack is the right person for this job until John can return,” said Brian Bohlander, Director of Marketing, Old World Industries. “It’s great for the fans and our customers as Jack is an automotive enthusiast and DIYer who will fit right in with our program on and off the track.”
When Beckman made his debut in the PEAK machine at Night Under Fire, he joined a long list of JFR drivers that have competed in the historic match racing event, including Tony Pedregon, Eric Medlen, Robert Hight, Mike Neff, Ashley Force Hood, Courtney Force, and Brittany Force, who joined Beckman in a special Cornwell Tools Top Fuel dragster.
During the pre-race ceremonies at Night Under Fire, track president Bill Bader Jr. gave a touching tribute to Force, who was still recovering at home. He also welcomed Beckman in his place, and the cheer of the crowd showed their approval.
David Hilner photo
The Force team nearly doubled up, as Brittany scored the Top Fuel win over T.J. Zizzo, while a mechanical failure prevented Beckman from defeating Dale Creasy Jr. in the Funny Car final. But most importantly, Beckman got reacclimated with stabbing the gas in a 12,000-horsepower Funny Car.
“We got to step on the throttle a bunch of times,” Beckman said. “I got the runs I needed to get my license [renewed] and we probably learned a couple things about the car. Remember, John and I don’t weigh the same [and] our driving styles are a little bit different. The crew and I are going to have to meld our styles together to where everything is predictable again for them [like] it was when John was driving.
“The biggest thing is now I know how to go home and visualize exactly what this car looks like, feels like, sounds like and responds like,” Beckman continued. “I’ll be better when we get to Brainerd. You have to remember, it’s a brand-new car. [It] had never been down the racetrack before, so I think we checked off all the boxes.”
As of this writing, Beckman was preparing for his points-earning debut at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota. Through NHRA’s substitute driver policy, Beckman will continue earning points for Force, who was second when he crashed and has only slipped to sixth in the standings going into Brainerd, the penultimate race of the NHRA regular season. Beckman will solidify the PEAK team’s position for the Countdown to the Championship at the 70th NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park over Labor Day weekend. Then, he’ll have the six-race Countdown playoffs to help Force win a 17th NHRA world championship.
“I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that it’s actually me sitting in John Force’s car,” said Beckman, a 33-time winner. “Robert Hight did a conference call on [August 2] and I got to speak to John for the first time since his accident. That was medicine for the soul.”
What comes next for Force remains to be seen, but we can all agree that a drag racing future with Force in it is a bright one.
This story was originally published on October 25, 2024.
The post 25 Reasons to Be Excited About Drag Racing: No. 1 – John Force is a Survivor first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
