John Force has confirmed his intention to return to the NHRA racing scene, specifically attending the upcoming races in Las Vegas next week. This decision comes as Force continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury sustained in a dramatic accident during the NHRA Virginia Nationals earlier this year.
While he will not be competing behind the wheel, his presence at the events are a huge moment in his recovery journey.
In June, amid the fiercely competitive elimination rounds at the NHRA Virginia Nationals, John Force experienced a devastating accident. His Chevrolet Camaro SS suffered a catastrophic engine explosion, resulting in a high-speed crash at speeds exceeding 300 miles per hour. The fiery mishap left Force conscious but in critical condition.
Swiftly transported to VCU Medical Center, Force spent 15 days under medical care before being moved to the Barrow Neurological Institute, where his treatment continued with a focus on cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation. After weeks in neurological rehab, he was discharged to continue his recovery through outpatient care in his home state of California.
Due to Force’s absence from the driver’s seat, Jack Beckman, a respected NHRA driver and the 2012 Funny Car World Champion, has been standing in for him for the remainder of the season.
Whilst speaking to the media following securing her 50th No. 1 qualifying position, Force’s daughter Brittany commented on the “tough season.”
“Our focus this year is just improving on last season. We came out of a tough season. It’s been tough for us this year and just setting goals for ourselves, trying to achieve them and then we get set back and we’re trying to achieve another one. So really our focus is on our lane, in our pits, [and] what we can accomplish.
“That’s not what everyone else is doing around us. That doesn’t seem to help us. We could use it as motivation, but it’s what the guy in the lane next to us is doing. It doesn’t affect how we’re setting up our car or how we’re running. We stay focused in our lane and really move forward with that.
“The cool thing is it was a collective thing. It wasn’t just done with one team. It was done with so many teams and so many different crew chiefs who I’ll always look up. They all taught me things along the way that I still use to this day. So I’m very thankful to them that they’re part of my whole career in getting that 50.
“50. It seems like an impossible number. Just hearing the number 50, like, ‘Wow, we’ve really done that.'”
