ohn Force Racing remains strong in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series despite a heartbreaking accident earlier this year. As the team advances toward the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona Dragstrip, they carry with them the weight of a tumultuous 2024 campaign
The season took a horrible turn in June when John Force, the stalwart of John Force Racing and a 16-time NHRA champion, was involved in a large accident at the Virginia Motor Sports Park. The crash resulted in a severe brain injury, necessitating extensive rehabilitation and keeping Force away from the racetrack for an extended period of time.
This event not only sidelined Force from important races but also posed considerable challenges for his team. During this period, Jack Beckman stepped into the PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car in Force’s absence.
The accident’s impact rippled through the team, affecting not just performance but the entire dynamic and morale. The response was immediate and heartfelt, with drivers prioritizing support for the driver. Upon Force’s return to Las Vegas, the emotional and physical boost was palpable among the John Force outfit
John Force (2nd L) congratulates ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits as #1 Top Driver which included Racers including (L to R): Garlits, John Force, Bob Glidden and Kenny Bernstein during ceremony at Pomona Raceway, November 11,… More Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
Despite these challenges, the team’s performance remained commendable. Brittany Force, John Force’s daughter, conquered a nearly two-year drought by clinching her 17th career Top Fuel victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“Having my dad here for the first time since his crash, it wasn’t pressure, it was more heart behind every single person on the team,” Brittany said at the time.
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Racing
John Force Racing Fights Through Tragedy to Keep Dreams Alive as Team Excels in 2024
Published Nov 14, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST
01:04
By Alex Harrington
Sports Contributing Writer
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John Force Racing remains strong in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series despite a heartbreaking accident earlier this year. As the team advances toward the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona Dragstrip, they carry with them the weight of a tumultuous 2024 campaign.
The season took a horrible turn in June when John Force, the stalwart of John Force Racing and a 16-time NHRA champion, was involved in a large accident at the Virginia Motor Sports Park. The crash resulted in a severe brain injury, necessitating extensive rehabilitation and keeping Force away from the racetrack for an extended period of time.
This event not only sidelined Force from important races but also posed considerable challenges for his team. During this period, Jack Beckman stepped into the PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car in Force’s absence.
The accident’s impact rippled through the team, affecting not just performance but the entire dynamic and morale. The response was immediate and heartfelt, with drivers prioritizing support for the driver. Upon Force’s return to Las Vegas, the emotional and physical boost was palpable among the John Force outfit.
John Force
John Force (2nd L) congratulates ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits as #1 Top Driver which included Racers including (L to R): Garlits, John Force, Bob Glidden and Kenny Bernstein during ceremony at Pomona Raceway, November 11,… More Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
Despite these challenges, the team’s performance remained commendable. Brittany Force, John Force’s daughter, conquered a nearly two-year drought by clinching her 17th career Top Fuel victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“Having my dad here for the first time since his crash, it wasn’t pressure, it was more heart behind every single person on the team,” Brittany said at the time.
Austin Prock, another driver for John Force Racing, has given us a sterling season in the Funny Car division. Prock broke the single-season record for No. 1 starts in Funny Car, a title previously held by John Force himself. With his sights set on his first Funny Car championship, Prock’s Las Vegas success marked his 12th career win. Reflecting on the season, Prock said the following:
“We’ve had the emotions of going through John’s accident, which was a terrible time in the season. We’ve also had so much success. It’s been like a little bit of both. Things were really good this year and things were really bad.”
Beyond individual victories, the team’s strong performance in Las Vegas represented a collective effort.
The team’s still holding together and getting the job done. I think that’s something to be proud about,” Prock said. “You just gotta roll with the punches. Life’s difficult sometimes. We just had to manage the best we could. I felt it made all of us a little bit stronger,” he further stated.
Prock stands on the verge of securing his first Funny Car championship, requiring only a successful qualifying run in Pomona to clinch the title. For Brittany Force, the upcoming event offers an opportunity to climb further in the standings, despite trailing the leader by 118 points.
