The greatest driver in the history of NHRA – National Hot Rod Association – drag racing is calling it quits after a long and storied career.
Sixteen time Funny Car champion John Force has been a part of the sport for nearly 40 years. Force has decided that it is time to retire.
Seventeen months ago, Force was involved in a near fatal crash at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Virginia when an engine failure sent him flying into aa concrete wall at some 300mph; throwing him across the track to hit the other wall. Force sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash. Force also had a fractured sternum and leg injuries that resulted in months of therapy.
Now 76 with a total of 157 race wins – the most in NHRA history -, Force noted via video on social media, “I don’t want to go on forever, but I am officially done with driving. I hate to say that word. I said in media so many times, ‘Until this race car kills me, they’re gonna have to drag me out of the seat.’ But the truth is, I was dragged out of the seat at Richmond, and they thought it killed me then. So I’m lucky that I’m back walking, still under doctor’s orders.”
He continued, “it’s time for me to retire. I had medical stuff that I had to address, and ‘Do I want to get back in the car and get hit in the head?’ and I don’t. So, I guess it’s official, I’m done. I won’t say I won’t ever get in a car to warm it up or maybe even make a burnout. Don’t know. I guess it’ll be the response from the fans. If they cheer loud enough, I’ll hear ya.”
While he will no longer be behind the wheel, Force will continue to run John Force Racing in Brownsburg, Indiana with drivers Austin Prock, Jack Beckman, and Josh Hart.
Daughter Courtney retired from racing several years ago to start a family. At the end of the season, daughter Brittany is also retired to start a family.
The grandfather of six said, “I got a next generation that will follow me, just like my girls – Courtney, Ashley, and Brittany.” Some of those six grandchildren are already racing.
John Force NHRA stats:
16 championships – 1990-91, 1993-2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013
157 race wins
269 final-round appearances
qualified first 166 times
1,460 competition round wins