HRA Legend Pays Tribute to John Force at US Nationals: The End of an Era
Few names are as iconic in motorsports as John Force. This year, the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, presented by Toyota, carries a poignant undertone as it marks Force’s absence. The event, which leads up to the Countdown, is missing Force due to a serious brain injury he suffered in a nearly fatal accident near Richmond, Virginia.
John Force, a legend in drag racing, has made a lasting impression on the U.S. Nationals, securing five Funny Car victories and competing an impressive 43 times. He has always been a fixture at what he called “the biggest drag race in the world.”
This year, though, his PEAK Chevy Camaro is being driven by 2012 Funny Car champion Jack Beckman while Force concentrates on his recovery.
Force’s absence has resonated throughout the racing world, with fellow driver Ron Capps offering a heartfelt recognition of Force’s influence.
HRA Legend Pays Tribute to John Force at US Nationals: The End of an Era
Published Aug 29, 2024, at 6:45 PM EDT
By Alex Harrington, Sports Contributing Writer
Few names are as significant in motorsports as John Force. This year’s U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, presented by Toyota, carry a bittersweet tone due to Force’s absence, resulting from a severe brain injury sustained in a near-fatal accident near Richmond, Virginia.
John Force, a drag racing legend, has made a lasting impact on the U.S. Nationals, securing five Funny Car wins and competing 43 times. He has always been a staple at what he described as “the biggest drag race in the world.”
This year, Force’s PEAK Chevy Camaro is driven by 2012 Funny Car champion Jack Beckman while Force focuses on his recovery.
His absence has reverberated throughout the racing community, with fellow racer Ron Capps reflecting on Force’s profound influence. “We’re already getting a sense of NHRA without John Force,” Capps noted via Autoweek. “Looking back, we’ll see that icons like Snake, The Mongoose, Don Garlits, ‘The Greek’ Chris Karamesines, and ‘The Ace’ have all left their mark on NHRA history.”
“It’s difficult to match what John Force has achieved, and it’s quite unusual not to see him at the racetrack, especially given how close we’ve been and how significant he’s been to me both personally and professionally.
“He’s also a competitor, and our match-ups have been incredible. It’s fascinating to hear commentators on TV recount how often we’ve faced each other, whether in final rounds, championship battles, or just head-to-head races. We’ve had a lot of those moments.”
