16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force has officially announced his retirement at 76 years old.
Force's retirement comes after he suffered a traumatic brain injury from a violent 300mph crash during the 2024 Virginia Nationals in Richmond. After months of intense recovery, he made his return trackside but was replaced in the John Force Racing PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS by Jack Beckman for the remainder of 2024 and 2025.
Now, as his daughter Brittany also retires, he has confirmed he will officially step away from the driver's seat while also sharing an update on his recovery.
"It's been over a year, but I've been under doctor's care and I still am," the NHRA legend said in a video. "So if I say anything wrong, please excuse me, but it's time for me to retire, and it all made sense to me even though I knew I had medical stuff that I had to address. Do I wanna get back in the car and get hit in the head? I don't.
"I've got new grandchildren coming with Courtney. She just had a little girl, and she's got two girls already, Harlan and Tinley, and we have Autumn, of course, we have Jacob and Noah.
"So I got a next generation that'll follow me just like my girls. Brittany retired today, and Beckman was there at the press conference, and so was [Austin] Prock. They're all running for the championship. Brittany's setting records right and left. She's got a shot to move up the ladder to maybe second or third, so we'll see, but it was time for me with Brittany stepping out of the seat."
"I don't want to get hurt, and I've said it many times, I'm gonna stay in the car until my race car gets me, and I always meant that, but I've been hurt really bad."
Force's retirement comes after he suffered a traumatic brain injury from a violent 300mph crash during the 2024 Virginia Nationals in Richmond. After months of intense recovery, he made his return trackside but was replaced in the John Force Racing PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS by Jack Beckman for the remainder of 2024 and 2025.
Now, as his daughter Brittany also retires, he has confirmed he will officially step away from the driver's seat while also sharing an update on his recovery.
"It's been over a year, but I've been under doctor's care and I still am," the NHRA legend said in a video. "So if I say anything wrong, please excuse me, but it's time for me to retire, and it all made sense to me even though I knew I had medical stuff that I had to address. Do I wanna get back in the car and get hit in the head? I don't.
"I've got new grandchildren coming with Courtney. She just had a little girl, and she's got two girls already, Harlan and Tinley, and we have Autumn, of course, we have Jacob and Noah.
"So I got a next generation that'll follow me just like my girls. Brittany retired today, and Beckman was there at the press conference, and so was [Austin] Prock. They're all running for the championship. Brittany's setting records right and left. She's got a shot to move up the ladder to maybe second or third, so we'll see, but it was time for me with Brittany stepping out of the seat."
"I don't want to get hurt, and I've said it many times, I'm gonna stay in the car until my race car gets me, and I always meant that, but I've been hurt really bad."
