At the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, drag racing icon John Force, a record 16-time Funny Car champion, faces a successful season. Following a severe brain injury sustained in a June crash at Virginia Motorsports Park, Force has been sidelined, missing his first U.S. Nationals in a non-Covid year since 1983 and declaring himself out for the current season, including the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Now, his rivals have reacted to him being replaced with another driver who will tally points for the Force name.
The impact of Force’s absence extends beyond his personal recovery at home. It has triggered a play with 2012 class champion Jack Beckman stepping in since August 16 at the 42nd Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, to keep championship hopes alive for the racing icon.
Ron Capps, a three-time Funny Car champion and a seasoned rival of Force, described the situation as unprecedented.
“We’re in a unique situation,” Capps admitted, via Autoweek. “From my standpoint, we’re in uncharted territory with John Force and what happened and what would happen if one of us got in the same situation.” He continues, “So, right now, I don’t mind it. I like seeing his name out there.
Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 PEAK BluDEF Toyota, poses for a photo with NHRA driver John Force on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 22, 2015 in Fontana, California. NHRA rivals respond to the unprecedented absence of drag racing icon John Force.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
“I can’t wait to see him ride up on a scooter sometime here in the future and just be at the track. I’d be honored to just be fighting him in the points this season. Maybe next season, (NHRA) looks at something else.”
NHRA spokesperson Jason Galvin added:
“It’s a long-standing rule, and it does apply on a case-by-case basis.
“This is a rule that was announced before the season when thinking about things like some of our lady drivers who may want to start families and have to get out of the car midseason, or get back into the car in the middle of next season, also for different and various medical issues.
“This is a rule that was instituted and announced before Gainesville. There was conversation about whether or not Austin Prock would institute this rule for Robert Hight before we had any idea of when Robert would possibly come back.
“It’s a long-standing rule, and it does apply on a case-by-case basis. But generally speaking, the only time that a waiver wouldn’t be granted is if a team was trying to take advantage of a situation.”
Other drivers, including Matt Hagan and Alexis DeJoria, highlighted the collective effort of Force’s team.
“You’re swapping drivers, but the heart of that team is still there,” said Hagan. DeJoria supported the team-centric view.
“It is a team effort. And this may be the very last time that John Force ever gets a chance to win a championship.”
There’s obviously a lot of respect being shared this week within the NHRA.
