John Force has recently announced that he will not return to the track for the 2025 season, due to his ongoing recovery. Force, who has built an impressive legacy with 16 Funny Car championships and 157 career wins, is taking time to focus on his health after a significant injury. This development has brought about changes for John Force Racing as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Jack Beckman has been named as the driver to step into Force's role for the 2025 racing season. This announcement solidifies Beckman's place within the team, casting a hopeful outlook for the future amid Force's well-publicized recovery journey. Beckman, a former Funny Car world champion, was Force's replacement already, stepping in after Force sustained a traumatic brain injury in a severe crash back in June 2024.
Beckman is not new to the NHRA scene, having previously clinched a championship title in 2012 and competing actively until 2020. He has a strong foundation with John Force Racing, making him a fitting successor during Force's absence. Beckman's history of success and his previous association with co-crew chief Chris Cunningham contributed to confidence in his abilities from the team.
Recovery remains the foremost concern for John Force. As he continues treatment under the supervision of TBI specialists, there is hope that he will one day make a full return to the sport he has dominated for decades.
Speaking about his continued recovery, Force explained to the media, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
"I'm still going to therapy every week and working as hard as I can to get back out there with the sponsors and the fans in a sport I love and I miss. I've still got a lot of things I want to do, so I don't want anybody thinking they've seen the last of John Force. We'll have a lot more to talk about after the holidays."
The team commented:
"Force continues to receive treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury. Although he has made significant progress, he remains under the care and evaluation of TBI specialists."
Beckman also commented about continuing with the team in 2025:
"I am thrilled to continue a partnership with PEAK and BlueDEF and look forward to returning to JFR in 2025. As a car enthusiast, I believe in using the best products available for both personal and professional applications. PEAK and BlueDEF products are trusted for our support vehicles and haulers, ensuring reliability and performance."
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