Legendary 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force has delivered a heartfelt Thanksgiving message to fans.
In a video released by John Force Racing, the celebrated racer was joined by his daughter, Brittany Force, as well as other figures from the team, Jack Beckman and Austin Prock.
In this Thanksgiving message, John Force stated:
"John Force here, 16-time Funny Car Champ, and I just want to say to you and your family, have a happy Thanksgiving."
Brittany Force added, "Everyone at John Force Racing is thankful for all our amazing fans."
This message follows a period of strong recovery for John Force. Earlier this year, on June 23, 2024, he was involved in a severe crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals. The dramatic incident was triggered by an engine explosion that led Force to collide with a concrete barrier while traveling at speeds exceeding 300 mph. The resulting injuries included a traumatic brain injury, a fractured sternum, and a right wrist injury. Force spent two weeks in intensive care in a Virginia hospital, followed by rehabilitation at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Force provided an update on his recovery when he made a return to the NHRA scene in Las Vegas. He explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
"I'm going to be spectating for awhile. That's what I need to do to get well. I got hit in the head – not just once . . . a lot of times. And it all kind of built up.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm a spectator, like you. So let's have some fun today."
He added:
"It's good to be here. The fans are unbelievable. Love the fans. Love NHRA. I hadn't seen my team in four or five months almost. It was good to be back. I feel good. I've got a lot of work to do in the future. My teams have held it together, so God bless 'em.
"God bless all of you, and God bless America."
Since launching his career in 1978, Force has accumulated an impressive 157 event wins and earned 16 Funny Car titles, securing his legacy as one of drag racing's most dominant figures.
Brittany Force also spoke out about her father's return to the sport, commenting:
"Coming into this weekend, we knew it was going to be special because my dad had planned to come out, so he drove up with my mom (Friday morning) and I think everyone was looking forward to seeing him, especially me.
"I have grown up out here at these racetracks all over the country, but I have never been out here without him. So, it has definitely been strange since June to be out here without family, which is why my team and all these guys and everybody in John Force Racing – everyone in our pits – is family. They feel like brothers to me. I'm lucky to have them and their support.
"To have family back, have my dad back out here, I'm so excited for him. I think it is great for him. He has been pushing physical therapy and he has been focused, and he has been dedicated to it and we are really proud of him. But I think being out here with his old routine with the fans, with his teams, standing on a racetrack, that's where he should be.
"I'm happy to be out here with him and really proud to perform well and put a killer number on the board. I wish we could have got down there on that last run, but it was pretty cool to do that with him standing behind our car."
.png)
English (US) ·