KENT, Wash. — While John Force continues to recover from injuries suffered in a June 23 crash at Virginia Motorsports Park, his Funny Car will soon return to the race track.
Force is undergoing rehab at an Arizona facility specializing in the treatment of the kind of Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered.
While the 75-year-old-racer is sidelined indefinitely, John Force Racing president Robert Hight confirmed Thursday a plan to put the 16-time champion’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS back in competition before the start of the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship in September.
“After conversations with John’s team and with our partners, especially Brian Bohlander at PEAK and Jim Campbell at Chevrolet, and with John’s input and approval, we have begun taking the steps necessary to get the PEAK Chevy back on the race track,” Hight said.
The tentative target for the car’s return is the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire Aug. 2-3 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, where Force was to take part in match races against Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr.
“We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28),” Hight said. “There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”
Hight, a three-time NHRA Funny Car Champion and two-time Seattle winner, has himself been sidelined this year by health issues, his seat in the Cornwell Tools Camaro capably filled by current point leader Austin Prock, who this week is trying to become just the third driver to win Northwest Nationals titles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.