YORBA LINDA, Calif. — John Force has officially confirmed his retirement from driving NHRA Funny Cars.
The 16-time NHRA champion confirmed his retirement in a video posted on social media on Thursday night, the eve of the NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif.
The 76-year-old drag racing legend made the announcement 17 months after he suffered a brain injury in a violent crash at Virginia Motorsports Park.
“It is time for me to retire. It all made sense to me,” Force said. “I had medical stuff that I had to address. Do I want to get back in the car and get hit in the head? I don’t.”
Force suffered a fractured sternum among other injuries, but it was the TBI that kept Force in the hospital and sent him through a lengthy rehabilitation process. Force is the winningest driver in the sport’s history with 157 victories.
“I don’t want to go on forever, but I am officially done with driving,” Force said. “I hate to say that word. I said in media so many times, ‘Until this race car kills me, they’re gonna have to drag me out of the seat.’ But the truth is, I was dragged out of the seat at Richmond, and they thought it killed me then. So I’m lucky that I’m back walking, still under doctor’s orders.”
Force continues to operate John Force Racing, which fields three NHRA race cars.
Force’s daughter Brittany will run her final race in a Top Fuel car this weekend at Pomona, having announced her retirement from driving several weeks ago.
Austin Prock and Jack Beckman drive the John Force Racing Funny Cars.
