MESA, Ariz. – It was the first time anyone outside John Force’s inner circle had heard from him since June 23 when the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion suffered a traumatic brain injury in a high-speed crash at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Jack Beckman, his replacement driver for the final eight events of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, said Force phoned him just before he took his first runs in the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro during the Aug. 3 Night Under Fire exhibition event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
“John called me (that Saturday) before I got in the car. He said, ‘Just go out there and do what you know how to do. There’s no pressure,’” Beckman said. “I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that it’s actually me sitting in John Force’s car. (John Force Racing President) Robert Hight did a conference call (that) Friday, and I got to speak to John for the first time since his accident. That was medicine for the soul. And he was right. I (got) licensed and wound up having a ton of fun in the process.”
It was also tremendous news that Force is still engaged on the business side of his impressive operation that includes fellow Funny Car driver Austin Prock and Force’s Top Fuel dragster-driving daughter Brittany Force.
JFR couldn’t have settled on a better choice than Beckman, the popular 2012 Funny Car champion, to sub for Force. Beckman is a student of the sport and a key player in the development of drivers. As an instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, he’s taught more than 7,000 students the basics of drag racing, including Force’s wife, Laurie; and daughters Ashley, Brittany and Courtney.
Beckman is licensed in 12 NHRA competition categories, including Top Fuel, the class in which he made his professional racing debut in 2005 – just months after completing chemotherapy treatments for Stage 3B non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
THIS ARTICLE IS ACCESSIBLE TO INSIDERS ONLY…
SPEED SPORT Insider is the ad-free premium extension of SPEEDSPORT.com. Insider is dedicated to the best and brightest in motorsports journalism – created by the best writers, photographers and reporters in the business. From veteran Hall of Fame writers like Bones Bourcier, Dave Argabright, Pat Sullivan, Keith Waltz, Ralph Sheheen and Editor in Chief Mike Kerchner, to behind the scenes SPEED SPORT reporters like David Hoffman, Nathan Solomon and more.
By subscribing to Insider, you not only get exclusive access to this premium content, but you support the journalists that are vital to telling the stories that matter most. Subscriptions are just $5/mo or $44.95 for an entire year. View plans and details.
SPECIAL OFFER! Subscribe now with this link and save $5.00!
