Drag Racing Icon John Force is a 16-time National Hot Rod Association Champion and presently ranks fourth in the 2024 NHRA Funny Car standings. “I love what I do and then I’m with my children, now my grandchildren,” ‘ Force concluded.
Force dropped by KOMO News Studios in June to discuss the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent.
“Great race track, great place for the fans, you’re sitting within the trees,” Force said when talking about his time racing at Pacific Raceways.
Force who recently turned 75, has won a total of 157 funny car events since the start of his racing career in 1978.
“I lived up here in Seattle’s surrounding areas, we were living in trailer parks back then,” Force said.
Force said he and his family always look forward to competing in the Pacific Northwest.
We line up the 18 wheelers and you can see everything from guys racing their car from home to racing motorcycles and then you go on to the top fuel dragsters like Brittany drives and the top fuel funny cars and pro stock and the bite, it’s the greatest show on earth,” Force said.
Racing is a way of life for his entire family. Force’s daughter Brittany is a two-time NHRA Champion and now his grandkids are racing, but it’s a career and sport that comes with a risk.
“It’s scary for me cause I worry about them getting hurt, but I gotta say NHRA they do a great job of protecting us,” Force said.
On June 23, while racing at Virginia Motorsports Park, Force was in a fiery crash. He won his heat and his car’s engine exploded. His funny car crashed into a concrete wall at high speeds.
Force was able to get out of the wreckage but his team said he suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractured sternum. He’s now out of the hospital and at a rehabilitation center in California. Before this crash, he talked about the injuries he’s had before.
“Inside I wear Simpson Fire Equipment, neck braces, everything. I’ve broken my arms and legs, I’ve been a mess before, they told me I was done and I still come back and win championships,” Force said.
