John Force’s NHRA Title Hopes Rest on Jack Beckman As Championship Dream Lives On

For the legend John Force, his dreams of clinching another championship hinge on substitute driver Jack Beckman after the racing icon recovers from a brain injury. At the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, Beckman seized the wheel of Force’s PEAK Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for the first of an eight-race tenure following Force’s severe accident near Richmond, Virginia in June.

John Force, a revered figure in drag racing, boasts a record of 16 Funny Car championships and stands as the all-time wins leader. However, his recovery period has necessitated a temporary trade of driver’s seat to Jack Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car champion, known for his own formidable track presence.

Maybe controversially, NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original drivers across a maximum of eight events. This rule keeps the championship within reach for Force if Beckman performs well.

In his first race as Force’s stand-in, Beckman showcased his performance by defeating Bobby Bode in Round 1—his first elimination win since 2020. This victory was particularly symbolic as it bore the historical weight of a 2010 defeat to Bode’s father, Bob Bode, at the same venue.

Despite outpacing Ron Capps in the standings—moving Force into fifth place—Beckman’s run ended in the quarterfinals against the event’s eventual winner, Blake Alexander. The performance at Brainerd, however, was a promising start to what could be a vital series of races for Force’s championship aspirations.

“It’s still John’s car. Nobody’s replacing John Force,” Beckman stated via Autoweek, honoring the legacy of the car’s usual driver. “I get to shoe this thing for now. We had a great hot rod. It still blew a spark plug out, but that’s the best I’ve run in four years. That’s a good feeling.”

Adapting to that of Force’s car has been a challenge for the Californian, who, unlike Force, has different physical and technical preferences when handling the vehicle.

“John and I are different. I weigh more than him. We ride the clutch differently, backing up for the burnout. The guys are trying to figure out what the car wants to run quick down low with me, like it did with John. And we’re still finding that stuff out,” Beckman explained. He added optimistically, “Every run we get, we’re getting closer.”

Back in July, Beckman admitted that he didn’t expect to ever race again:

“It’s been nearly four years since I stood on the throttle, and I thought that feeling was something I’d never experience again. Though the circumstances that brought me back are regrettable, the opportunity presented to me is beyond my ability to find words.

“I’m not replacing John … nobody could ever do that. John is one of a kind, and his impact on this sport, and my life, cannot be overemphasized. I know how fortunate I am to have been picked to fill in for John, and I should be easy to spot in the pits. I’ll be the guy who can’t stop smiling.”