John Force makes first NHRA appearance since traumatic brain injury

NHRA Funny Car legend John Force made a memorable return to the racing community during the race Ford Performance NHRA Nationals held on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The performance was Force’s first public appearance since a devastating crash in June at the Virginia Nationals that left him with a traumatic brain injury.

On November 1, 2024, during the first elimination session of the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals, John Force made his presence known by standing next to his two Funny Cars on the starting line.

Force began his NHRA career in 1978 and dominated the sport with 157 event victories, making him one of the most successful drivers in history. His career was marked not only by victories, but also by serious injuries, most notably a serious crash in 2007, which left him fighting to return to competitive racing.

This latest accident on June 23, 2024 was particularly challenging as his car suffered a catastrophic engine failure while traveling at over 300 miles per hour, causing Force to collide with the concrete barriers. The injuries he suffered – including a traumatic brain injury and a broken sternum – required extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.

Force’s recovery included an initial 15-day stay at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, before he was transferred to the renowned Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, for specialized care. He was discharged in July 2024 and has since continued outpatient therapy in California.

His appearance in Las Vegas comes after the driver broke his silence on October 24 with a video informing his fans. He explained:

“Hi, I’m John Force, 16-time Funny Car Champion, and boy am I happy to be here after that crash I had in Richmond, but at the end of the day I’m going to recover, and I’ I’m doing better. I was in the hospital for four months.

“I’m still working every day to get my body back in shape, but I have to get my mind back in shape. I took a pretty big hit in that crash in Richmond, so I’ve been in the hospital there in Richmond. I went to Phoenix, Arizona, went through rehab, and I’m here now and I’m working on it every day.

“This is about what I love most, and that is racing. It’s NHRA. I love my sponsors, and I love all the fans, and I love your letters and all the things you’ve written and all your support. You’ve been really good to me during a tough time.

“I mean, I’ve been in hospitals for four or five months, recovering, and I’m going to get better. I am under doctor’s orders. They tell me where to go. I think they’re going to tell me this week that I can go to the race in Las Vegas.

“I want to see Prock driving Robert Hight’s funny car. Brittany is in the running for the championship. She’s back in the points, but she has a fight ahead of her. Beckman is doing great. I love him.

“He’s a great talker, and he’s more full of it than I am, believe me. But I left and I was obliged to tell you that I am fine.

“I just want to take a moment to thank you. I want to tell you that I love you because of the cards and the gifts and everything, because you showed me that you cared about me at a time when I needed help.

“Before I go, I thanked you all, but I want to take a moment. I want to thank my wife Laurie and all my daughters, and I want to thank Robert Hight. They were there in Richmond, and they’re the ones who set up everything that I do. At every appointment they tried to make me better. And it was a scary time for them.

“Not for me, I had no idea where I was, so I’ll be fine. And now I’m going to do what I’ve always been told to do: I’m going to go back to my office and get to work.”