John Force's NHRA Funny Car Could Return to Track Without John

While 16-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a June 23 crash at Virginia Motorsports Park, plans are in the works behind the scenes to get his car back in action.

On Thursday, John Force Racing team president Robert Hight said he hopes to see the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS back and racing before the start of the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs in September.

“After conversations with John’s team and with our partners, especially Brian Bohlander at PEAK and Jim Campbell at Chevrolet, and with John’s input and approval, we have begun taking the steps necessary to get the PEAK Chevy back on the racetrack,” Hight said.

Who will drive the car is the big question still unanswered. Hight, who has missed this season with an undisclosed health issue of his own, gave no indication as to who might drive the car.

Hight said he hopes to have the car back on track for the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, August 2-3, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. That is an exhibition event in which Force was scheduled to race against fellow NHRA Funny Car drivers Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr.

The Night Under Fire show is the a highlight of the race season at Norwalk, and the show also includes Top Fuel dragsters, jets and the biggest fireworks show at the track all year.

“We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28),” Hight said. “There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”

Meanwhile, the 75-year-old Force, who was second in the NHRA Funny Car points standings at the time of his injury, continues his what is expected to be a long recovery at an Arizona rehab facility that specializes in brain injuries.