Yahoo Autos NHRA Great John Force Responding to Treatment; Brittany Force Returning to Action
Two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Brittany Force is back.
John Force Racing announced today that Brittany Force will drive her Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster at this weekend's NHRA Northwest Nationals at Kent, Washington.
The 38-year-old Force sat out the most recent race weekend in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at Norwalk, Ohio, to be with her dad, injured Funny Car legend John Force.
John Force, meanwhile, continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury suffered when his Funny Car exploded and crashed into both walls at the NHRA event in Virginia on June 23. The team reports that he is "responding positively to treatment" at an undisclosed rehabilitation facility.
Brittany Force enters the Northwest Nationals holding down the 10th and final qualifying sport for the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship Playoffs. She's just 50 points clear of Josh Hart for that final spot.
“I'm glad to get back to the racetrack after a tough few weeks,” said the 38-year-old who last year set the Pacific Raceways speed record of 334.73 miles per hour. “It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for our family since Richmond, but my dad has made great progress and we are all so proud of him. He has transferred now to a rehabilitation center closer to home.
“I want to thank (crew chief) David Grubnic, John Collins and my team for their patience and support of my decision to stay with my father while racing continued in Norwalk,” she said. “Missing a race was tough, but I needed to be with my dad and family.
“I’m proud to be running our Flav-R-Pac dragster this weekend to honor our longtime partner, Frank Tiegs. He always reminded me to make sure I was still having fun because that is when you perform at your best. We won a championship together in 2022 and I’m proud to carry him and his family on the car this weekend.
“Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown,” said the 16-time tour winner. “We’ve made great strides in our last few races and I’m eager to take that next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winners’ circle for the Tiegs family and my dad.”
“It’s going to be hard to not have my dad at the track with me this weekend, but I know he will be watching from his rehab facility. Watching him fight his way back is what now motivates me to get back to the winners' circle."
