John Force took a big decision of his life to stay away from racing in the 2025 season as he is recovering. The 16-time Funny Car champion with 157 career wins, Force focused on recuperating after sustaining a major injury. All in all, this change affects John Force Racing that prepares for the new season. Jack Beckman has been named as the driver to fill in for Force during the 2025 racing season.
This reinforces Beckman’s position in the team as it casts an optimistic shadow for the time being during Force’s well-publicized recuperation. Beckman, who was already serving in the capacity as a replacement for Force, is a former Funny Car world champion and stepped in immediately after Force suffered a traumatic brain injury and a serious crash in June 2024.
Beckman holds 2012’s championship title a few years ago. He was also active in NHRA racing up until 2020. With strong roots with John Force Racing, he fits well into the vacant position of Force during the absence.
Beckman’s history of success along with his previous association with one of the co-crew chiefs, Chris Cunningham, made the team confident about his abilities. The most important thing to John Force now is recuperation. As he continues treatment by TBI specialists, there is hope that one day he would make a full come back in the sport which he dominated for decades.
Force was cleared to report on returning recoveries by the media as previously reported by Newsweek Sports on the matter: “I’m still going to therapy every week, and working hard to get back out there with the sponsors and the fans in a sport I love and miss. I’ve still got a lot of things I want to do, so I don’t want anybody thinking they’ve seen the last of John Force. We’ll have a lot more to talk about after the holidays,” he stated. The team commented that: “Force continues to receive treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury. Significant improvement has been made, but he remains under the care and evaluation of TBI specialists.”
“I am thrilled to continue with PEAK and BlueDEF, and now look forward to returning to JFR in 2025,” Beckman commented about continuing with the team in 2025. “When it comes down to it, I believe only in the best products both personally and professionally since I’m a car guy. PEAK and BlueDEF products are my trusted products for my support vehicles and haulers.”
