John Force sends a message after his NHRA team JFR’s major driver lineup reveal

John Force Racing has released a major update for the 2026 NHRA season. On Friday, December 12, the Drag Racing team announced that Jordan Vandergriff will drive the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for the 2026 campaign, replacing Austin Prock. Joining Force’s Funny Car lineup will be Funny Car champion Jack Beckman and drag racer Alexis DeJoria.

An overhaul was due following John Force’s daughter, Brittany Force’s, retirement from formal NHRA Top Fuel competition. Aged 39, the two-time NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel dragster champion will now focus on starting a family with her husband, Bobby Lyons.

Announcing its 2026 lineup on X, formerly known as Twitter, John Force Racing wrote,

“New Era. Same Legacy. Bring on the 2026 NHRA Drag Racing Season!”

Force reshared the post with the following caption:

“Looking forward to the 2026 season with my team.”

Replacing Brittany, John Force Racing hired two-time NHRA winner Josh Hart to drive the team's Top Fuel dragster next year. Hart shared his excitement about driving the same car that Brittany Force once set speed records in. Notably, the 39-year-old is the only driver to have hit 343.16 mph in her Top Fuel dragster.

“I was actually just talking to my family about it at Thanksgiving dinner. I was like, ‘Do you realize that I'm actually going to get to drive the fastest car in the world?’” Hart exclaimed. “Not everybody can say that. “I will live up to the hype. I’m definitely ready for it. I’m going to focus on catching Justin Ashley (winner of the 2025 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in the Top Fuel category) when it comes to my reaction time, and I think we will be definitely a championship contender, no matter what,” he added.

The 2026 NHRA season will kick off on March 5, 2026, with the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Speedway.

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John Force Racing’s newest recruit reflects on “rivalry” with Austin Prock

There were times when John Force Racing’s newest driver, Jordan Vandergriff, interviewed reigning NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car world champion Austin Prock on behalf of FOX Sports. Now, Vandergriff is signed as a full-time driver with John Force Racing. Minutes after being named as the new wheelman of the JFR Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car, Vandergriff said,

“Our careers will continue to be intertwined, I think. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. So let the rivalry begin again. “We’re taking the rivalry to new heights.” “This car has won the last two championships,” he continued. “So I know I’m getting into great equipment, and the team that we’ve put together is just as good as the car. So I’m pretty confident that we can hit the ground running in Gainesville. Pretty competitive, and I expect this team to do very well.”

Next up for the speedster is the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Speedway. Fans can watch the race on NHRA.tv and NHRA’s official YouTube channel.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua