“That’s how he does things”: Brittany Force reflects on the ‘panic’ moment after NHRA legend John Force’s big reveal

John Force’s retirement announcement landed with the weight of a true turning point in NHRA history, but for his daughter Brittany Force, the moment arrived with almost no warning. The two-time Top Fuel champion explained that the decision wasn’t a surprise, but the timing was, as her father informed the larger John Force Racing group only minutes before stepping on stage to make it public.

John’s exit closes out one of the most decorated careers in motorsports that has ever been seen. The 75-year-old California native built his legacy across five decades, competing at a level few have matched in any discipline. That longevity and the abrupt way he revealed his retirement establish that her father had never done things the conventional way.

When asked how much notice Brittany Force or the team received ahead of Thursday’s announcement, she told:

“We had about five minutes. I knew. My family, we’ve known. We’ve talked about it many times and just had not made it public yet. But he let JFR, our teams know about five minutes before he walked on stage… And for our team it was a little bit of a panic because we weren’t prepared. But I felt like that was the right way to do it because that’s John Force. That’s how he does things. No plan. Just throws it all out there.”

After 17 months away from competition following his violent crash at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2024, John Force explained that the decision was final. He said, via NHRA:

“I really love NHRA, but I am officially done with driving. I’ve said so many times, ‘Until this race car kills me, they’re gonna have to drag me out of the seat.’ But the truth is, I was dragged out of the seat at Richmond, and they thought it killed me then. So, I’m lucky that I’m back walking.”

A 16-time Funny Car world champion, John’s titles span from 1990 through 2013. His 157 wins, 269 final-round appearances, and 1,460 round victories place him in a class entirely his own. Those achievements came after endless financial strain and years of disappointment in the 1970s before his breakthrough win in 1987, followed by a run of nine championships in 10 seasons during the 1990s.

John added that he wouldn’t rule out small appearances behind the wheel.

“I won’t say I won’t ever get in a car to warm it up or maybe even make a burnout. Don’t know. I guess it’ll be the response from the fans. If they cheer loud enough, I’ll hear ya.”

John Force hadn’t raced since that 2024 incident, and Thursday’s announcement effectively locked in the end of a chapter that began more than 50 years ago. His departure leaves a record unmatched in drag racing - most championships, most wins, most No. 1 qualifiers, most elimination-round victories.

The decision also intersects with a transitional moment for Brittany Force herself.

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Brittany Force steps back alongside her father, but only temporarily

John Force (L) with daughter Brittany Force during the 2024 Route 66 Nationals. Source: Imagn

Brittany Force has spent 13 seasons establishing her own place in NHRA history, earning Top Fuel world championships in 2017 and 2022 while becoming one of the category’s most consistent performers. But like her father, she is stepping away at year’s end to start a family.

After spending over 13 years on the road and two title campaigns, she is pausing her career, with Josh Hart set to replace her.

“After dedicating the last 13 years of my life to driving and the sport of NHRA drag racing, I have made the difficult decision to step out of the seat at the end of the season to focus on starting a family with my husband Bobby… I’m not closing the door on driving in the future, but that’s a decision for further down the road once I get there,” she wrote, via Fox Sports.

Watching her sisters, Ashley and Courtney Force, start families made her realize what her next chapter could look like.

Brittany Force ended the year fourth in the Top Fuel standings with 2,415 points after NHRA canceled the season-ending In-N-Out Burger Finals at Pomona due to persistent rain and unsafe conditions. Doug Kalitta won his second career Top Fuel championship with 2,607 points.

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Edited by Hitesh Nigam