John Force Replacement Breaks Silence After Hospitalization Left Him Out of NHRA Nationals

Jack Beckman, who has stepped in as a replacement for the legendary John Force this year, has recently opened up about his sudden withdrawal from the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals.

This decision, which came after experiencing vertigo-like symptoms, resulted in Beckman spending a night in the hospital. The 39th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals was held at the Texas Motorplex, where Beckman had secured the No. 3 qualifying spot before health concerns forced him to reconsider his participation.

Jack Beckman has since posted to social media to update his fans. He wrote:

“I want to thank all of the fans and my amazing JFR teammates and crew for making a horrible situation tolerable. Vertigo is nothing to take lightly, and a night in the hospital stunk, but Christine and I are on a plane getting ready to head home, put this behind me, and focus on Vegas…and our next win!”

Beckman’s successful career achievements include securing the NHRA Funny Car world championship in 2012 and the Super Comp world championship in 2003. Over the years, he has amassed 35 national event wins, 33 of which were in the highly competitive Funny Car category.

His decision to come out of retirement in 2024 was due to John Force’s horrific crash during the NHRA Virginia Nationals.

The withdrawal from the Texas Fall Nationals came after Beckman’s health took an unexpected turn. According to Bob McAleer, the spokesperson for John Force Racing:

“Jack was fine when he left the track (Saturday night), but when he woke up this morning, he had vertigo-like symptoms that were not quickly resolved.

“On the advice of NHRA medical professionals, he reluctantly has withdrawn from competition this weekend.”

John Force, a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, is celebrated as one of the most successful drag racers in history. His crash in Virginia led to a traumatic brain injury. Currently, Force is undergoing outpatient rehabilitation, focusing on various therapies to aid recovery.

The last update released on Force’s recovery was at the end of July:

“A month after an engine explosion sent his race car careening into a concrete guardwall at more than 300 miles per hour at Virginia Motorsports Park, drag racing champion John Force was discharged Tuesday from Barrow Neurological Institute, where he was undergoing rehab for a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).

“According to family members, while the 16-time Funny Car Champion will continue to work with therapists specializing in such injuries, it now will be on an outpatient basis in California.

“The next phase in the recovery process will be outpatient speech, and OTPT (Occupational and Physical Therapy) to address lingering short-term memory and cognitive issues.”