By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
John Force won his 150th career race at Pacific Raceways. Days before the start of the next national event at the track, John Force Racing plans to bring back the Peak Funny Car this year.
John Force’s team has been sidelined since he had his racing accident at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, Virginia. The living legend had a catastrophic engine failure and explosion that caused him to hit the guard rails.
He has been in the hospital in Virginia since his crash. Force was recently moved to a rehab center that we now know is based in Arizona.
The plan, according to John Force Racing President Robert Hight, is to bring the car out for the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. This exhibition features Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, and more.
“We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28),” Hight said. “There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”
Right now, we do not know who will be in his ride. When Force suffered his accident in Dallas, Texas in 2007, he was replaced by Phil Burkhart.
The New York native still races today. He is the driver for Jay Blake’s Top Alcohol Funny Car in the NHRA Sportsman ranks.
If the team competes after Sonoma, there will be two events before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. There will be races at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Then, the biggest event on their calendar, the 70th annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana.
After that, the NHRA Countdown to the Championship begins at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. This event will be held on September 13th through the 15th outside of Reading, Pennsylvania.
“After conversations with John’s team and with our partners, especially Brian Bohlander at PEAK and Jim Campbell at Chevrolet, and with John’s input and approval, we have begun taking the steps necessary to get the PEAK Chevy back on the racetrack,” Hight said.
The former NHRA Funny Car Champion, Hight, has been out of the action this year as he is dealing with health challenges. Points leader Austin Prock is in his ride.
The team keeps saying that the 75 year old Force has a long recovery back. As a result, he may not race again this year.
Who knows when or if he’ll be able to race again.
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