Richard Petty tribute John Force has become a focal point for the entire motorsport world as John Force, the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and beloved racing icon, announces his retirement. Force made the announcement in late November 2025, drawing heartfelt messages from legends, fans, and teams, most notably a poignant salute from Petty, as the drag racing world faces the end of an era.
Motorsport Community Pays Homage as Force Steps Away
John Force’s decision to retire marks the close of a hall-of-fame career, where he shaped modern drag racing with passion and resilience. The announcement came as a shock to many in the NHRA paddock, stirring emotional responses from all corners of motorsports. Social media channels quickly filled with messages, including a heartfelt note from racing media:
“We should all feel lucky to have witnessed this legend in drag racing,”
1320Video, capturing the awe surrounding John Force’s unmatched legacy.
Force’s impact is immense: 16 championships, 157 professional wins, and decades of dominance in Funny Car. For generations, he turned NHRA tracks into showcases for both speed and showmanship. His fierce determination and high-energy presence have inspired many racers—making him, for many fans, the embodiment of drag racing greatness. Comparisons have been made often to NASCAR royalty, as Force’s legendary record is frequently described as comparable to Richard Petty’s influence in stock car racing.
Richard Petty Bids Farewell to a Peer and Friend
Richard Petty, revered as “The King” for his 200 career wins and seven Daytona 500 victories, issued a deeply personal tribute to John Force online following the retirement news. Petty’s message accompanied shared photos of their moments together at various racing venues, underlining both camaraderie and mutual respect.
“Congratulations on a championship career, John!”
— Richard Petty, legend
Petty’s warm words resonated deeply, especially after Force’s harrowing crash at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2024. That incident left Force with a traumatic brain injury and a fractured sternum—a brutal test for the 76-year-old racer. Despite months of recovery and therapy, Force made his return to racetrack life, overseeing John Force Racing’s 2025 season and continuing his leadership role even as his own driving days ended.
Petty himself knows well the costs and rewards of endurance in motorsports. His message highlighted Force’s toughness as both men battled through pain and setbacks, yet still led their sports and built dynasties that reshaped NASCAR and NHRA alike.
From Adversity to Glory: The Legacy of John Force
John Force’s backstory adds gravity to his departure. As a child affected by polio, and later a young athlete with 27 straight losses in high school football, Force’s early life was shaped by adversity. Racing became his redemption, and over an extraordinary five decades, he set records: ten straight Funny Car championships from 1993 to 2002, a total of 157 career wins, and countless moments that fired up race fans across America.
Force became known as the “Richard Petty of NHRA,” thanks to both his victory total and a relentless, winning-mentality that inspired teammates and rivals alike. His leadership style—putting the team ahead of personal glory—turned John Force Racing into a juggernaut and created a template for sustained success.
Throughout, Force cultivated a reputation for both wit and candor in interviews and with fans. His move toward retirement was accompanied by reflection, with words that underscored his approach to racing throughout the years:
“Until this race car kills me, they’re gonna have to drag me out of the seat,”
Force, champion driver and team owner
The crash at Richmond put his determination to the ultimate test. Force faced physical challenges that doctors once believed might end his ability to walk. Still, Force’s resolve carried him through rigorous recovery and back to his beloved racetrack—if not behind the wheel, then as a hands-on leader and mentor, especially to family members like his daughter Brittany Force, a two-time Top Fuel champion and part of the new generation carrying forward the team legacy.
Upon announcing his exit on November 13, 2025, Force showed the humility and gratitude that endeared him to generations of fans:
“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, still under doctor’s orders,”
John Force, NHRA legend
His records—including 13 event wins during the 1996 season, and speeds that reached up to 337 mph—have set benchmarks that younger racers may chase, but few expect to match. Petty’s public farewell captured what many in the racing world acknowledge: Force’s exit may quiet the dragstrips, but his impact will echo for years through the lives and careers he touched.
Major Changes for John Force Racing as Team Faces Uncertainty
While tributes continue for John Force, his namesake team is experiencing significant changes of its own. Just after securing the 2025 NHRA Funny Car championship at Pomona, Austin Prock—a rising star in the drag racing circuit—and his father Jimmy Prock announced they are leaving John Force Racing. Austin Prock, with 21 class wins, and Jimmy, a trusted crew chief since 2001 (minus a brief stint away), made their departure official on November 25, 2025.
The announcement sparked speculation throughout the NHRA paddock, with rumors pointing to a move to Tasca Racing, which is reportedly planning a two-car expansion. The Procks’ contributions have been substantial; their partnership resulted in championships that kept John Force Racing at the forefront even during Force’s recovery period post-crash.
Force himself commented on their legacy and departure in typically gracious, yet emotional fashion:
“We are very proud of our accomplishments with the Prock family,”
John Force, team owner
The split is seen by many as a difficult but unavoidable reality of motorsports, where even the strongest partnerships sometimes end as careers advance and teams evolve. Force expressed understanding as he wished the family well:
“I wish them well, and I understand that their decision to move on is just part of the business we’re in,”
John Force, team owner
Looking ahead, John Force Racing is preparing to reshape its roster, aiming to operate with four teams in 2026. Jack Beckman will return to the Funny Car ranks, while Josh Hart is slated to fill the Top Fuel seat left by Brittany Force, who had been a fixture driving under her father’s banner. Even with these new additions, JFR still faces the challenge of filling two remaining driver spots before the start of the next season.
Prock’s unexpected departure is a reminder of racing’s ever-changing nature—champions switch teams, alliances shift, and every exit is also the start of new stories. Nevertheless, for John Force Racing and the sport’s passionate fan base, one certainty prevails: the race goes on.
What Lies Ahead After Petty’s Salute and Force’s Exit
The Richard Petty tribute John Force moment stands as a symbol of mutual respect between two motorsports icons and signals a changing of the guard in American drag racing. For fans and newcomers alike, this transition brings both nostalgia for legendary careers and curiosity about the sport’s next chapter. With Force stepping away from driving and transitions underway at John Force Racing, the NHRA landscape is evolving—but the influence of both “The King” and John Force ensures their stories, legacy, and lessons will continue to shape the sport for many years to come.
Congratulations on a championship career, John! pic.twitter.com/ktApB2Pcap
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) November 26, 2025
