Brittany Force, a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, has announced that she will return to racing in the upcoming NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Washington.
Brittany had missed the last race in Norwalk, Ohio, to care for her father, John Force, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a tragic incident in Virginia last June. John Force, a famous figure in Funny Car racing, is currently rehabilitating in a rehabilitation facility and demonstrating remarkable progress.
Brittany Force’s return to racing could not come at a more critical time. She’ll be driving her Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster, hoping to clinch her spot in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship Playoffs. She is currently only 50 points ahead of her closest challenger, Josh Hart.
The catastrophe involving her father, in which his Funny Car exploded and collided with a barrier, has clearly put a significant emotional strain on the family. In an update ahead of her return from John Force Racing, she stated:
“I’m pleased to be back on the track after a rough few weeks. Since Richmond, our family has experienced an emotional rollercoaster, but my father has made significant improvement, and we are all really proud of him. He has now been sent to a rehabilitation facility closer to home.
“I’d like to thank (crew chief) David Grubnic, John Collins, and my team for their patience and support in my decision to stay with my father while racing continued in Norwalk.” Missing the race was difficult, but I needed to be with my father and family.”
Brittany added:
“I’m thrilled to be racing our Flav-R-Pac dragster this weekend in honor of our longstanding partner, Frank Tiegs. He always advised me to keep having fun since that’s when you perform best. We won the championship together in 2022, and I’m honored to drive him and his family this weekend.”
Looking ahead, Brittany intends to utilize this race as a springboard for the playoffs.
“Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown,” explained the 16-time tour winner. “We’ve made great progress in our last few races, and I’m excited to take the next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winners’ circle for the Tiegs family and my father.”
“It’ll be difficult to not have my father at the track with me this weekend, but I know he’ll be watching from his rehab facility. Watching him fight his way back pushes me to get back in the winners’ circle.”