John Force Racing to return to NHRA in 2021
The 16-time Funny Car champ shocked the NHRA last season when he pulled himself and teammates Robert Hight and Brittany Force out of competition shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
John Force, the winningest (16 Funny Car championships and 151 race wins) and most popular driver in NHRA history announced Tuesday that he and teammates Robert Hight and Brittany Force will return to active competition when the 2021 season begins next month in Gainesville, Florida.
“Thank you to all of our sponsors and fans for sticking by us,” Force said in a statement. “I really realized how much I love this sport and I appreciate the chance to get back into my PEAK / BlueDEF Chevrolet.”
It will mark the debut for John Force Racing within the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series. Camping World replaced Mello Yello as primary series sponsor late last season when Mello Yello’s parent company, Coca-Cola, abruptly withdrew with only a handful of races left in the season.
“We’re excited to be back racing and to have all of our sponsors with us,” Force added. “I’m looking forward to working with Camping World and can’t wait to see where the sport goes with them on board.”
Force shocked the NHRA community when, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, withdrew his and his teammates’ cars for the rest of the season (along with the team of young up-and-comer Austin Prock).
At this point, Prock, who won NHRA’s Rookie of the Year award following the 2019 season, will remain parked until additional funding is found.
Force’s son-in-law, Danny Hood, will remain as his crew chief, with long-time car chief Tim Fabrisi moving up to assistant crew chief.
Hight, a three-time Funny Car champion and president of parent firm John Force Racing, will have co-crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham returning to their respective roles.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to going rounds and winning races with this Auto Club team,” Hight said in a team press release. “I know Jimmy and Chris and all our Auto Club guys are excited and ready to get going.
“I’m happy to be continuing John Force Racing’s over 20-year partnership with AAA and ultimately going after another championship.”
As for John Force’s daughter, Top Fuel driver Brittany Force, David Grubnic and Mac Savage return in their role as co-crew chiefs.
“I can’t wait to get back to the racetrack with my Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team,” Brittany Force said in a media release. “We’ll be chasing down our first win of the season right out of the gate. This year I’m really looking forward to racing in Seattle with Frank Tiegs and Flav-R-Pac as the title sponsor.”
In addition to PEAK / BlueDEF, Auto Club, Monster Energy and Flav-R-Pac, John Force Racing brings back its full roster of sponsors including Chevrolet, Cornwell Tools, Montana Brand, ParkerStore, Baldwin Filters, Gates Belts, Weld Racing, Simpson Race Products and Goodyear.
John Force Racing will prepare for the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series opening race at PRO Winter Warm-Up March 5-7 at Palm Beach International Raceway. Limited tickets are available for the test session at racepbir.com. Tickets for the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals March 12-14 are on sale at nhra.com.