I hope I am wrong, but JF sure exhibits visual signs of TBI and his age does not bode well for a full recovery. The lights might be on but is anybody home? I wish him well and his place in drag racing history as an all time great remains.

without a doubt he has a tbi. Making a good recovery, but his days of anticipating a green light are likely behind him. Pagenaud had a less severe impact at half his age and still hasn't set foot in competition.

So, Beckman will replace Force for the remainder of the year. That's a good call, IMO; I think Fast Jack will fit in pretty well with that team.
Here's something I didn't realize about the championship points;

"By NHRA rules, when a driver is unable to compete, the race team may employ a substitute who can earn points for the original driver in a maximum of eight tour events. This means when Beckman rolls to the starting line for qualifying at the 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd on Aug. 16, he’ll be pursuing a 17th championship title for Force."

Beckman will also start out in 6th place due to the fact that Force had a heck of a start to the season.

it's been said many times that if you haven't experienced
a top fuel race, you gotta go at least once.
The video is dated as the cars are running 4 1/2 seconds,
but the cars today are getting into the 3.6 second range


<iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/clZVQXfW1XU" title="Mind Blowing Top Fuel Dragster Fastest Run ! First Experience ! Throttle Whack" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The mid four second elapsed times were made on the full 1/4 mile, 1,320 feet. The mid to high three second runs are being made in only 1,000 feet. The NHRA reduced the length of the racetrack for Top Fuel and Funny Car after Scott Kallita's death in 2008.

Interestingly, they are now exceeding the top speeds achieved at the full quarter mile distance. Even more interesting, they are hitting over 280 mph at half track or, in other words, only 500 feet. They only pick up another 60 mph in the last half of the track.

Everyone in life needs a friend like Higgins to pop your Top Fuel Cherry, I'm not a virgin anymore.

Zmax is my local strip - took my son to his first race when he was 8 or 9

I had two ear plugs in each of his ears and some peltors over them. He was a bit upset with me because he wanted to "hear" them. I looked at him and said don't worry about hearing them.... your ears will just shut down you will feel them through your entire body.

My company had a hospitality suite at the finish line and thats where we were. The 4 cars launched and look of shock washed across his face and as they went past the wall of air pressure pushed him off his feet.

We live about 20 - 25 miles away from the track and when the nitro cars are running you can hear them clear as day. sounds like thunder

The track in Edmonton that we race at has a drag strip right behind pit road… the return road is where we set up our pits… I’ve experienced top fuel drag racing up close and personal and have the hearing loss to prove it… it’s cool but ear shattering loud.

And to think my old man is one of the pioneers of drag racing.

I tried to talk to Don Garlits once.
He couldn't hear a work I said.

Big Daddy was my grandmother’s neighbor and friend in Seffner, FL. He was a pall bearer at my grandfather’s funeral. Good guy.

92...I didn't know that he was still with us.

<iframe width="500" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o9JQmeqlr-E" title="Big Daddy Don Garlits gets emotional about the machine that changed his life!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It was probably 45 years ago…I remember sitting on my grandmother’s front porch with her. A guy drove by on her little street in Seffner and hollered “hello, Mrs.____!”. I asked her who it was and she said, “Oh, that’s Don Garlits. He has a car shop around the corner.” “You mean Big Daddy??” She didn’t know what I was talking about.

I used to go to his speed parts business back in the early 70's. I couldn't believe he was actually working the counter.

I know where his old house is in Seffner. He built all his cars there.

My dad knew Don back when he was racing. And Art Arfons.

Top fuel hydro drag boat record was
3.1 seconds for 1000' last I saw
Sure they get a bit of a run at the lights but still


<iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cpy4cJzTqr8" title="Put 10,000 Horsepower In A Small Boat and This Is What Happens" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

John Force is now up to third place in the playoffs.
He could still win another championship ;)

Yesterday Jack Beckman said Force is doing pretty good. May not be back in the car this season but they are hoping. I would like to see him in the car one more time before retiring.

I hope he is well.

John Force won the race yesterday, and is up to
second place with three races left in the season :)

I know it's a dumb rule, but it's still a rule!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1727769610.jpg

Beckman gets the Wally, Force gets the points. Prock is hard to beat.

Force is racing again?

I had to look it up, but the sub driver (Beckman) scores points for the original driver Force.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cRgEzZTZBUA?si=a29RBOK43UnppLlP" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A great video.


<iframe width="912" height="513" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cRgEzZTZBUA" title="A Message From John Force" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>