When Brittany Force completes her final Top Fuel run in the 60th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals this weekend at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex, it will be the end of a six-decade era.
The fastest racer in the sport has announced that she will leave the driver’s seat to begin a family. So, when the 2026 season begins, it will be the first time since 1976 that a Force has not made a run down a drag strip in a national event.
Her father, John, a Motorsports Hall of Fame member, made his first national event start in 1977. Two other daughters, Courtney and Ashley, competed in national events before retiring.
“I hate it. I hate it. I hate,” said John, who had to quit racing in 2024 after a horrific crash. “But I have two grandsons and a granddaughter. … So eventually, (the name) will be back in there. Give us some time.”
The Yorba Linda-based family is not leaving the NHRA. Reigning Funny Car series champion Austin Prock leads the point standings by 101 points heading into qualifying today and Saturday with eliminations set for Sunday. Jack Beckman took over Force’s car seat and will be racing, too.
“I’m not getting back in a Funny Car anymore; I’ve done my time,” John Force said. “I am expanding my racing operations. I’m really excited about that because it gives me something to do.”
Brittany Force will finish an incredibly impressive Force record. The driving family has won 18 NHRA championships and 180 national event races. John, 76, won 16 NHRA Funny Car championships and 157 events, Brittany, 39, who would need a near-miracle to win a third Top Fuel title, is coming off her 19th career victory, the most by a female racer in the division. She also has set a national speed record of 343.51 mph, the fastest ever by anyone, has eclipsed the 340 mph barrier three times this season, and holds nine of the top 10 NHRA speed records. Courtney Force, 37, won 13 national events from 2012 to 2018 and Ashley Force, 42, won two national events — including beating her father in one final — from 2007 to 2010. Force’s team has won four other championships with drivers not named Force.
“My deal is all about the next generation,” John Force said. “I’ve lived my whole life not knowing anything else.”
Force’s oldest granddaughter, Autumn Hight, 21, moved to Indianapolis to race Super Comp cars. Two of his grandsons, 14-year-old Jacob Hood and 12-year-old Noah Hood, have done some Junior Dragster competitions and their mother, Ashley, says their father — Daniel Hood, the crew chief for Beckman — doesn’t have time to tune his son’s cars too often. Courtney has a 3-year-old and an infant.
“It is a big change,” Ashley said. “But we have other drivers who are family.”
Brittany, who stepped into a national event dragster for the first time in 2013, announced two months ago that she would leave the driver’s seat, primarily to start a family with her new husband. She is coming off her second victory this season two weeks ago in Las Vegas.
“There is a little bit of pressure for us after winning in Las Vegas,” she said. “The final few races, the team said we wanted to get back into the winner’s circle. This is my home track, I’ve won here before, so I have great memories here at Pomona.”
Her chances of winning a third series title are incredibly slim because Doug Kalitta only needs to qualify his dragster to win the title. If things go her way, she could finish as high as second; she is in fourth place, but only 48 points behind second-place Shawn Langdon.
“It definitely will be different,” Brittany said of the lack of a Force driving next year. “But John Force Racing will still be a presence. I’ll be at the track.”
Prock likely needs just a first-round victory for his second national crown. He has won nine races this season, has a 101-point lead over Matt Hagan and a 178-point lead over teammate Beckman.
“We have to go out there and do what we have done all this year,” Prock said of taking the title. “I have all the faith in this team, all the faith in myself to win back-to-back world championships for John Force Racing.”
And next year?
“It will be different and not the same without Force on the side of the car, and not having Brittany by my side,” he said.
In Pro Stock, Dallas Green has a 92-point advantage over Greg Anderson. Green likely will take the title if he can keep a 90-point advantage heading into the eliminations. The closest points race is in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Richard Gason has a 21-point lead over Gaige Herrera. The title could be decided in the final race.
Because of potential rain, the NHRA on Thursday moved up Friday’s qualifying sessions. Pro quallfying is scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals
Where: In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex
When: Today through Sunday; gates open 7:30 a.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: NHRA.com