John Force Racing Shares Update After Scary Jack Beckman NHRA Crash

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
John Force Racing has shared an update on Jack Beckman after a scary NHRA Funny Car crash at the New England Nationals.
Beckman, who is currently standing in for John Force after his horrific crash in Virginia last year, crashed into the wall at about 300 feet after his car broke loose at 60 feet. Thankfully, the 58-year-old is okay and has thanked his fans for their concern. He explained in the video from John Force Racing:
"First off, I appreciate everybody's concern and I'm not going to be able to respond to everybody so that is why we are sending this message out. I'm fine! My feelings are hurt, our race car's hurt. We're still not quite sure what had happened, never had anyone like that. But the safety equipment did its job.
"Thank you Simpson and everyone who has helped us on the safety gear. We will rebound, we will unload our spare car which was last year's Peak Chevy SS and we'll be back in Bristol and we will be ready to win again. I promise you."
Jack Beckman's Funny Car broke loose at 60 ft and there was a racing incident that put him in the wall at about 300 ft. He is okay and thanks everyone for their concern! @FastJackBeckman @peakauto pic.twitter.com/9AC9yfFDhr — John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) June 1, 2025
Reacting to the crash, Beckman commented to NHRA.com:
"It started to shake, I pedaled, and it was one of those deals where these things shake violently enough that your vision kind of shuts down for a second. As soon as I pedaled, it just hooked left—and at that point, you're a passenger.
"I've seen a lot of those, and I always wondered, you know, what I'd do. I mean, clearly, I'd like a redo on that—I wouldn't have pedaled that way. But sometimes these things just do really unpredictable stuff out there, and that was one of them.
This photo taken on August 13, 2017 shows a drag racer speeding down the racetrack during an "NGO Street Drag Bike Party", a legal racing event, in the central Thai province of Pathum Thani. The...
This photo taken on August 13, 2017 shows a drag racer speeding down the racetrack during an "NGO Street Drag Bike Party", a legal racing event, in the central Thai province of Pathum Thani. The streets of Bangkok are frequently clogged with thousands of motorbikes, and many Thais learn to ride the vehicles from a young age. But for those wanting to take their riding to the next level, a stadium on the outskirts of the Thai capital hosts monthly drag races. More
LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images
"It's a shame. That was a great race car, and now it's a lot of extra work for us, especially with our first back-to-back [race weekends] of the year. But we'll unload our spare, which was last year's race car, so we'll be ready to go for Bristol.
"As a driver, this is the last thing you want to do. We had a car that could win the race. We struggled a little bit today, and that one—it kind of reared its head again and just lost traction. So, we'll go to work. I'm glad I'm okay, and we'll be back.
"And Bruno... I'm not gonna ask you for a kiss right now either."