Latest news with #NHRAFunnyCar
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
John Force Racing Shares Update After Scary Jack Beckman NHRA Crash
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 — John Force Racing (@JFR_Racing) June 1, 2025 Reacting to the crash, Beckman commented to "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."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) Highlights Key Strategic Expansion Initiatives Following Successful Board Meeting and Investor Engagement at Mar-a-Lago
American Rebel Holdings, Inc. Nashville, TN, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) ("American Rebel" or the "Company"), creator of American Rebel Light Beer ( and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel ( highlights key strategic decisions reaffirmed and ratified during its board meeting and investor dinner held April 29, 2025, at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, FL. The gathering followed the Company's unprecedented success as the title sponsor of the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway; and brought together senior company management, board members, potential investors, and strategic partners; including Matt Hagan, 4-time World Champion NHRA Funny Car driver and American Rebel Light Beer brand ambassador, and Mark Elenowitz, Managing Director of Digital Offering, a pioneer in Regulation A+ IPOs and offerings. 'The Mar-a-Lago event brought together our leadership, potential investors and key partners for a forward-looking conversation on how to best scale our vision,' said Andy Ross. 'With the guidance of capital market and investment banking industry leaders like Mark Elenowitz and the passion of brand ambassadors and true American Rebels like Matt Hagan, we are more confident than ever in our ability to grow American Rebel into a household name among patriotic Americans.' Reflecting on the Mar-a-Lago event, Ross added, 'The setting at Mar-a-Lago was the perfect venue for these types of strategic business discussions. Surrounded by esteemed investors and partners, the atmosphere was both inspiring and conducive to aligning our vision for American Rebel Holdings as America's next big success story.' American Rebel Light Beer: Acceleration of National Expansion American Rebel management reported to the board that American Rebel Light Beer is expanding its distribution footprint at a rapid pace and that management was seeking guidance from the board to further accelerate its nation-wide rollout, seizing on market momentum and opportunity. The board endorsed accelerating the nation-wide rollout as a priority to establish American Rebel Light as the next national premium domestic light lager beer. American Rebel management expects to have several announcements of the addition of new states to its distribution network over the next few weeks. Strategic Growth and Market Positioning of America's Fastest Growing Beer American Rebel Light Beer is rapidly expanding its distribution, and management is seeking to accelerate its nationwide rollout. The board fully supports this expansion as a priority to position the beer as a national premium brand. Additionally, the board reaffirmed the company's targeted distributor expansion plan for the remainder of 2025 and discussed allocating additional resources to fully capitalize on relationships and opportunities within motor sports. Motor Sports: A High-Impact Opportunity for American Rebel Motor sports present a significant opportunity for American Rebel Beverages and American Rebel Light Beer to increase brand visibility and consumer engagement. With a passionate fan base and high-profile events, motor sports provide an ideal platform for marketing and sponsorship initiatives. Leveraging strategic partnerships within the industry, American Rebel Light Beer can establish itself as a preferred beverage among racing enthusiasts, teams, and event attendees. Portfolio Expansion of America's Patriotic Brand: Acquisition and Licensing Opportunities American Rebel's board encouraged management to continue evaluating potential acquisitions that could enhance the company's enterprise value and expand the reach of America's Patriotic Brand. CEO Andy Ross has frequently expressed his vision of broadening the American Rebel product line beyond beverages, envisioning a future where the brand encompasses grills, knives, tools, motor oil, and other complementary products. His goal is to create a household name synonymous with rugged American spirit, where consumers instinctively choose American Rebel-branded products for everyday needs. As America's Patriotic Brand, we are actively evaluating several licensing categories and acquisition opportunities that align with our brand, mission, and strategic growth plans. By identifying partnerships that reinforce our core values and extend our product offerings, we aim to build a portfolio of trusted American Rebel products that resonate with our customers. 'I want Susie to go up to mom and say 'Mom, what's Dad want for Father's Day' and she says, 'Honey, anything with American Rebel on it,'' said Andy Ross. About American Rebel Light Beer Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer ( is a premium domestic light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America's Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer. American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It's all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers. For more information follow American Rebel Beer on all social media platforms (@americanrebelbeer). About American Rebel Holdings, Inc. American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit and For investor information, visit American Rebel Holdings, Inc. info@ Media Contact:Matt SheldonMatt@ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the 'Company,' "American Rebel,' 'we,' 'our' or 'us') desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "forecasts" "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of our strategic planning, marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Attachment American Rebel Holdings, in to access your portfolio
CBS News
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Cape Cod's Jay Blake is the only blind crew chief in the NHRA; it's all due to an app
A phone app is helping the only blind crew chief in the National Hot Rod Association get his cars on the track and hitting 300 mph. Jay Blake is the founder of Follow A Dream, an NHRA race team that drives funny cars, dragsters with the body of a car. Soon, the team will move to the top circuit in NHRA Funny Car. Blake has been blind since he was injured in an accident in 1997. "That afternoon, a wheel and tire assembly off of a forklift exploded in my face, threw me 45 feet through the air," explains Blake. "Three-and-a-half weeks later, I came home with no eyes, no sight, no smell, no taste. A bad day at the office." He was taken to Mass General Hospital, where doctors spent 11 hours reconstructing his face and placing two prosthetic eyes. "Drag racing was my love, my dream," Blake said. After his accident, his friend took him to a race, and it inspired him to own his own team. "I wanted to motivate kids to get an education and to believe in themselves and to follow their dream. Hence, the start of Follow a Dream," Blake said. When he is working on the cars in his Marston Mills shop or out at the track, the area is a controlled environment that helps him to operate independently. At his Cape Cod shop, the radio is always on. The sound becomes his North Star and allows him to have a better understanding of where he is situated in the room. Navigating on his own can become difficult when he has to read or measure something. That is when he turns to an app called Be My Eyes. The app will contact a volunteer with the company who will have access to his phone camera. The volunteer can then help to guide him through the situation. "My eyes don't work, but I know what I am looking for, so all I need is someone else's eyes to tell me what is there," Blake said. The app was founded by Hans Jorgen Wiberg, a blind man from Denmark. "I met a young blind guy, and he was telling me how he was using FaceTime when he needed eyes, and then he said, 'But I always have to think about who to call,'" Wiberg said. The app now has more than 8 million volunteers who help the blind when they call. Soon, they will be partnering with Meta to expand the services to utilize special Ray-Ban sunglasses with cameras in the frames. "Now you can say, 'Hey Meta, ' and then say 'Be my eyes,' and then we make a call directly from the glasses, and volunteers will be looking through the camera," Wiberg said.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NHRA Racer Tasca Says FOX Sports 'Can Keep Embarrassing Themselves If They'd Like'
NHRA Funny Car team owner-driver Bob Tasca III certainly didn't change his message about the FOX Sports IndyCar Series commercials being incorrect with its tagline 'Fastest Racing On Earth.' But he added some perspective to his remarks from Gainesville, Fla., two weeks ago. 'First off,' he said, 'I want to go on record to all my IndyCar friends out there. I don't have many, because I've never been to an IndyCar race, actually. But I have met several drivers over the years. The truth is, I have the utmost respect for what they do, their sport, their fans. Anyone that gets in a race car and risks their life to put on a show for their sponsors and fans, hats off to them.' Tasca said the commercials' tag line 'wasn't tastefully done at all' but said, 'My emotion was on the fact that the promotion is singling out that they're the fastest motorsport on the planet, and that is factually wrong. It is not true, and anybody that can look at scoreboard can clearly see that,' Tasca said. 'So I think that they overstepped some bounds – which not only pissed me off, [but] it pissed off a lot of NHRA fans and drivers. And it was great to see the passion of race fans over the last week.' He said, 'We are the fastest motorsport on the planet, although I did get some call-outs from our Bonneville Salt Flats folks. And maybe I have to preface that we are the fastest side-by-side motorsport on the planet. But again, I love their passion, too, so it's all in good fun.' But he said he was told that Friday's FOX Sports broadcast of the first day of Arizona Nationals action included uncorrected IndyCar commercials. 'So you want to talk about embarrassment? OK. They can keep embarrassing themselves if they'd like, but the harsh reality is we are the fastest motorsport, and I'm very proud to be able to say that.'
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ron Capps Okay After Violent Crash at NHRA Arizona Nationals
NHRA Funny Car team owner/driver Ron Capps credited safety advancements that were inspired by previous profound accidents to the John Force Racing team. Horrifying-looking wreck slices car's body in two, sends parts, pieces flying. Hurtling at speed topping 230 mph, Capps said he braced for the side impact with the wall. Public-address announcer Jason Galvin described it in four words: 'Big. Violent. Expensive. Painful.' For Ron Capps, his massive Funny Car accident in Sunday's opening round of the Arizona Nationals eliminations at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz., was all of those things. The engine explosion happened, eerily, on the 18th anniversary of John Force Racing Funny Car driver Eric Medlen's death at Gainesville, Fla., that led to safety advancements that Capps said he believes helped save him nearly two decades later and a continent away at Chandler, Ariz. It also came nine months to the day after John Force's ferocious wall-banger at Virginia Motorsports Park, near Richmond, that has the 16-time champion and 157-time winner still on the shelf with after-effects of a traumatic brain injury. Just past the 660-foot mark on the 1,000-foot course, the engine of Capps' NAPA Auto Parts entry blew up, turning his carbon-fiber Toyota Supra body to confetti spewed in all directions—and his chassis, as Capps put it, into a convertible. The force sliced the body in two behind the supercharger. Leaning to its right side, the car spun around and headed into the other lane, where it side-slapped the wall at perilous spot, near the gate. All of this unfolded in the fraction of an eyeblink after he clocked a 230.61-mph speed on that run that lasted only 4.165 seconds. Capps said that as his engine detonated with terrifying power in his first-round match against Blake Alexander, 'I don't know if I just didn't catch it at the time, just didn't expect to smoke and then didn't see Blake. But then it's just blurry. It bangs so quick, so violent, and then it was a convertible again. But I had fire in my face when it did it. It just started going left and I'm just, I'm living Force's accident, right? I know it's coming. I had no control. Moving pretty fast, and I know it's going to be bad. And sometimes when it's coming, it's going to be bad—and other times you feel like you're in control. 'But I just kept picturing John's accident that was right in front of us in Richmond,' Capps said. 'So I just hung on and just tried to brace myself. And when it hit, I honestly didn't expect to be awake afterwards. It was going that fast. And then I was still awake.' Capps praised everyone responsible for safety equipment, much of it improved since Medlen's testing crash that claimed his life several days later in 2007, along with a pair of devastating wrecks for Force (one at Dallas six months after Medlen's incident, the other last June's dealbreaker at Richmond). 'So I mean, paddings, all the stuff that Eric Medlen's and Force's accidents and all those things over the years have thankfully been fixed and upgraded so that I could be OK right now. I feel fine,' Capps said. 'No issues at all. You want to thank chassis builders and Toyota and the bodies and all the work that we do. 'Man, I am sure I'm not going to want to watch it,' he said. 'It was just 'Hang on' and 'This is going to be bad.'' He said one of his first thoughts was 'to get out as quick as I can and wave the camera' to signal to parents John and Betty Capps, who were following the action from home at San Luis Obispo, Calif., and wife Shelley and children Taylor and Caden on hand that he was uninjured. Immediately after the accident, Capps said he didn't know the cause of it. But he knew two things: 'I'm bummed we lost. And I'm really bummed [about the expense to repair it].' He even joked, 'Anybody want to throw some money as a partner? Want to come in? That's the second new car. And I feel so bad for Guido and the guys [crew chief Dean Antonelli and the team]. It's a lot of money. "Thank God, we got NAPA Auto care and Toyota to help us, but we're a single-car team, and we're just doing our best out here. So we'll be okay. We've got a week [until Race No. 3, at Pomona, Calif.'s In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip], and I've got the best guys in the world. So the NAPA Boys will get it fixed. We can fix the car.'
