John Force, the iconic figure in drag racing and founder of John Force Racing, made a significant return to the track at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the PRO Superstar Shootout in 2025, marking his first appearance since a severe crash in 2024. This event is a key highlight in John Force News for fans worldwide.
Back in June 2024, Force experienced a horrific crash at the Virginia Nationals while racing at over 300 mph. This accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury, forcing him out of competition and into a period of recovery in the hospital. The drag racing community and John Force news outlets closely followed his condition and progress.
Despite confirming prior to the 2025 NHRA season that he wasn’t yet ready to return to the driver’s seat, Force’s presence at Bradenton alongside his team in 2025 was a powerful signal of his ongoing recovery and dedication to John Force Racing. He had attended races towards the end of the 2024 season, but Bradenton was his first full team appearance in 2025, a piece of John Force news eagerly anticipated by his supporters.
The PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton saw Ron Capps clinch victory, defeating JFR driver Austin Prock in the final round. Even without a win, the John Force Racing team viewed the event as valuable preparation for the NHRA Mission Foods Series commencing March 7 at the Gatornationals. Austin Prock demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a record-breaking 3.791-second run during the final qualifying session, further generating positive John Force news and excitement around the team’s potential.
Following the race weekend, Force conveyed an emotional message, expressing gratitude and renewed vigor. In a press release from John Force Racing, he shared, “My wife, Laurie, told me I needed to get back in the game. And being here in Bradenton was just good for my heart. Watching everybody work, watching the cars and the teams and seeing old friends like Capps, it was just special.”
Force continued, “We didn’t win, but I was excited just to be where I need to be. Running my teams and supporting Cornwell, PEAK, Monster, HendrickCars.com and all our other partners. I can’t wait to get to Gainesville. To tell you the truth, this is the first time since Richmond I really felt alive again.” This heartfelt statement became significant John Force news, highlighting his resilience and passion for racing.
Reflecting on his recovery at the close of 2024, Force had mentioned, “I’m still going to therapy every week and working as hard as I can to get back out there with the sponsors and the fans in a sport I love and I miss. I’ve still got a lot of things I want to do, so I don’t want anybody thinking they’ve seen the last of John Force. We’ll have a lot more to talk about after the holidays.” His appearance at Bradenton and positive outlook are encouraging updates for John Force news followers as he progresses in his recovery and supports his team for the 2025 NHRA season.
| Date | Event Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 6-9 | NHRA Gatornationals | Gainesville Raceway |
| March 21-23 | NHRA Arizona Nationals | Firebird Motorsports Park |
| March 27-30 | Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals | In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip |
| April 11-13 | NHRA Four-Wide Nationals | The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| April 25-27 | NHRA Four-Wide Nationals | zMax Dragway |
| May 15-18 | Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals | Route 66 Raceway |
| May 30 – June 1 | NHRA New England Nationals | New England Dragway |
| June 6-8 | NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals | Bristol Dragway |
| June 20-22 | NHRA Virginia Nationals | Virginia Motorsports Park |
| June 26-29 | Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals | Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park |
| July 18-20 | NHRA Northwest Nationals | Pacific Raceways |
| July 25-27 | DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals | Sonoma Raceway |
| August 14-17 | Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals | Brainerd International Raceway |
| August 27 – Sept 1 | Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals | Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park |
| September 11-14 | NHRA Reading Nationals | Maple Grove Raceway |
| September 19-21 | NHRA Carolina Nationals | zMax Dragway |
| September 26-28 | NHRA Midwest Nationals | World Wide Technology Raceway |
| October 9-12 | Texas NHRA FallNationals | Texas Motorplex |
| October 24-25 | NHRA Showcase of Speed | South Georgia Motorsports Park |
| October 30 – Nov 2 | NHRA Nevada Nationals | The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| November 13-16 | In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals | In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip |
