SEATTLE — Drag racing icon John Force is a 16-time National Hot Rod Association Champion and is currently ranked fourth in the 2024 NHRA funny car standings.
“I love what I do and then I’m with my children, now my grandchildren,”‘ Force said.
Force stopped by the KOMO News Studios in June to talk about the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent.”Great race track, great place for the fans, you’re sitting within the trees,” Force said when talking about his time racing at Pacific Raceways.
Force who recently turned 75, has won a total of 157 funny car events since the start of his racing career in 1978.”I lived up here in Seattle’s surrounding areas, we were living in trailer parks back then,” Force said.
Force said he and his family always look forward to competing in the Pacific Northwest.
“We line up the 18 wheelers and you can see everything from guys racing their car from home to racing motorcycles and then you go on to the top fuel dragsters like Brittany drives and the top fuel funny cars and pro stock and the bite, it’s the greatest show on earth,” Force said.
Racing is a way of life for his entire family. Force’s daughter Brittany is a two-time NHRA Champion and now his grandkids are racing, but it’s a career and sport that comes with a risk.
“It’s scary for me cause I worry about them getting hurt, but I gotta say NHRA they do a great job of protecting us,” Force said.
