(Photo Credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery)
Beckman Will Pursue NHRA Funny Car Championship in PEAK Chevrolet
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Dec. 13, 2024) – Old World Industries today announced a multi-year extension with John Force Racing that includes primary sponsorship of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS in which Jack Beckman will pursue the Funny Car championship in the NHRA’s 2025 Mission Foods drag racing series.
Beckman, who won two times last season in relief of the team’s namesake, drag racing legend John Force, will be back on tour full-time for the first time since 2020. He won the NHRA Funny Car championship in 2012 after reigning as NHRA Super Comp Champion in 2003.
Injured in a high-speed crash at Richmond, Va., last June, Force continues to receive treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury. Although he has made significant progress, he remains under the care and evaluation of TBI specialists.
“The last eight races we saw that the NHRA is definitely better for having Jack Beckman back in the driver’s seat,” said Brian Bohlander, Director of Sports Marketing for OWI. “We’re excited to have John, Jack, and the entire JFR organization representing the PEAK and BlueDEF brands for years to come. Jack has done a tremendous job, on and off the track, and has earned this opportunity to race full time for the championship.”
Beckman slid into the seat of the PEAK Chevrolet for the first time during last August’s “Night Under Fire” match race at Norwalk, Ohio. In eight starts in the Mission Series, he advanced to the final round three times, winning at St. Louis, Mo., and, in the season-ending In-n-Out Burger Finals, at Pomona, Calif. Racing as Force’s proxy, he finished second in points behind JFR teammate Austin Prock.
“I am thrilled to continue a partnership with PEAK and BlueDEF and look forward to returning to JFR in 2025,” Beckman said. “As a car enthusiast, I believe in using the best products available for both personal and professional applications. PEAK and BlueDEF products are trusted for our support vehicles and haulers, ensuring reliability and performance.”
For 11 years a full-time instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, Beckman taught more than 7,000 students the basics of the sport including Force’s wife, Laurie, and his drag racing daughters, Ashley, Brittany and Courtney.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and cancer survivor, he has won 37 NHRA national events, 35 of them in a Funny Car. The 11th different driver to win a tour event for JFR, he is the 10th to do so in a Funny Car class over which Force reigned as champion 16 times.
“Beckman’s doing the job for PEAK and BlueDEF,” Force said. “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.”
John Force Racing | Photo: Gary Nastase – Auto Imagery
