Jack Beckman did not arrive at John Force Racing expecting to become its most senior driver. Less than two years after returning to the seat as a temporary replacement, he now finds himself as the longest-tenured driver on a team learning how to operate without John Force behind the wheel.
The shift was neither planned nor predictable. Beckman was added late in the 2024 season to fill a Funny Car seat while Force recovered from a traumatic brain injury, with no expectation the role would extend beyond necessity.
“I never thought I’d be driving again, period,” Beckman said. “After three years and nine months out of the seat, I thought that chapter was done.”
At the time, Beckman viewed the opportunity narrowly. He said he was simply grateful to be back in a race car, without any thought given to longevity or leadership.
That changed as circumstances around him shifted. The temporary assignment carried through the 2025 season, and when Force announced his retirement last November, Beckman’s return became permanent.
By January of 2026, Beckman had become the driver with the most seniority at John Force Racing.
“It’s something I never considered because I didn’t ever think it would come to this,” Beckman said. “If you would have told me that less than two years ago, I would’ve said, ‘What?’”
Even as the most recent addition to the roster, Beckman brought the deepest drag racing résumé. That experience now anchors a team entering its first season in more than five decades without a Force driving a nitro car.
Force’s absence was never part of a succession plan. He was 75 years old, second in the points standings, and already a two-time winner in 2024 before the accident sidelined him.
“Nobody drives forever,” Beckman said. “But John is the outlier of outliers.”
Beckman emphasized that the retirement was not performance-driven. It was dictated by circumstance rather than choice.
As Force stepped away, the roster around Beckman changed rapidly. Brittany Force stepped aside to start a family, a move Beckman said was understandable.
“You could say the handwriting was on the wall for that one,” he said.
The departure of the Prock family, however, came without warning and accelerated the team’s reset.
“Next thing I know, I’m looking to my right and looking to my left, and I’m it,” Beckman said.
John Force Racing responded by rebuilding, adding new drivers and redefining roles across the organization. Beckman said the speed of the transition reinforced how quickly stability can shift in the sport.
Despite his age, Beckman does not see himself as a caretaker. He views his role as a contributor who happens to have perspective.
“I know I can still be competitive,” Beckman said. “I think I’ve got some things that will help my teammates, and I think they have some things that will help me.”
That outlook shapes how he approaches leadership. Beckman does not equate seniority with privilege or authority.
“I don’t know what that gets you,” he said. “Does that get you first choice of vacations? Because I’m going to pick 20 of them, and they’re all at an NHRA national event.”
Instead, Beckman sees value in adaptability and shared knowledge. His background as an instructor influences how he interacts with teammates.
“I enjoy imparting knowledge,” he said. “I enjoy listening, too.”
Alexis DeJoria represents familiarity. Beckman taught her at the Frank Hawley School decades ago and has watched her career develop.
Jordan Vandergriff presents a different challenge. Beckman said Vandergriff arrives with experience in a Top Fuel dragster but limited time in a Nitro Funny Car.
“I’m truly looking forward to watching how he progresses,” Beckman said.
Josh Hart, he added, now benefits from focusing solely on driving without the weight of ownership.
“I’m looking forward to seeing his career blossom,” Beckman said.
Leadership, Beckman believes, is defined by behavior rather than tenure. That philosophy will be tested when teammates meet in eliminations.
“If I’m strapped in that car, I want to beat whoever’s in the other lane,” Beckman said. “It doesn’t matter who it is.”
Competition, however, does not eliminate cooperation. Beckman said support still matters when circumstances demand it.
“If Saturday night we’re looking at the ladder sheets and dealing with a tricky racetrack, I can help,” he said.
Beckman remains in contact with Force and stays involved at the Yorba Linda shop, where proximity keeps him connected to the organization’s core.
Time, Beckman acknowledged, has a way of rearranging expectations faster than anyone anticipates.
“If you’re going to call me the elder statesman for JFR,” Beckman said, “I will gladly accept that title with honor.”
