NHRA has a definite identity problem on its hands.
When John Force, the sport’s most popular driver for over three decades, crashed last year near Richmond, Va., and suffered a traumatic brain injury, his future as a driver abruptly ended. Now 76, Force has made a significant and welcome recovery, but he’ll likely never be able to race again.
Fans are happy to see the Force family patriarch back at dragstrips this year, taking photos with fans and signing autographs. It’s a good thing to see that John’s loyal army of fans have not lost their love for him.
But who will eventually replace Force as the “face” of the NHRA going forward? Who will the NHRA turn to become the next fan favorite, the next driver that will be the sport’s primary spokesman (or woman)?
There are a number of potential candidates, but most of them are in their 50s or older and are on the downward edge of their racing careers.
It’s quite likely many of them will retire in the next three to five years, which is only going to further exacerbate NHRA’s identity crisis with Force no longer able to bedazzle fans as an active competitor.
Tony Stewart would make a great replacement for Force as the face of the sport. He’s got the name, the looks, the four-wheeled pedigree and an incredible racing resume he’s compiled over the last 35-plus years.
But it’s unclear how long Stewart will continue drag racing. He won’t go back to NASCAR, IndyCar or even sprint cars. NHRA is about all he has left.
However, Stewart is also a new father, has been married for less than four years and while he enjoys drag racing, he doesn’t need it. He has so much in life still to achieve and see, having spent his entire adulthood doing nothing but going from one race to another and another.
Why run the risk of, God forbid, something happening to him in his Top Fuel dragster when he has a baby boy and a wife depending upon him.
Of all the top drivers in the NHRA today, the only one who comes even close to Force in terms of being Mr. NHRA and has the kind of personality that will not only keep longtime fans coming back, but also attract new fans, it’s Anthony Wayne Stewart.
Other than Stewart, I’m not overlooking other drivers, especially those who’ve been around for 20 or 30 years. They’ve been admirable competitors, champions and fan favorites.
But of the young crop of drivers that have only been around for the last decade or so, very few really stand out as someone who will take NHRA into the next 10, 20, or 30 years.
No one has Force’s wild and crazy personality that has enamored him not just with the fans, but the media and even non-drag racing fans. Ask anyone who is not a drag racing fan if they can name any NHRA driver, odds are likely the only name they’ll have heard or will come up with is John Force.
That’s like asking folks from around the world who do they identify the city of Chicago with, and invariably the first name will almost always be Michael Jordan and second will be gangster Al Capone.
What about Force’s daughter Brittany? Could she succeed her old man as the face of drag racing? She’s certainly been on a great run of success in recent weeks, but while she indeed is a Force, she is not a John. She’s the quieter type, not the over-the-top personality that her father is.
If I had to pick someone other than Stewart to be the face of NHRA for the next 10 or more years, one name does come to mind. He’s become an outstanding Funny Car driver, won the championship last year and is a strong favorite to repeat this year and for many more years to come.
Of course, I’m talking about Austin Prock. He could step up to replace his boss as the face of the sport, but like Brittany, Prock is not John. No one ever will be. God broke the mold when he created the elder Force.
Prock has the talent to become one of the greatest drivers in Funny Car history. Could he win 16 championships and nearly 160 race wins like his boss? While it would be great to see, it’s unlikely.
Another thing is whether Prock, his brother Thomas and their crew chief father Jimmy stay in the Force camp. There already have been rumors that Prock and family might entertain offers from other teams – if they haven’t already – or possibly start their own team at some point.
Prock is that good. Perhaps too good to stay with John Force Racing.
If and when John decides to fully retire from the sport – if he ever could bring himself to do so – it’s unlikely that Brittany or sisters Ashley or even Courtney will want to take over for their father and run the company.
Then what happens to JFR? Then what happens to NHRA?
There’s a lot of change likely to happen in the sport in the next three to five years. We’ve seen how the sport has gone on and survived when past champs like Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato and so many other former greats who were the face of NHRA in their respective eras ultimately stepped out of their race cars for the final time.
While I’m still bullish on the sport’s future, not having a guy like Force or Stewart behind the wheel and going 330-plus mph is definitely going to make things different.
Of course, if NHRA can hopefully find a new face for its future, someone it can lean on like it did on Force for so many years, there’s one other possibility we haven’t mentioned: someone who could go on to become the greatest drag racer in history, with movie star like looks, Force’s outlandish personality and would be loved by everyone around.
Who fits that bill? There isn’t anyone – unless a character like that is created by AI.
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