Due to health issues, Jack Beckman, who is temporarily filling in for John Force, has decided not to participate in the 39th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals.
Beckman was scheduled to participate in the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS event, which was hosted at the Texas Motorplex. The 58-year-old’s abrupt development of vertigo-like symptoms led him to decide to withdraw from the race.
In drag racing, Beckman has been a powerful figure. Beckman has an impressive racing background and a lengthy career that includes winning the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world championship and the 2003 Super Comp world championship. His skill and track record are demonstrated by his 35 national event victories, including 33 in the Funny Car class.
Following John Force’s own season-ending injury at the Virginia Nationals, Beckman came out of retirement to race for John Force Racing in 2024. Beckman returned with the intention of maintaining the team’s performance, which he has done wonderfully by finishing second in the Mission Foods driver rankings.
But just before he was set to face Texas native Chad Green in the first round, his racing career took a turn for the worst. Despite having earned the No. 3 qualifying spot, Beckman’s health issues prevented him from competing.
The decision to withdraw was not made hastily. John Force Racing representative Bob McAleer revealed:
“Jack was good on Saturday night when he left the track, but he woke up this morning with symptoms that resembled vertigo and did not go away right away.
“On the advice of NHRA medical professionals, he reluctantly has withdrawn from competition this weekend.”
Since Force’s terrible collision in Virginia, Beckman has been competing this year. On July 23, 2024, John Force Racing released their most recent official update, which said:
Drag racing champion John Force was released from Barrow Neurological Institute on Tuesday after he was receiving treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at Virginia Motorsports Park, where an engine explosion sent his race car crashing into a concrete guardwall at over 300 miles per hour.
“According to family members, while the 16-time Funny Car Champion will continue to work with therapists specializing in such injuries, it now will be on an outpatient basis in California.”
Outpatient speech therapy and occupational and physical therapy (OTPT) will be the following steps in the rehabilitation process, which will treat any remaining short-term memory and cognitive problems.