Brittany Force has revealed she will leave full-time NHRA racing at the conclusion of this season to prioritize starting a family with her husband, Bobby. The announcement came on the eve of the NHRA’s 2025 Countdown to the Championship qualifying round at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania, marking the end of her 13-year career focused on the intense demands of professional drag racing.
This decision, described by Force as both difficult and bittersweet, reflects her long contemplation of balancing personal goals with the rigors of competition in one of motorsport’s most challenging categories. Her choice signals a significant moment for the sport as well as for John Force Racing, the iconic team led by her father, drag-racing legend John Force.
The Personal and Professional Journey Behind Force’s Decision
Brittany Force expressed that the decision had been on her mind for several years but crystallized in the middle of this racing season.
“It’s something that’s been on my mind for a very long time,”
she said during the news conference.
“In the last couple years I’ve been thinking about it and really settled on this decision middle of this season.”
Force acknowledged the unique challenges faced by female drivers in motorsports, where the luxury of pausing one’s career to start a family is limited. She underscored the complexities inherent in stepping away from the seat before the season begins rather than during it, to avoid disrupting her championship team’s efforts.
Reflecting on her sisters Ashley and Courtney’s experiences in negotiating motherhood and their professional racing careers, Brittany noted the guidance they provided.
“I’ve talked to them, and I watched how they did it. I know it wasn’t easy. They had to step out of the seat to try to start a family, and they didn’t want to do that in the middle of a season and wreck a championship team,”
she explained.
Emotional Reflections and Future Possibilities
Force’s deep connection to NHRA racing was evident as she spoke fondly of her career, her team, and the sport.
“It has been a very hard decision. It’s not easy. I love this sport. I love NHRA. And I’ve loved everything my team and I have accomplished over the years, everything we’ve accomplished together, big and small. I want to thank my team for always making these racetracks, being across the country, feel like home,”
she shared.
Despite stepping away from full-time competition, Brittany Force left open the possibility of returning to the sport in some capacity.
“I’m not closing the door to driving in the future, but that’s definitely a decision for further down the road once I get there. Right now my focus remains firmly on this season,”
she said. She affirmed her team’s ambition to chase the championship with six races remaining, adding,
“My Monster Energy team, we’re coming to Reading. We are fifth in points. We have six races left, and we are going to chase this thing down to the end.”
Contributions to NHRA and Records Set by Brittany Force
Throughout her tenure, Brittany Force has become one of the sport’s most successful drivers with 18 wins, 39 appearances in final rounds, and 56 No. 1 qualifying positions. She holds the NHRA’s record for the quickest elapsed time, achieving 3.623 seconds over 1,000 feet at Reading in 2019. Her speed record is even more impressive, having registered eight of the top 10 fastest speeds in NHRA history, including the all-time drag racing speed record of 343.51 mph set recently at Indianapolis.
This legacy reflects not only Force’s talent and competitive spirit but also her resilience as a trailblazer in a male-dominated sport. The NHRA’s adoption of a pioneering maternity-leave policy, influenced by the efforts of drivers like Leah Pruett and the Force family, provides better support for women balancing careers and motherhood within the racing community.
John Force’s Vision for the Team Moving Forward
John Force, the patriarch of the racing family and a 157-time winner and 16-time Funny Car champion, voiced a positive outlook for the future of John Force Racing. Although reflecting on his own shift away from driving, he emphasized efforts to expand the team’s footprint and maintain a strong presence in the series.
“We’re building. I’ve always been a driver. It looks like those days are passed, but what I’m looking at is multi-car teams,”
he said.
John Force highlighted the evolving role of his children within the sport, with Ashley’s sons now driving and Courtney’s daughters possibly pursuing careers in IndyCar, where their father’s partner, Graham Rahal, competes. He lamented Brittany’s departure but acknowledged her determination:
“She’s done a great job. I don’t like her talking about quitting, but I know she had a plan and she got married and she’s done all that.”
Regarding the team’s future structure, team spokesman David Hart revealed that more details would emerge in the coming weeks, starting with the 2026 season. John Force reassured that efforts are underway to keep Brittany’s current crew intact under the JFR umbrella.
Brittany Force’s Enduring Role Within John Force Racing
Despite stepping away from full-time driving, Brittany’s relationship with the team and the sport will continue. John Force underscored Brittany’s long-term role, expressing confidence in her leadership potential.
“If I fall over dead, she’ll run all this stuff. She’s an owner. She’ll be with you forever. She owns it all,”
he shared, noting his daughters’ familiarity with racing life and their loyalty to the family legacy.
He continued,
“And I never thought about it all them years. I never told ’em if I die tomorrow, she’ll keep this thing afloat. So what I’m saying is she’s got a job here to help me run it. They know this world. They’ve grown up in it, all of them. And so I’m excited that this will live on through them.”
This underscores the Force family’s ongoing commitment to maintaining their involvement in drag racing beyond competing on the track.
Closing Thoughts and the Road Ahead for Brittany Force
Brittany Force’s departure from active NHRA competition marks the closing of a remarkable chapter in drag racing history, exemplified by her on-track success and leadership. Her focus now shifts to personal milestones, while her connection to John Force Racing and the sport remains strong. The team is poised to continue growing, bolstered by John Force’s expansion plans and Brittany’s role as an owner moving forward.
Her announcement arrives at a time when the NHRA is evolving to better support female drivers balancing family life, signaling a hopeful and progressive future for the sport. Brittany Force NHRA racing farewell resonates both as a tribute to her achievements and as an inspiring example of embracing life’s new stages while honoring a legacy deeply embedded in motorsports culture.
