Last year, John Force, the legendary NHRA Funny Car driver and father-in-law of Graham Rahal, endured a severe crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals that left the racing community shaken. Reflecting on this traumatic event, Force’s daughter Brittany Force posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, which prompted emotional responses from both Rahal and Courtney Force, highlighting the deep impact of the accident on their families.
Rahal, who married Courtney Force in 2015, represents the union of two prominent racing families, each familiar with the inherent dangers of motorsports. Despite advances in safety measures over the years that have helped reduce fatalities in both IndyCar and NHRA events, the crash last year demonstrated that risks remain high. During the incident, the 76-year-old Force’s Funny Car experienced an engine explosion, veered across the center line, and collided violently with the opposing guard rails at the Virginia dragstrip.
Following the crash, John Force was airlifted to a hospital in Richmond for urgent medical care. Brittany Force’s social media post, shared as her father was being transported, conveyed the harrowing emotions surrounding the event. Courtney Force later expressed gratitude toward the medical staff who provided critical treatment at VCU Medical Center:
“The nurses and doctors at VCU were just incredible. Can’t thank them all enough for what they did for our dad, one year ago.”
—Courtney Force, NHRA Driver
In response, Graham Rahal left a brief but heartfelt comment, conveying support and love for his father-in-law and the entire family:
“❤️❤️❤️.”
This devastating crash at age 75 had a profound effect on both the Force and Rahal families, emphasizing the ever-present dangers they face.
Insights from Graham Rahal on the Moments Following John Force’s Crash
While crashes are an unavoidable aspect of professional racing, the severity and circumstances of John Force’s accident created a uniquely distressing situation. Rahal revealed that immediately after witnessing the crash, he sensed something seriously wrong with his father-in-law’s condition. Speaking openly months later, Rahal reflected on the incident and the uneasy feelings that surrounded it:
“When I saw it, I immediately went to her and said, ‘hey, you should probably wake up. You should probably look and see what’s going on here. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of crashes in NHRA.”
—Graham Rahal, IndyCar Driver
“With Courtney’s explosion in 2017 and Brittany Force had hers, and John has had a lot over the last five years or so, but you know when it’s different. You can see it. We all saw it. It’s hard because at that stage the reality was that we didn’t know anything… But this is racing. As much as I hate to be tone deaf to it, because I’m not, these things happen. I can tell you that.”
—Graham Rahal, IndyCar Driver
These comments highlight both the familiarity the family has with the dangers of racing and the emotional toll that comes with recognizing when a crash is more serious than usual.
As the racing world continues to process last year’s incident, Graham Rahal remains focused on his own career, preparing to start sixth in the upcoming IndyCar race at Road America. The intertwined stories of these racing dynasties underscore the resilience required to face the ever-present risks of high-speed motorsports and the strong familial bonds that provide support through challenging times.