John Force, who overcame poverty and polio to become professional drag racing’s biggest all-time winner, was among those inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame Saturday in ceremonies at the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Although not of Canadian heritage, Force won the first of his record 157 NHRA pro tour events, le Grandnational, on June 28, 1987, at Sanair Raceway in St. Pie, Quebec and was a frequent headliner at what today is Saint Thomas Raceway Park in Sparta, Ont.
Still in treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury suffered in a 300-mile-per-hour crash last June in Richmond, Va., Force was unable to attend the ceremonies in person but did send a video acceptance taped at the JFR shop in Yorba Linda, Calif.
“I’m very proud to accept this honor along with the other 2024 inductees,” Force said. “It’s been a rough year and I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in Canada for the ceremonies, but this is special to me because I won my first NHRA race in Canada. It may have been a long time ago, but I still remember.”
While he had an unremarkable 1-4 record in his first four starts in le Grandnational, the only international race that ever was part of the NHRA series, Force was 20-4 in his next seven appearances with three wins (1987, 1990, 1992) and two runner-up finishes. The race was discontinued in 1993.
The 75-year-old Force is the first drag racer selected for induction in the International category that was created in 2009 to recognize non-Canadians who have made significant contributions to the country’s motorsports footprint. As such, he joins an elite group that includes Mario and Michael Andretti, Sir Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Dario Franchitti, Carroll Shelby and Bobby Rahal.
Managed by the Canadian Motorsports Heritage Foundation and housed in the Canadian Motorsports Heritage Museum at Downsview Park, the CMHOF, over the last 32 years, has inducted 294 drivers, mechanics, journalists, officials, and organizations who have left their mark in drag racing, oval track racing, road racing, boat racing, and off-road racing.
Bernie Fedderly, who was co-crew chief during 12 of Force’s record 16 NHRA Funny Car championship seasons, was one of the first Canadian drag racing inductees (1995). Other prominent Canadian drag racing honorees include the late Dale Armstrong (1994), Top Fuel driver and former NHRA Vice-President of Competition Graham Light (1996), Two-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Gary Beck (1998) and former U.S. Nationals Top Fuel Champion Terry Capp.
Force’s Saturday induction added to an already secure legacy. The owner of virtually every individual record in the sport, the former big rig truck driver previously was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2012), the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2008), the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame (2023), the California Sports Hall of Fame (2017), the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (2020), and the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame (2011).
This story was originally published on February 17, 2025. 
