MESA, Ariz. – It was the first time anyone outside John Force’s inner circle had heard from him since June 23 when the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion suffered a traumatic brain injury in a high-speed crash at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Jack Beckman, his replacement driver for the final eight events of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, said Force phoned him just before he took his first runs in the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro during the Aug. 3 Night Under Fire exhibition event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.