“Fast Jack” Beckman returned to his previous career as an elevator technician, which he had abandoned 22 years prior in order to chase his goals of drag racing, after losing his ride following the 2020 NHRA drag racing season.

Rather of consistently traveling at speeds of over 330 mph on a 1,000-foot dragstrip, Beckman’s professional life involved oscillations at a somewhat reduced pace. Given the few chances he had to compete, he had essentially accepted that the remainder of his professional life would be spent servicing elevators rather than Funny Car engines.

But the 58-year-old Beckman has been enticed—and quite successfully—back into drag racing. The seasoned Southern California racer will take John Force’s spot in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) said on Tuesday.

According to an NHRA news release, Beckman stated, “I thought that feeling was something I’d never experience again.” It has been almost four years since he last stood on the throttle. “Although the events that led me back are unfortunate, I cannot express how grateful I am for the chance that was given to me.

“Nobody could ever replace John, therefore I’m not doing that. It is impossible to overstate John’s unique influence on this sport and my life. I am aware of how lucky I am to have been chosen to cover for John.

Force is still recovering from a traumatic brain injury that occurred more than a month ago in a race outside of Richmond, Virginia, as a consequence of a devastating engine explosion and subsequent accident. He had been in the hospital for the most of the previous month, spending three weeks in critical care.

Force was moved last week to complete his treatment and recuperation at a different facility in Southern California, not far from his Yorba Linda, California, home.

Although it’s unclear when or even if Force will return to drag racing, Beckman seems to be a solid substitute. Beckman will drive Force’s PEAK car in the eight races left in the season, which begin in Brainerd, Minnesota, on August 16–18.

The 47th Annual Cornwell Tools “Night Under Fire” at Summit Motorsports Park on Saturday night in Norwalk, Ohio, is a non-points exhibition event that will serve as a test of sorts for Beckman, who has won 33 races in his Funny Car career.

Prior to his June 23 accident, Force, who earlier this season captured the 157th race of his illustrious career, was ranked second in the NHRA Funny Car standings, behind Austin Prock of John Force Racing.

Force is still theoretically in the running for the Funny Car title after missing the previous three races and only falling to sixth in the standings.

According to a novel interpretation of NHRA regulations, Beckman would be qualified to receive points toward Force’s title at the end of the season if he participated in the final eight races, as he intends to do. And because Beckman is filling in behind the wheel of the vehicle in what is being dubbed the “Joint Task Force — Mission Championship,” a reference to the main sponsor of the series, Mission Foods, if that were to occur, it would be Force’s 17th Funny vehicle championship.

Having won the 2003 Super Comp title and the 2012 NHRA Funny Car championship, Beckman is no stranger to titles. “I should be easy to spot in the pits,” he says, clearly eager to get back behind the wheel. I’ll be the person who is always grinning.