BRITTANY FORCE Retires After 2025 Season to Focus on Starting a Family

September 12, 2025

by Saajan Jogia // from www.newsweek.com

GRRL! musings:

So you understand we endeavor to pull in as much women-in-motorsport news as we can, which often means duplicates. But in this case our shock at Brittany’s news more than warrants a repeat. Wow!

GRRL! SUMMARY:

BRITTANY FORCE announced her retirement from NHRA after the 2025 season to start a family, marking the end of a legendary 13-year career. At 39, she’s making the tough choice we’ve seen her sisters face – stepping away from racing for motherhood. Her candid admission that “being a female in the sport, it is definitely more of a challenge” speaks to the impossible decisions women racers still confront that their male counterparts never have to consider.
The Queen of Speed isn’t going out quietly – she just shattered her own world speed record at the U.S. Nationals, hitting 343.51 mph and becoming the only driver to achieve 10 runs over 340 mph this season. With 18 Top Fuel wins tying Shirley Muldowney’s record and two world championships, FORCE has cemented herself as one of drag racing’s all-time greats. Her speed records aren’t just impressive – they’re redefining what’s possible in the sport.
What makes this announcement refreshing is FORCE’s honesty about keeping the door open for a future return. Unlike the typical “walking away forever” narrative, she’s being real about the fact that women’s racing careers can have different chapters. Her focus on winning the 2025 championship shows she’s not mentally checked out – she’s ending on her own terms while acknowledging that life might bring her back to the track later.