Richard Petty has shared a personal message honoring John Force after the NHRA icon confirmed his retirement last week. The two drivers are American motorsports’ most decorated champions, one from stock cars and one from drag racing.Petty posted two photos on X, one from the early years and one from 2024, writing:“Congratulations on a championship career, John!”John Force has announced his official retirement, as he hadn’t competed since suffering a traumatic brain injury in a 2024 crash at Virginia Motorsports Park. After 17 months of recovery, he said that the decision was final. The announcement ended a run that stretched more than 50 years and produced numbers the sport may never see again.Force won 16 Funny Car championships from 1990 to 2013. He scored 157 victories, 269 final-round appearances, and more than 1,460 round wins. His records stand untouched with the most titles, most wins, most round wins, and most No. 1 qualifiers in NHRA history.Richard Petty and John Force never raced in the same discipline, but they have shared a mutual respect for decades. The legendary drag racer often spoke about comparisons with humility. In 2022, he was asked about chasing Petty’s 200-win mark, and he dismissed the idea instantly."I'd only be bull‑jiving myself, and I don’t go there. I don't think about it. I've had people say, 'Go after (Richard Petty's) record 200 wins, but I never raced Petty. So why would I even say that?" he told NHRA.Force made many NASCAR appearances over the years, including a 2011 stop at Concord, where he spent time with Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. His personality often outshone the event itself. His retirement closes the book on one of motorsports’ most recognizable voices.Richard Petty’s message reflects how Force’s impact crossed disciplines. His note capped a week of tributes from across racing as Force steps away at age 76.How John Force Racing will move forward after a historic transitionJohn Force at the NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Source: ImagnJohn Force Racing now enters 2026 with major changes. His daughter, Brittany Force, is stepping away after building one of the strongest Top Fuel careers of her generation. The two-time world champion is stepping away to start a family, and has yet to decide if it will be temporary or permanent.Austin Prock, the reigning two-time Funny Car champion, has also departed JFR after winning two consecutive titles in 2024 and 2025. It leaves a major opening in a team that relied on his consistency for over two decades.JFR has signed Josh Hart on a multi-year deal for the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster, with Dave Grubnic and John Collins on the tuning stand. Jack Beckman, the 2025 Funny Car runner-up, is expected to stay in the JFR Chevrolet. Force, meanwhile, plans to spend more time with family but remains deeply connected to the team he built.