Above: John Force at the 2012 PRI Show Grand Opening Breakfast

Legendary drag racer John Force, a 16-time Funny Car champion and the winningest driver in NHRA history, is officially retiring from competition.

Beginning his career in the '70s, Force accumulated 157 event wins, 269 final-round appearances, 166 No. 1 qualifiers and 1,460 round wins in competition on his way to claiming 16 NHRA Funny Car Championships.

"I really love NHRA, but I am officially done with driving," said Force. "I've said so many times, 'Until this race car kills me, they're gonna have to drag me out of the seat.' But the truth is, I was dragged out of the seat at Richmond and they thought it killed me then. So, I'm lucky that I'm back walking. They always say never say never, but I have grandchildren with Courtney and Graham, with Ashley and Danny, and now Brittany's retired because she wants to have children.

"It's time for me to retire. I had medical stuff that I had to address and 'do I want to get back in the car and get hit in the head,' and I don't. So, I guess it's official, I'm done," Force continued. "I won't say I won't ever get in a car to warm it up or maybe even make a burnout. Don't know. I guess it'll be the response from the fans. If they cheer loud enough, I'll hear ya."

Force will continue to oversee John Force Racing, the 23-time championship winning organization based in Brownsburg, Indiana, and it's three champion drivers: Brittany Force, two-time Top Fuel Champion who is fourth in the point standings in the Monster Energy dragster; Austin Prock, reigning Funny Car Champion who has a 101-point lead going into the Finals in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car; and 2012 Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman, who took over the driving duties for Force in the Peak Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS Funny Car, and is third in the point standings.

Force is announcing his retirement 17 months after suffering injuries in a crash during competition at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Virginia.

For more information, visit johnforceracing.com.