- "It's not about being the stronger man, Dom. It's about being the bigger one."
- ―Jack Toretto to Dominic Toretto
Jack Toretto was a professional stock race driver and the father of Dominic, Jakob, and Mia. During the last stock race of the 1989 season at Baldwin Speedway, he was run off the track by rival racer, Kenny Linder, when the latter's car shunted his bumper.
Jack was killed instantly when his stock car crashed into the wall at 120 miles per hour and burst into flames. His death would have a deep impact on his family, especially on his sons Dom and Jakob.
Biography
Early Life
- "My father. He used to... he used to have a barbecue every Sunday after church. For anybody in the neighborhood. If you didn't go to church, you didn't get any barbecue. Every single day he was in the shop, and every single night, he was at the kitchen table with Mia, helping her with her homework. Even after she went to sleep, he'd stay up for a few more hours so he could learn the next chapter and help her the next day. I remember everything about my father."
- ―Dominic Toretto to Brian O'Conner
Born to Abuelita Toretto, Jack Toretto was a stock car racer who sired two sons and a daughter with an unknown woman. He was a caring man who raised a religious family and hosted a barbecue every Sunday after church for anybody who lived in the neighborhood, except for those who did not attend church. He worked in a garage every day to provide for his family and spent his nights helping his daughter with her homework, even reading ahead for hours to continue helping her the next day. Additionally, Jack had an outstanding reputation as a professional racer, having won every race of the 1989 stock car season.
Jack's Final Race
- "Um... I watched my dad burn to death. I remembered hearing him scream. But the people that were there said that he had died before the tanks blew. They said it was me who was screaming."
- ―Dominic Toretto to Brian O'Conner
During the last stock race of the 1989 season, the Torettos were on the track at Baldwin Speedway. Jack was one of the racers and comes off for a pit stop, with his sons Dominic and Jakob being part of his pit crew. While Jakob worked under the hood, Dom argued with the pit crew of rival racer Kenny Linder over the latter's dirty tactics. As Jack was about to get back into the race he tells Dom to let it go, saying it’s not about being the stronger man but about being the bigger man. As Jack gets back on the track to resume the race, Kenny resumes as well. As they neared the next lap, Kenny’s car clipped Jack’s bumper and causes him to hit a wall at 120 MPH, his car bursting into flames in the process and killing him. Seeing this, Dom tried to run on to the track to save his dad but was held back by Buddy Hubbard, another member of Jack’s pit crew. Dom and Jakob both watch as their father dies in front of them.
Legacy
- "Dad died ’cause he was trying to throw that race. We were in deep debt. Cause of how he felt about you, he had to ask me for help. How was I supposed to know that car was gonna blow? … He made me promise you would never find out. And through all of it… I kept that promise."
- ―Jakob Toretto to Dominic Toretto
Jack dies in an explosion
Jack's death left a major scar on the Toretto Family, particularly on Dom and Jakob. A week after Jack's death, Dom brutally beat Linder with a wrench after the latter insulted the Toretto Family. As a result, Dom was banned from the racetracks for life and served two years at Lompoc Prison before eventually learning that Jakob tampered with Jack's car.
After being released from prison, Dom challenged Jakob to a street race and stated that if Jakob didn't win, he would be exiled from the Toretto Family. After Dom won the race, Jakob fled Los Angeles and was under Buddy's care, with occasional visits from Mia. However, Jakob soon left and became filled with resentment for his exile and growing under Dom's shadow. He eventually became an agent for Mr. Nobody in his adulthood, but went rogue in 2014 after being convinced by Otto to help him steal a dangerous weapons program called Project Aries. Meanwhile, Dom continued to partake in street races and got involved in a series of truck robberies in 2001. However, he revealed to then undercover cop Brian O'Conner about his father's untimely demise, which led to Dom having rage issues.
In 2020, Jakob and Dom crossed paths again during the mission over Project Aries, reigniting the feud between the two brothers. It is revealed by Jakob that Jack intended to throw the race to help his family get out of deep debt and since Jack felt that he couldn't share this with Dominic, instructed Jakob to tamper with his car and to never tell anyone else. However, upon impact with Linder it caused his car to explode and kill him. However, the two brothers rekindled after Dom saw the errors of his ways and Jakob was betrayed by his business partner, Otto, prompting the two brother to work together to help stop Project Aries. Dom later took his son, Brian Marcos to Baldwin Speedway where Jack used to race, also crediting him with everything Dominic needed to learn in life.
In 2022, after a family barbecue, Abuelita Toretto and Dominic reminisced over Jack, stating that Jack would have loved to see how far Dom had come and the massive extended family they built over the years if he was still alive.
Personality
- "Dom. Tell me what you see, son. See, cars like this are immortal. '70 Chargers are designed so well that if you take care of 'em, they'll run for 100 years."
"Immortal?"
"Just like a family, Dom. Build it right, you take care of it... it'll live beyond you." - ―Jack Toretto and Dominic Toretto
To be added
Relationships
Family
Allies |
Enemies
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Gallery
Vehicles Driven
| Film | Car |
|---|---|
| F9 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Stock Car |