Drag racing legend John Force continues his recovery after sustaining a serious head injury in a high-speed crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals last Sunday. The 75-year-old was involved in the accident during the first round of eliminations when his Funny Car engine exploded, crossing the finish line and crashing into both guard walls before coming to a halt.
Following initial treatment at the track by the NHRA medical team, Force was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Force was examined on Sunday by the NHRA medical team at the track and transported via a nearby medical center for further evaluation in the ICU
, according to a post from John Force Racing. He has since been moved from the trauma intensive care unit to the neuro intensive care unit, where medical staff can focus on [his] head injury, their primary concern.
A statement released by the Force family on social media expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers from fans worldwide.The Force family are grateful for the team of medical professionals who are caring for John, and for the overwhelming number of heartfelt messages of prayer, support, and concern. Thank you for continuing to respect the privacy of the family and John Force Racing team members
, read their message on X.
His daughter, Brittany Force, has announced that she will not compete this weekend at Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Ohio to stay by her father’s side.
Force’s daughter was joined at the hospital with other family members as he continues to recover. His medical team is prioritizing his head injury, but officials stated they will wait to complete a full evaluation before providing any timeline for treatment and recovery.
Force’s distinguished career in drag racing is marked by historic achievements. Just earlier this month, he clinched his 157th NHRA victory by defeating Austin Prock in the Funny Car final at the NHRA New England Nationals. His transfer to neuro ICU allows his medical team to closely monitor his progress and devise an appropriate recovery plan.
The NHRA community and fans continue to uphold safety standards, with recent enhancements such as Impact Data Recorders (IDR) and grip measuring devices (KEG) set to be introduced next year for increased track safety.
As the governing body of world motorsport our role is also to ensure that our knowledge and expertise are available to local organizers, promoters and our member clubs
, stated Tim Malyon, safety director of FIA.
Fans and fellow racers alike are rallying behind John Force during this challenging time, hoping for his swift recovery. The upcoming events like Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will see many competitors but will notably miss Brittany’s presence due to her focus on her father’s health.
The racing world awaits updates on Force’s condition, holding onto hope that this icon of drag racing will make a strong recovery.
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