John Force, a septuagenarian NHRA drag racing star, is recovering after being transferred from the trauma intensive care unit to the neurological ICU. However, the 75-year-old Force’s head injury has been a source of concern for doctors and the medical team days after a horrific, 300-mph crash at the Virginia Nationals, reports indicate.
During the first round of Funny Car eliminations on Sunday, Force’s car had a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line, sending it across the centerline and smashing into the left concrete guard wall before careening back across into the right.
Force was alert and speaking with safety personnel shortly after hitting at 302 mph. The NHRA medical team checked the Hall of Fame owner and driver on the track before transporting him to a hospital via helicopter.
Force, 58, was severely injured in a racing accident in Ennis, Texas, in 2007. Force has continued to race at the highest level; three weeks ago in New Hampshire, he won his record 157th NHRA event and second this season.
Brittany Force, Force’s daughter and a two-time world champion, was in the hospital with her mother Laurie and three sisters. She will not compete this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, since she is staying with her family at the hospital.
Force won his 157th NHRA race in June, defeating teammate Austin Prock in the Funny Car final at the NHRA New England Nationals. Force ran 4.081 seconds at 319.29 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro SS, while Prock raced 4.096 at 316.38.
Force won for the second time this season, and his third time at New England Dragway. The 16-time Funny Car season winner also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, and his double-up triumph on Sunday propelled him up the season standings.
