John Force health update: Can NHRA drag racing legend survive another life-threatening scare?

Septuagenarian NHRA drag racing legend John Force is recuperating but shifted to neurological ICU from trauma intensive care unit. However, head injury of 75-year-old Force has remained a area of concern for doctors and medical team days after a fiery, 300 mph crash in at the Virginia Nationals, according to reports.

During the first round of Funny Car eliminations Sunday, Force’s car had a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line, with the vehicle going across the centerline and slamming into the left concrete guard wall, then careening back across into the right wall.

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Force was alert and talking to safety workers immediately after crashing at 302 mph. The Hall of Fame owner and driver was examined at the track by the NHRA medical team before being transported by helicopter to a hospital.

In 2007, at age 58, Force was seriously injured in a racing crash in Ennis, Texas. He has continued to race at the highest level; three weeks ago in New Hampshire, Force raced to his record 157th NHRA victory and second of the season.

Force’s daughter, Brittany, a two-time world champion, was at the hospital with her mother, Laurie, and three sisters. She will not race this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, remaining with her family at the hospital.