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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNHRA drag racing great John Force suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fiery, 300 mph crash at the Virginia Nationals a week ago, but is showing “daily signs of improvement” in a neurological intensive care unit, according to his team.
Brownsburg-based John Force Racing said Sunday that the 75-year-old Force initially couldn’t follow commands to open his eyes, squeeze the hands of care providers or move his extremities following the crash. After five days of heavy sedation, he began to gain momentum, including being able to respond to commands such as giving a thumbs-up and to recognize family members, calling them by name and saying “I love you.”
Force was transferred Wednesday from a trauma ICU to the neurological ICU, where he will remain for the immediate future and still faces “a long and difficult recovery ahead,” the team’s statement said.
“The biggest challenge has been managing his extreme agitation and confusion, which causes him significant distress,” the statement said.
During the first round of Funny Car eliminations on June 23, 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.
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; four 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.
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Seventy-five years old. 300 miles per hour. Why?
The need for speed (it’s in his blood – adrenaline rush) and ego.
Mr. Force probably still has the passion to compete. I do hope that in the end he would consider if it comes to a choice to retire.
I think in sports where there is a danger factor and obviously this is one of them . Is this the way you would want to leave your family and friends? If the answer is no then its time to quit.
I’m not sure when they say traumatic brain injury if that is something you can ever fully recover from…..enough to race again.
Shouldn’t have been in the drivers seat to begin with. Close family and friends need to do better!
A driver has to very determined to persist at a high level for as long as Mr Force has, esp after fighting his way back from serious injury earlier. If he’s still got a car to drive, wild horses or family members probably can’t keep him away. And family likes to think their loved one has got “one more race,” keeps all of them young! Until they can’t deny the passing of time. I wish Mr Force well but think everyone close understands his successful career is likely complete. Going out at 300 mph at age 75 is still pretty legend!