Great NHRA drag racing According to his crew, John Force is in a neurological intensive care unit and is showing “daily signs of improvement” despite suffering a traumatic brain injury in a catastrophic, 300 mph crash at the Virginia Nationals a week ago.
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.
Following the 302 mph incident, Force was alert and conversing with safety personnel right away. The NHRA medical team checked the Hall of Fame driver and owner at the track, and he was then flown by helicopter to a hospital.
Force suffered severe injuries in a racing accident in Ennis, Texas, in 2007 at the age of 58. Force hasn’t stopped competing at the greatest level; four weeks ago in New Hampshire, he won his second race of the season and set a record 157th NHRA event.
Two-time world champion Brittany Force, together with her mother Laurie and her three sisters, were at the hospital. This past weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, she stayed at the hospital with her family instead of competing.
