National Hot Rod Association driver John Force is currently “conscious and talking” after a fiery crash in Petersburg, Va. on Sunday, June 23, after publish from the John Force Racing X account (formerly Twitter).
The accident occurred during the first round of the NHRA Virginia Nationals Funny Car eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park. After the 75-year-old crossed the finish line in 4100 seconds with a 302.62 mph victory over Terry Haddock, the engine of his Chevrolet Camaro exploded at the finish line. His car crossed the center line of the track and hit the left concrete guardrail before being thrown onto the right guardrail.
He was examined at the track by the NHRA medical team and then transported by medical helicopter to a “nearby medical center for further evaluation in the ICU,” according to John Force Racing’s release on X Sunday.
On Monday evening, June 24, the bill divided in a subsequent statement that he remained in the hospital’s intensive care unit on Monday.
“Doctors were deliberately slow to assess the extent of the Hall of Famer’s and driver’s injuries due to the intensity of the impact. Medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery schedule until a full evaluation is complete,” the statement said.
Additionally, “[Force’s] the condition will be announced as determined by the medical staff.”
His wife Laurie and their daughters Brittany, Adria, Ashley and Courtney are in the hospital.
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John Force on June 2, 2024 at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.
Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty
After the crash, Force’s teammate Austin Prock, who won the Funny Car category, said speaking from the winner’s circle that the trophy was “going straight to the hospital for John Force,” according to the Associated Press.
“It’s just hard to see someone go through that, especially when it’s someone you really care about, but I know they’ll be back. We’re race car drivers and we have to flip a switch. I know John wanted us out there, touring and I’m glad we did our job,” Prock, 28, said.
“We keep our friend John Force in our thoughts and prayers. He’s one tough cookie,” former NASCAR star Tony Stewart said, according to the AP.
“My main thought is that I hope John is okay. You hate to see him go through that. Send prayers for him. He is a sports legend, the GOAT. The car looked pretty burnt out,” Funny Car champion Matt Hagan told Autoweek.
“We love what we do, but at the moment we’re all thinking about John,” added the No. 1 Top Fuel Shawn Langdon, for Autoweek.
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John Force on June 9, 2024 at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.
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Before Sunday’s accident, Force had his 157th NHRA victory — and second of the season — at the NHRA New England Nationals in New Hampshire.
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