NHRA drag racing legend John Force has been moved from a trauma intensive care unit to a neurological intensive care unit four days after a 300 mph crash at the Virginia Nationals. According to John Force Racing, the move is a “welcome positive for his family members.”
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 aware and spoke 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 top level; three weeks ago in New Hampshire, he won his record 157th NHRA event and second this season.
The Force family commended medical workers for their treatment of John. They also expressed gratitude for the “heartfelt” offers of support from friends and fans following Force’s accident.
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.
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