Legendary drag racer John Force sustained serious injuries during a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event in Virginia this past weekend.
The 75-year-old racer was competing in the first round of eliminations for the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie County. Driving his funny car, Force clocked a victory over Terry Haddock with a time of 4.10 seconds at 302.62 mph. However, as he crossed the finish line, his car’s engine exploded. The vehicle, engulfed in flames, veered across the centerline and struck both guard walls before coming to a halt.
The NHRA medical team promptly attended to Force, who was conscious at the scene. He was then transported to a local medical center and admitted to intensive care for further evaluation, as confirmed by his team, John Force Racing.
Despite the incident, teammate Austin Prock secured a win in the Funny Car division. This crash adds to Force’s history of on-track accidents, including a significant crash in 2007 at Texas Motorplex, which sidelined him for several months.
Just three weeks ago, Force achieved his 157th NHRA race victory in New Hampshire, marking a record milestone. He currently holds second place in the driver’s championship standings, behind Prock.
Born in Bell Gardens, Force now resides in Yorba Linda, California. Virginia Motorsports Park, a quarter-mile drag strip opened in 1994, accommodates 23,000 spectators.
