Renowned NHRA drag racer John Force is showing “daily signs of improvement” following a traumatic brain injury sustained in a high-speed crash at the Virginia Nationals, as reported by his team. The accident, which occurred a week ago, involved a fiery 300 mph collision.
John Force Racing shared on Sunday that the 75-year-old initially struggled to respond to basic commands, such as opening his eyes, squeezing hands, or moving his limbs. After five days under heavy sedation, Force began to make progress, including responding to commands like giving a thumbs-up and recognizing family members, whom he greeted with “I love you.”
Force was moved from a trauma ICU to a neurological ICU on Wednesday. Although he is showing signs of improvement, he faces “a long and difficult recovery ahead,” as detailed in the team’s statement. Managing his extreme agitation and confusion remains one of the biggest challenges in his recovery process.
During the first round of Funny Car eliminations on June 23, Force’s car experienced a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line. The vehicle veered across the centerline, collided with the left concrete guard wall, and then crashed into the right wall. Despite the severity of the crash, which occurred at 302 mph, Force was alert and communicative with safety workers immediately afterward. He was initially examined at the track by the NHRA medical team before being airlifted to a hospital.
This is not the first time Force has faced serious injuries from racing. In 2007, at age 58, he was involved in a severe crash in Ennis, Texas. Despite these setbacks, Force has continued to compete at the highest level. Just four weeks ago, he secured his record 157th NHRA victory in New Hampshire, marking his second win of the season.
Force’s daughter, Brittany, a two-time world champion, is currently at the hospital with her mother, Laurie, and her three sisters. Brittany has decided not to race this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, opting to stay with her family during this critical time.
