(AP) RICHMOND, VA. Legendary NHRA drag racer John Force was involved in a violent, 300 mph incident at the Virginia Nationals a week ago, and although he is still in a neurological critical care unit, his team reports that he is making “daily signs of improvement.”
After the collision, John Force Racing revealed on Sunday that the 75-year-old Force was initially unable to obey orders to open his eyes, squeeze the hands of caregivers, or move his extremities. After being heavily sedated for five days, he started to regain consciousness. He was able to react to orders by giving the thumbs up and identifying family members by addressing them by name and expressing his love for them.
On Wednesday, Force moved from the trauma intensive care unit to the neurological intensive care unit.
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.
Force was alert and talking to safety workers immediately after crashing at 302 mph. The Hall of Fame owner and driver was examined at the track by the NHRA medical team before being transported by helicopter to a hospital.
In 2007, at age 58, Force was seriously injured in a racing crash in Ennis, Texas. He has continued to race at the highest level; four weeks ago in New Hampshire, Force raced to his record 157th NHRA victory and second of the season.
Force’s daughter, Brittany, a two-time world champion, was at the hospital with her mother, Laurie, and three sisters. She will not race this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, remaining with her family at the hospital.