Southern California drag racing veteran John Force has begun rehabilitation after spending more than 15 days in a Virginia hospital recovering from a brain damage sustained in a terrifying 300-mph incident.
The 75-year-old Force, who was born in Bell Gardens and now lives in Yorba Linda, had a traumatic brain injury on June 23 during a crash during his first-round run in Funny Car eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park. After his engine exploded near the finish line, the car crossed the strip’s centerline and collided into the driver’s side left concrete guard wall. The car then careened back across the track and collided with the other wall.
During the incident, Force cracked his sternum and hurt his right wrist.
Force was freed from a Virginia hospital on Tuesday and flown to a neurological rehabilitation centre, according to his racing team. According to the family, the transfer was a significant step forward in Force’s recuperation.
“However, medical staff cautions that the road ahead remains difficult,” the statement concluded. “Force is dealing with cognitive and behavioural symptoms from the (traumatic brain injury) and, while he has been able to converse with family and staff, enjoy the company of grandsons Jacob and Noah Hood and celebrate a Monday birthday with daughter Brittany, he still is prone to periods of confusion.”
There was no timeframe for Force’s stay at the rehabilitation centre.
Force, who attended Cerritos College, was conscious and communicating with emergency personnel immediately following the catastrophic incident. He was evaluated by an NHRA medical team before being evacuated off the course.
In a previous update, Force’s family thanked track workers who assisted him following the crash.
“John’s family members express their heartfelt gratitude to the medical professionals responsible for his well-being and recovery,” the team stated. “They are grateful for the huge number of emotional comments, prayers, support, and concern from the entire automobile and racing industry. Thank you to sponsors, fans, and the media for honouring the privacy of the Force family and John Force Racing team members.”
Force, who won his 157th NHRA race in New Hampshire last month, was critically injured in a 2007 incident in Ennis, Texas. His impressive NHRA Funny Car career began in 1978. Force won his first NHRA title in 1990, and he went on to win ten more between 1990 and 2000. Force won ten Funny Car championships in a row from 1993 to 2002.
Brittany Force, 37, has won two NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel dragster championships. Daughters Courtney Fallon Force-Rahal and Ashley Corinne Force Hood also raced in the NHRA Funny Car Series.
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