Progress, But John Force “Still Faces a Long and Difficult Recovery”
John Force, who is to drag racing what Dale Earnhardt was to NASCAR, is showing signs of improvement after his 302-mph crash on June 23 at the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond. But the severity of his injury likely brings an end to the 75-year-old legend’s driving career.
Going into the Virginia race, Force had been having an excellent 2024 season, with two event wins and a second-place points position behind John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock. In the semifinal eliminations at the Virginia Nationals, he lined up in the right lane against the Funny Car of Terry Haddock. A spilt second after beating Haddock, the engine in Force’s 12,000-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro exploded in a fireball, sending the car across the track and hard into the left-side wall, then back across the track into the right-side wall.
In the TV footage of the crash, Force appeared awake and alert, talking to safety officials and even sitting up on the stretcher as he was loaded into the ambulance. But after he was helicoptered to a Richmond hospital, Force was diagnosed with having a traumatic brain injury. For the first four days after the crash, according to a statement released Sunday by his family, the heavily-sedated Force “failed to follow a series of commands to open his eyes, squeeze the hands of his care providers and move his extremities. Occasionally, he was able to respond with slight movements, but it wasn’t until he moved from the trauma intensive care unit to the neuro intensive care unit on Wednesday that he began to gain some momentum.
“He became more consistent responding to commands and finally opened his eyes on day five. Following days of failed attempts, his wife and daughters were overcome with emotion when he murmured his name, ‘John Force,’ and later when prompted, gave a thumbs up.”
This will surprise no one who knows the gregarious 16-time NHRA champion: “The biggest challenge has been managing his extreme agitation and confusion, which causes him significant distress. He has repeatedly tried to get out of bed and has been restrained; his doctors have humorously described him as a raging bull. However, he recognized his daughters and wife Laurie, and called them each by name. And spoke the words, ‘I love you.’
“Despite the welcomed progress, the 157-time [event] winner still faces a long and difficult recovery ahead, and for the immediate future, will remain in neuro intensive care with visitation restricted to family members only.”
Force’s Top Fuel-racing daughter, Brittany, had initially planning to compete in yesterday’s Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, which marked the halfway point in the NHRA’s 20-race season, but decided midweek to continue her vigil at her father’s bedside. The race broadcast featured multiple taped tributes to Force, and both Top Fuel winner Antron Brown and Funny Car winner Bob Tasca III, long one of Force’s fiercest competitors, dedicated their wins to Force.
“This morning when I woke up and I heard the positive news about John Force, it was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Tasca said after his victory. “This place is special to John and I dedicate this win to John Force. He will be back. He’s the toughest guy I know.”
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As I suspected he had a closed head wound and they sedated him. I was at the race this weekend. Knowing a couple drivers we were getting info from the NHRA pretty often.
From last I heard he had a closed head wound but he was making good progress and has really come a long way fast.
If things go as planned he will need time to heal and I suspect that he will be advised not to race again as even a violent chake could be a problem.
This is kind of like Ernie Ervin accept Ernie was even worse off. He may have side effects like vision and memory for a while but I would not be surprised he makes a full recovery.
I am not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express and I did have a fiend go though this from a car accident but he was not as lucky. So I have seen this before.
My hope is John will be back and he will be at the track as a team owner and keeping us entertained as he has all these years with the best interviews.
Head injuries are odd as they vary depending on what parts of the brain are effected. Some can kill. Some can leave you like Michael Schumacher. others fully return like Dale Jr with only some side effects like sight. Many come fully back.
I would not be surprised if John will be back and joking that he may act off but now he has brain damage to blame. LOL!
The NHRA needs him as he is Drag Racing. He filled that hole when Garlist, Snake, Mongoose and Shirly left. His team and he himself have kept the NHRA in the view of more than just the fans. My Mom even knew who he was and she never watched drag racing.
Speaking of Mom before she passed we took her to see her brother in CA. I had to stop by Johns shop and she got to meet him. He was great with her. I wish I had taken a picture now of them talking.
Keep praying but I think God has more plans for him as things are looking pretty good at this point.
I agree completely. As I said in the story I don’t think we’ll see John at the wheel of a Funny Car again — maybe a factory stock for his sponsor — but the NHRA desperately needs him to continue as a team owner, and a presence at the track. I suspect that this was his last year anyway, but I was hoping he’d go out on his terms. Also interested in some kind of investigation on the wreck — a system he helped design was supposed to deploy the chutes with any catastrophic engine failure, and it didn’t. And I’m not sure I like the body panels being tethered in a Funny Car; he was trying to steer but couldn’t see because those tethered panels kept the explosion inside the body. And finally, I’d like to know how he sustained that head injury — did his helmet break? Did his head contact something hard they didn’t think it would? Or was the g forces he suffered enough to do it no matter what safety equipment he had? After his 2007 wreck, and after Eric Medlen’s death, he concentrated on safety and came up with some very good ideas. Would love to see that happen again!
Steven Smith, I agree. Why did the chutes not open immediately? That would have slowed him down @ least a 100 mph instantly. So many questions that have not been answered, or even hear a mention about. After the crash, the first thing Tony Pedregon said was why didn’t the chutes come out? I also agree with the body of the car. He’s on fire, the body should have blown off, yet it became a visual impairment instantly. Someone dropped the ball big time on why this crash was so horrific. I doubt John will even remember the crash. I had a TBI from an accident. It’s been 33 years & I remember nothing. The first 2 weeks after I don’t even remember anything. I am beyond happy he has woken up. I assumed the worst & am so glad he proved me wrong. I met him when I was 16. I have followed him for 38 years. I love him & always will. Not in a weird way though. Thank you God for bringing him back & making sure his daughters have a dad again.
Steven Smith, I agree. Why did the chutes not open immediately? That would have slowed him down @ least a 100 mph instantly. So many questions that have not been answered, or even hear a mention about. After the crash, the first thing Tony Pedregon said was why didn’t the chutes come out? I also agree with the body of the car. He’s on fire, the body should have blown off, yet it became a visual impairment instantly. Someone dropped the ball big time on why this crash was so horrific. I doubt John will even remember the crash. I had a TBI from an accident. It’s been 33 years & I remember nothing. The first 2 weeks after I don’t even remember anything. I am beyond happy he has woken up. I assumed the worst & am so glad he proved me wrong. I met him when I was 16. I have followed him for 38 years. I love him & always will. Not in a weird way though. Thank you God for bringing him back & making sure his daughters have a dad again.
Well the bodies can break in so many ways and fire can damage parts including chutes.
Scott Died braking and steering but lost the chutes to fire. Or the body broke in a way it prevented the chutes.
All they can do is learn.
John’s injury was when he hit the wall. No matter how much you pad the cell the brain moves in the skull. Nothing you can do there.
But I am surprised no one has brought softvwalls in. He still would have gotten his bell rung but it may have lessen the blow.
John drove the hell out of that car. He never let go. Not sure he was blinded as the tires but then the car just took off. I am sure he was distracted by everything.
The extremes of these crashes are difficult to reproduce. That makes it hard to measure and understand.
Eric’s death was really puzzling as he did not die from the wall hit. He died of tire shake that bounced his head off the cage.
They have improved things but the physics involved are just so extreme it will be difficult to eliminate all risks.
One thing I considered is in the body. More solid construction and so me kid of crush material. It would add weight but make it safer. In time they again would find the speed.
Some still notice the ‘ 4 ‘ on Forces cars for Medlen in 07 and remember Scott Kalitta in 08. Force was instrumental In bringing new safety measures (TEMP) at that time. The NHRA then shortened the run to a 1000 feet. This was done largely because cars were ‘oiling down’ the strip at the end of the run. While it helped, it still did not fully address the safety issue. Some fans screamed foul and claimed they’d ruined drag racing by taking away the quarter. Honestly some old retired also ran racers too claimed the same_’ they’ll be no new records and’_ . The NHRA had discussed various ways of slowing the cars down. ( limit blower, less cubes and etc ) The cars have gone from a crazy 11,000 h.p. to twelve. Hagerty readers may remember Tasca III going 341+ . You certainly don’t need to be, a wanna be, brain surgeon to figure out the problem and diagnose what happened unless you need to be hit in the head with an even bigger hammer and that won’t help. – “You can’t change the laws of physics Jim”