Drag racing legend John Force was discharged from Barrow Neurological Institute, nearly a month after a harrowing crash sustained during a Funny Cars competition at the Virginia Nationals.
At age 74, the 16-time Funny Car champion experienced a high-speed accident triggered by an engine explosion, which sent his car spiraling at over 300 miles per hour, resulting in a dramatic collision with concrete barriers.
A statement from the team has been released, confirming: “A month after an engine explosion sent his race car careening into a concrete guardwall at more than 300 miles per hour at Virginia Motorsports Park, drag racing champion John Force was discharged Tuesday from Barrow Neurological Institute, where he was undergoing rehab for a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
“According to family members, while the 16-time Funny Car Champion will continue to work with therapists specializing in such injuries, it now will be on an outpatient basis in California.
John Force NHRA funny car driver John Force speaks with the media during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, held at the ZMax Dragway on January 21, 2010 in Concord, North Carolina.
John… More JASON SMITH/GETTY IMAGES “‘He finally gets to sleep in his own bed,’ said daughter Ashley Hood who, with sisters Brittany, Courtney and Adria and mother, Laurie, maintained a constant presence through the Hall of Fame driver and car owner’s hospitalizations in Virginia and Arizona.
“The next phase in the recovery process will be outpatient speech, and OTPT (Occupational and Physical Therapy) to address lingering short-term memory and cognitive issues.
Force suffered multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and a fractured sternum, necessitating immediate intervention from the on-site medical team before airlifting him for specialized care. Brittany Force shared her father’s transition from hospital to home on social media, writing:
“Peace out Phoenix! After 30 days my dad is finally heading home where we will continue outpatient therapy. These next steps to recovery will definitely be a family effort! Here’s some pictures from our time in Phoenix.”
now for $1 Force’s storied career, marked by a record 157 NHRA event wins spanning from 1990 through 2013, places him as one of the giants in the world of drag racing. During this challenging time, his racing team remains a pillar of support.
Austin Prock, a teammate, recently dedicated his victory in Virginia to Force, affirming the depth of their camaraderie. Prock stated, as quoted by Mirror:
READ MORE NASCAR News: Donald Trump Makes Bold Driver Proposal For Military Leadership NASCAR Delivers Weekend Racing Penalties And Fines “[The trophy] is going straight to the hospital to John Force.
It’s just tough to see somebody go through that, especially when it’s somebody you really care about, but I know he’ll be back. We’re race car drivers and we have to flip the switch. I know John wanted us to be out here, going rounds, and I’m glad we did our job.
