John Force Crash at Virgina track

[Mike 1017]

With the strict enforcement of the NHRA safety rules and regulations. He was able to survive walk away from this horrendous crash.

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW_gKo_jUXQ&pp=ygUZam9obiBmb3JjZSBjcmFzaCB2aXJnaW5pYQ%3D%3D

[espo]

Read about this this morning. I liked what he was quoted as saying afterwards. He said, "Time's running out, and I'm trying to hang on." Guys 75 and still one the most competitive drivers in the sport. Who else could blow and engine at over 300 mph, bounce of both retaining walls on fire and sit up on the gurney and smile for the camara. 

[OldTrucker]

Met him back in his early days and he is just as genuine today as he was back then when he was running on a shoestring!

[TonyK]

One of my all-time favorites. He's tough, still wins, and his interviews make me laugh.

[John M.]

I'm glad that John was able to walk away from the wreck thanks to the strict rules and regs that the NHRA has in place as Mike 1017 pointed out. He's 75 and despite the accident. he won't hang up his racing helmet anytime soon. His daughter Brittany who's also involved in NHRA drag racing is said to have given out the biggest sigh of relief that her dad is OK. 

Edited June 24, 2024 by John M.

[James2]

That was a hard hit, glad he is doing well! I wouldn't blame him for stepping away after that one...

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

[imarriedawitch]

Tougher than whale bone. Amazing how little came off the car.

[NOBLNG]

WOW!?

[bobthehobbyguy]

One scary ride. It's always a possibilit5y given how hard the engines are run. I'm impressed how well designed the cars are.

I doubt John will retire. I think he got a t aste of what retirement was like when everything was shutdown for covid. Doubt being a team owner on the sidelines is for him.

[slusher]

I am glad he is ok but maybe time to retire May not walk away from the next one…

[bobss396]

Jack up the radiator cap, slide a new car under it.... GO RACING. I have no doubt that JF will be back. He's had other serious wrecks, but at 75 ya gotta be thinking about packing it in.

[Mike 1017]

Team Force announced that he is intensive care unit and is still being evaluated by the doctors.

Mike

[bobthehobbyguy]

At this point I think the doctors are monitoring John to see if he has any issues due to that tremendous impact. Regardless of age the human body is not designed to be subjected to that..

The rule of thumb for medical issues is the first 24 hours and 72 hours will be the most critical.

My thoughts and prayers that John will recover quickly.

[bobss396]

I worked with a guy who raced dirt bikes competitively. He said that when a racer is hurt bad, the edge is off and they are never as fast again. I have to agree with that. Guys like Waltrip, Elliott and Petty were not the same after a badly broken femur, etc.

Force is definitely wired differently than most. I'd like him to race again, to go out on a better note.

I have crashed stock cars badly. It was hard to face that fear and strap the car on the next week. A couple of times, my right foot was shaking on the gas when I drove back on the track. Once the green flag flew, I was fine.

[imarriedawitch]

Just prior to the accident I was reading that John has been looking into the nostalgia funny car class.

[espo]

Hot Rod online has an article about John Force and the fact that he is in the ICU unit for observation. As others have mentioned, many are holding him in their thoughts and prayers. I'm sure it is for the best that this is what they are doing. He just looked so alert and uninjured in the clips I have seen when they first got him out of the car. I hope that proves to be the case.  

[bobss396]

17 hours ago, espo said:

Hot Rod online has an article about John Force and the fact that he is in the ICU unit for observation. As others have mentioned, many are holding him in their thoughts and prayers. I'm sure it is for the best that this is what they are doing. He just looked so alert and uninjured in the clips I have seen when they first got him out of the car. I hope that proves to be the case.  

He was riding the adrenaline rush without a doubt. I think and hope that he will be okay. Watching the video, it shows parts coming off the car. These take the crash-energy forces away with them, a good thing.

[Brutalform]

[slusher]

I really hope he doesn’t have a clot or brain swelling..

[Thom]

Imagine the look on the ER doctor’s faces when told, “We have a 75 year old man coming in after his car blew up and he hit the wall at 302MPH”.

[Mike 1017]

Joe Amato was the winningest Top Fuel driver until he sustained injuries to both eyes. The G-Forces that he was subject to caused torn retinas in both eyes The biggest culprit was a larger parachute that the team switched to. Which caused him to retire in 2020. It proves that you don't have to crash to get injured.

The doctors are testing Force for possible brain injuries. He is out of the ICU.

Mike

[OldTrucker]

45 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

Joe Amato was the winningest Top Fuel driver until he sustained injuries to both eyes. The G-Forces that he was subject to caused torn retinas in both eyes The biggest culprit was a larger parachute that the team switched to. Which caused him to retire in 2020. It proves that you don't have to crash to get injured.

The doctors are testing Force for possible brain injuries. He is out of the ICU.

Mike

He is in neuro icu. That most likely means closed head injury.

Been there twice, not fun at all.

Don't  picture this guy quitting.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Don Garlits also had to stop racing for a while becuase the g forces were causing the potential of detached retina.

Sounds like John suffered a concussion. He may not retire becuase of this however I doubt he's going to be back in the car this season.

Edited June 28, 2024 by bobthehobbyguy

[slusher]

Makes think about those guys in the 60’s that the movie The Right Stuff, was about.