John Force Racing Releases Statement After 500kmh Crash As Driver Remains in ICU

At the Virginia Motorsports Park, drag racing legend John Force was involved in a horrific crash during an NHRA race, proving just how dangerous this high-velocity sport can be. As he crossed the finish line at an alarming speed of 487 km/h (302 miles per hour), his 10,000-horsepower car suffered an engine failure, catapulting it into the protective walls on both sides before it came to a halt mid-track. Despite the severity of the accident, Force remained conscious and interacted with the safety team, though he was rushed to a nearby trauma hospital and remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

With the racing community holding its breath, John Force Racing issued a detailed statement on June 24, 2024, from Richmond, Virginia. It reads:

"Drag racing champion John Force remained in the intensive care unit at a Virginia hospital Monday following a catastrophic engine failure that sent his Funny Car slamming into a concrete guardwall at 302 miles per hour during the first round of Sunday's NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.

"After NHRA Safety Safari personnel extricated and stabilized the 16-time champion, he was transported by medical helicopter to a trauma hospital where he still was being observed and evaluated on Monday.

"Attending doctors purposely were moving slowly in assessing the extent of the injuries to the Hall of Fame owner and driver because of the intensity of the impact. Medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery timetable until a total evaluation is completed.

"Force's daughter Brittany, a two-time World Champion, was joined at the hospital by her mother, Laurie, and sisters, Adria, Ashley, and Courtney. The family will maintain a presence while the team competes this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio.

"Updates on the 157-time tour winner's condition will be released at the discretion of the medical staff."

Brittany Force, present during the incident, traveled with her father to the hospital. Despite her own races that day, her focus remained on her father's resilience. "My dad's going to be all right – I was in the ambulance with him, holding his hand. He's one of the toughest people I know, so he'll bounce back like he always does," she assured. Continuing to race herself, she mirrored the ethos of the sport: "It's something that's tough. We know that's a part of the sport. That's how this sport goes. I wouldn't be his daughter if I wasn't back up here trying to win this thing with this team for him."

Equally poignant were the words from Austin Prock, Force's teammate, and protégé, who dedicated his race victory to the injured patriarch. "He's one tough son of a bitch. 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," Prock expressed. His commitment to the sport and to his mentor's fighting spirit was evident as he added, "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."

As John Force remains in critical but stable condition, the future implications for him and his team loom large. His career, marked by resilience through numerous severe crashes, including a near-fatal one in 2007, has always been a testament to his unyielding passion for racing. This latest challenge not only reignites concerns about the dangers inherent in NHRA racing but also accentuates the ongoing discussion about safety enhancements in the sport.

With the racing world rallying around him, we hope for positive updates over the next few days and weeks.