RICHMOND, Va. — NHRA great John Force, hospitalized since Sunday’s fiery crash at more than 300 mph, has been moved to the neurological intensive care unit so doctors can focus on his head injury, his racing team said in a statement Thursday.
The head injury to the 75-year-old Funny Car driver is of “primary concern” to doctors, John Force Racing said in its statement, but the move from the trauma intensive care unit was a “welcome positive for his family members.”
The statement said Force was improving, but faced a long road to recovery. He remains at the Virginia hospital where he’s been since his fiery crash Sunday in the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Force’s daughter Brittany, a two-time world champion, remain at the hospital with her mother, Laurie, and three sisters. In its statement, John Force Racing said Brittney will not compete at this week’s NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio.
“The Force family are grateful for the team of medical professionals who are caring for John, and for the overwhelming number of heartfelt messages of prayer, support and concern,” the team’s statement said.
On Sunday, Force was alert and talking to safety workers immediately after crashing at 302 mph. The Hall of Fame owner and driver was examined at the track by the NHRA medical team before being transported by medical helicopter to the trauma hospital.
During the first round of Funny Car eliminations, Force’s car had a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line, with the vehicle going across the center line and striking the left concrete guard wall, then careening back across into the right wall.
The team said Monday that medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery timetable until a total evaluation is completed.
Three weeks ago in New Hampshire, Force raced to his record 157th NHRA victory and second of the season. In 2007 at age 58, Force was seriously injured in a racing crash in Ennis, Texas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.