Racing legend John Force, 75, was hospitalized following a dramatic crash during the NHRA Virginia Nationals on Sunday. The incident occurred after Force’s Funny Car experienced an engine explosion, causing multiple impacts with the retaining walls.
John Force Racing issued a statement confirming that Force was hospitalized for “further evaluation” in an intensive care unit. The statement did not detail his injuries but noted that Force was conscious and communicating with NHRA safety team members after the crash. The explosion took place after Force had won his first-round race.
John Force Hospitalized After Fiery Crash at NHRA Virginia Nationals
As the most successful racer in NHRA history, Force’s career includes 16 Funny Car titles and 157 NHRA race wins. He won his first NHRA title in 1990 and claimed 12 more titles between 1991 and 2004. His most recent championship victory was in 2013, and he is currently second in the points standings for 2024, with two wins in the first eight Funny Car races of the season.
Force began his professional drag racing career in 1978. His three daughters have also competed at top levels in NHRA: Ashley Force Hood and Courtney Force have retired, while Brittany Force continues to drive a Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing.
This latest crash is not Force’s first significant accident. In 2007, he suffered a broken ankle and dislocated wrist, among other injuries, during the Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas, which required airlifting to a hospital and sidelined him for the rest of the season. That crash occurred months after the tragic death of JFR driver Eric Medlen, who died from a head injury sustained in a testing crash.
The NHRA community is closely monitoring Force’s condition, hoping for a swift and full recovery for the veteran racer.