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.
