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Anyone who knows John Force knows that the Hall of Famer has built his career on exceeding expectations. After suffering serious injuries in a crash on June 23, 2024, the 17-time champion is once again showing the same determination that made him one of the sport’s most iconic drag racers.
Force was placed under heavy sedation at a trauma hospital in Richmond for five days after the incident to heal his injuries. On Sunday, his team’s public relations staff confirmed that he was showing daily signs of improvement.
The team confirmed he had suffered a traumatic brain injury. He had not followed instructions to open his eyes, squeeze his caregivers’ hands and move his extremities. There were times when he was able to respond with slight movements, but it was not until he was transferred from the trauma intensive care unit to the neurological intensive care unit on Wednesday that he regained his momentum.
After the move, Force responded more consistently to commands and finally opened his eyes on day five. It took a while, but Force said his name and added a thumbs up.
One of the biggest obstacles in the healing process was coping
his extreme agitation and confusion, which is causing him great distress. He has repeatedly tried to get out of bed and has been restrained; his doctors have humorously described him as a raging bull. Essentially, the doctors have discovered that John Force is John Force.
Force has a long road to recovery ahead of him. Only immediate family members are allowed to visit.
The Force Family has issued the following statement to the drag racing community.
“John’s family members extend their deepest gratitude to the medical professionals responsible for his well-being and recovery. They are deeply grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of heartfelt messages, prayers, support and condolences from across the automotive and racing communities. We thank sponsors, fans and the media for respecting the privacy of the Force family and members of the John Force Racing team.”
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