Nhra Driver Force Relocated To A California Rehabilitation Center After Sustaining Injuries.

Renowned National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) great, John Force, has been discharged from a hospital in Virginia and transferred to a rehabilitation center closer to his home in Yorba Linda, California. To mark this important milestone, Force celebrated by taking his daughter out for ice cream on her 38th birthday.

Announcing the event on social media, Brittany Force, John’s daughter, shared a photo of the outing. In the picture, John can be seen in a wheelchair with a cast on his right arm. The family decided to enjoy the ice cream treat as part of the birthday celebration.

Last month, during the Virginia Nationals, Force experienced a horrific crash at a speed of 300 mph, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Following the accident, the 75-year-old was immediately transferred to the neurological intensive care unit. Afterward, he was shifted to the acute neuro care unit at the same hospital. Apart from the brain injury, Force also suffered a fractured sternum in the crash.

The catastrophic crash occurred when Force’s car experienced an engine failure at the finish line. The dragster collided with the left concrete guard wall on the driver’s side before bouncing off and hitting the right wall.

Force spent 15 days at the VCU Medical Center in Virginia before finally boarding an AirMed ambulance for a three-hour flight to a specialized neurological rehab center, where he will receive treatment for his brain injury.

A statement from John Force Racing mentioned that the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion still exhibits cognitive and behavioral symptoms but has been able to communicate with his family and medical staff. Although he occasionally experiences confusion, he was delighted to partake in Monday’s birthday celebration with Brittany.

Meanwhile, Graham Rahal, an IndyCar driver married to John Force’s daughter, Courtney, shared that he was watching the Virginia Nationals on TV while preparing for his own race in California. Rahal mentioned waking Courtney from her sleep as he realized the severity of the crash. Having witnessed several accidents in NHRA, including Courtney’s explosion in 2017 and Brittany’s accidents, Rahal immediately sensed that this crash was different.

Rahal described the day as agonizing since Forces’ wife, Laurie, was with them at the IndyCar race, and they were all desperate for updates on John’s condition. Rahal praised the IndyCar medical team for their swift remote assistance in providing care for Force. Once the IndyCar race concluded, Rahal arranged a flight, courtesy of NetJets, to transport Courtney and Laurie to Virginia.

Rahal recalled the numerous questions and uncertainties they faced during this period. It took nearly a day and a half to obtain clarity on John’s condition. Rahal acknowledged that such incidents are an inherent part of racing and recounted his personal struggle to overcome the death of fellow IndyCar driver Justin Wilson in 2015. Despite the emotional challenge, Rahal emphasized the need to soldier on and support Force’s recovery.

Back in 2007, at the age of 58, John Force suffered a severe racing crash in Ennis, Texas. Despite the setback, he continued to pursue his racing career and has achieved remarkable success. This season alone, Force has secured two victories, including his record-breaking 157th NHRA win in New Hampshire.

Forces’ daughter, Brittany, is a two-time world champion in NHRA, while Courtney temporarily stepped away from the sport to start a family with Rahal. Rahal has been taking care of their two young daughters during Force’s hospitalization, where he was surrounded by his four daughters and wife.

Rahal, the son of IndyCar champion Bobby Rahal, explained that the Force family will take turns being with John during his recovery while continuing their respective racing careers.