NHRA champion John Force suffered a major crash at the NHRA Virginia Nationals during the first round of eliminations Sunday. The 16-time champion’s Funny Car suffered a blown engine near the end of the run then in a fireball shot across the track hitting on the left side into the outside wall before sliding to a stop.
The incident happened just after Force clocked a 302.62-mph elapsed time.
The 75-year-old was able to extract himself from the wreckage and was alert and talking with safety workers shortly after. The NHRA released a statement not long after saying Force was alert and examined onsite by the NHRA medical team before being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Force’s teammate, Austin Prock, had just completed his first round and was waiting for Force at the top end of the track.
“He’s one tough son of a bitch, I know that. He’ll be back,” an emotional Prock said. “It’s just tough to see somebody go through that. I hope he’s all right. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I know he’ll be back.”
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.