NHRA legend John Force to race four months after traumatic brain injury

LAS VEGAS – NHRA legend John Force Suffered traumatic brain injury during horrific crash at Virginia Motorsports Park Permission was received to participate in a race in June.

The 16-time Funny Car champion announced Thursday that he and his wife, Laurie, will head to the Nevada Nationals next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to get better, and I’m already getting better,” Force said in a video released by John Force Racing. “I work on this every day.”

Force will be on hand to see the two-car Funny Car team compete with drivers Austin Prock and Jack Beckman. girl child Brittany Force also competes in the Top Fuel class. John Force said he wanted to support his teams and see fans and sponsors.

75 year old Force crashed into wall at nearly 300 mph after engine blew. He spent a month in hospitals, first at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, then in intensive care at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He has been receiving outpatient treatment at his home in California ever since.

Force described himself as “still a work in progress” with “good days and bad days.”

“I’ll get better,” he said. “I felt like I owed it to everyone to tell you that I was okay. I want to take a moment to thank you. I want to tell you that I love cards and gifts and everything because you showed me that you cared at a time when I needed help.

Force also thanked his family, including his four daughters and son-in-law Robert Hight, for their continued support during “a scary time for them.” He later joked, “Not for me; “I had no idea where I was.”

“We’ll be fine,” he added.

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