Drag race legend John Force was rushed to the ICU after his car suffered a “catastrophic engine failure” and exploded at the finish line of an elimination race.
Force, 75, was competing in the first round of Funny Car eliminations at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park on Sunday when his car exploded, causing his vehicle to slam into a “concrete guard wall” at 302 mph, John Force Racing revealed in a statement on X Monday.
The Hall of Fame drag racer’s team shared that the crash happened while Force was crossing the finish line and was caused by a “catastrophic engine failure.”
Coverage of the race shows Force’s blue Chevrolet Camaro SS exploding after crossing the finish line of the quarter-mile drag strip.
His car then violently erupted into a fireball, crossed the strip’s centerline, and slammed into the concrete guard walls of the drag strip.
Force’s vehicle then careened across the track, collided with the other wall, and came to a fiery stop.
“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,” his team shared.
Doctors caring for the Southern California native have been “moving slowly in assessing the extent” of his injuries due to the “intensity of the impact” the crash caused.
“Medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery timetable until a total evaluation is completed.”
His daughter, two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Britanny Force, remains by his side at the hospital, his team shared. She also had been competing in Sunday’s event.
Force’s team will provide updates on the condition of the 157-time tour winner in the coming days.
“Watching your childhood hero go through that was horrifying,” Virginia Motorsports Park VP Tyler Crossnoe told WTVR following the crash.
“Seeing him get out of the car, even under his own power, was a blessing.”
Virginia Motorsports Park officials are investigating what caused the potentially fatal wreck.
Force’s teammate Austin Prock won Sunday’s Funny Car division, topping Bob Tasca III in the final round, according to NHRA.
Force has been a mainstay on the NHRA circuit since debuting in 1978.
He has since won 157 titles and 16 season championships.
Force was seriously injured in 2007 in another crash in Ennis, Texas.
Force currently ranks second in the 2024 NHRA Funny Car standings through nine of 21 events this season.
The drag racing legend won a record 157th NHRA race in New Hampshire only three weeks ago.
After winning the series ‘ first eight races, he is pursuing his 17th NHRA Funny Car championship.
