NHRA Legend John Force Moved to Neurological Intensive Care Following Fiery Crash

National Hot Rod Association driver John Force is now in the neurological intensive care unit after spending three days in the trauma care unit following his fiery crash at a June 23 NHRA event in Virginia.

The John Force Racing account on X (formerly Twitter) announced Force’s move in a message posted Thursday, June 27.

The move allows the 75-year-old’s medical team to “focus on [Force’s] head injury, which is their primary concern.”

Force was involved in a fiery crash on Sunday, during the first round of NHRA Virginia Nationals Funny Car eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg. After hitting the finish line with a 302.62-mph victory over Terry Haddock, the engine of his Chevrolet Camaro exploded. Force’s car went across the track’s center line and struck the left concrete guard wall before it was propelled to the right guard wall. 

His family’s reaction to the latest development in treatment was “positive.” His wife, Laurie, and daughters Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force, Courtney Force and Adria Hight have remained at his side all week.

“The Force family are grateful for the team of medical professionals who are caring for John, and for the overwhelming number of heartfelt messages of prayer, support, and concern. Thank you for continuing to respect the privacy of the family and John Force Racing team members,” read the statement on X.

Force was examined on Sunday by the NHRA medical team at the track and transported via medical helicopter to a “nearby medical center for further evaluation in the ICU,” per the John Force Racing Sunday post on X.

The next evening, June 24, the account shared in a follow-up statement that he remained in the hospital’s ICU.

“Attending doctors purposely were moving slowly in assessing the extent of the injuries to the Hall of Fame owner and driver because of the intensity of the impact. Medical staff will not provide a treatment and recovery timetable until a total evaluation is completed,” read the statement. 

After the Sunday crash, Austin Prock — who won the Funny Car division — said while speaking from the winners’ circle that the trophy “is going straight to the hospital to John Force," per the Associated Press.

"It's just tough to see somebody go through that, especially when it's somebody you really care about, but I know he'll be back. We're race car drivers and we have to flip the switch. I know John wanted us to be out here, going rounds, and I'm glad we did our job,” Prock, 28, said. 

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Before the crash, Force earned his second victory this season and his 157th NHRA victory at the NHRA New England Nationals in New Hampshire. 

Brittany has removed herself from the Summit Racing Equipment National in Norwalk, Ohio, this week to stay at the hospital. Prock will compete again this weekend for the John Force Racing organization.