I just copied this from another forum. :eek::eek:

They just moved him into the Neuro Intensive Care unit about 2 hours ago to focus on the head trauma. This is the primary concern i was told that he hit so hard that his head moved around the helmet and actually chipped some of his teeth. Brittany will not race this weekend and will stay back with her Dad.

Yeah, that was my concern as well. TBI. And the reason for the hush.

Yeah this article also . Severe head injury never good . Best wishes for recovery .


https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a61441611/john-force-suffered-head-injury-in-crash/

This is what I've been thinking all along. His brain banging around in his skull.

Speculation, but I'm thinking they
have him in an induced coma for the time
being.

When I met him he wasn't the crazy guy you see in the interviews.
I'm thinking he will be OK but he's still in my prayers.

My guess as well, wrt the induced coma until the swelling goes down. I hope he’s ok, he’s a legend.

Slow progress but encouraging .

https://www.nhra.com/news/2024/john-force-moving-forward-recovery-process

^^^^^^^^Thanks for posting that. I copied part of it :


Early in the treatment process of his Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), he failed to follow the series of commands to open his eyes, squeeze the hands of his care providers and move his extremities. Occasionally, he was able to respond with slight movements, but it wasn’t until he moved from trauma intensive care unit to neuro intensive care unit on Wednesday that he began to gain some momentum.

He became more consistent responding to commands and finally opened his eyes on day five. Following days of failed attempts, his wife and daughters were overcome with emotion when he murmured his name, ‘John Force,’ and later when prompted, gave a thumbs up.

The biggest challenge has been managing his extreme agitation and confusion, which causes him significant distress. He has repeatedly tried to get out of bed and has been restrained; his doctors have humorously described him as a raging bull. However, he recognized his daughters, wife, Laurie, and called them each by name. And spoke the words, “I love you.” This, along with continued daily progress has uplifted their spirits.t .

That is really good news. One of the most beloved persons i motor sports history, I think. What a character!

Out of a hundred people, sometimes you can pick one and say "if all these people were involved in the same accident and only one survived, it would be this guy."

In my opinion John Force IS drag racing and has been for 30 years . Tough as nails and nuts 😀 . I gotta think he talks in his sleep ! He's an energetic chatter box and a fan favorite . I don't care if he ever races again , I hope he can have a quality of life he deserves .

Yes. He has his cognition, now the question is whether his force of personality will allow him to live within what are likely to be his restrictions.
When was the last time a guy of 75 was capable of winning a pinnacle motorsports event of any kind? I don't follow NHRA, but he's a true legend of sport, of any kind.

75 years old and already won 2 events this year. At this point I'd be thrilled to see him have a happy and health retirement.

I’m hoping for a full recovery. Brain injuries are complicated. A friend of mine is still out of a race car from a concussion 3 years ago.

Some good news. Not great but pretty good. From the NHRA site :


Less than two weeks after 16-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), among other injuries that included a fractured sternum and a right wrist injury, following an engine explosion that sent his Funny Car into a concrete guard wall at over 300 miles per hour, doctors acknowledged his positive response to treatment. Force has moved out of neuro-intensive care and into acute neuro care at the hospital where he was transported by air ambulance on June 23.

The latest upgrade was welcomed by Force family members who have maintained a presence at the hospital since the NHRA icon’s arrival, but medical professionals emphasized once again that the journey ahead will be a long and difficult one.

Although Force is still dealing with cognitive and behavioral symptoms from his TBI, the fact that the Hall of Fame driver can converse with medical staff, family members, and John Force Racing president Robert Hight, who flew in this week, is an encouraging sign. However, there have also been periods of confusion, which doctors say require time and patience to treat.

Also noteworthy was the fact that the 75-year-old grandfather of five has regained his equilibrium to the point that he has been able to start walking with the assistance of medical staff members.

According to family, the next step for the man whose career has spanned six decades likely will be a move to a long-term facility specializing in TBI and associated symptoms. A time frame for that move has not yet been determined.

I interpret this as a move to long term care, in other words a nursing home that specializes in brain injury patients. This is similar to the facility my father is at which specializes in dementia. There are some residents there that appear to be in their 40s or 50s. I hope I am wrong but this means John Force’s racing career is finished.

Not wrong, it stopped being about racing and
is more of a quality of life thing now.
Here's hoping it's a good, long life.

Of course his racing career is finished. Simon Pagenaud was half his age, had a less severe impact, and has yet to get back in the cockpit.
I'm just happy that he's not Michael Schumacher.
Must be hard as hell on Graham to get in the car every weekend with that on his mind.

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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9I8JwJs-HC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Brittany Force (@brittanyforce)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Thanks, that is a great pic.

Thanks Steve for sharing that post. I’m happy to see that John isn’t all burnt as I expected could be the case. It really highlights how ‘good’ our race suits and helmets have become over the years.

Another one...but worse this past weekend in New York.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a61534664/nhra-top-sportsman-drag-racer-janke-killed/

William Janke lost control and hit the wall at 190 MPH at the 1/4 mile mark. We was ejected from the car…

His cage and harnesses were not sufficient to keep him in the car at a 190 MPH crash. That part I find shocking. I’m going to have a good look at the cage in my race car this week, especially since my son is starting to drive this car.

Something had to be wrong. If the car passed tech and he was strapped in, he should have been contained in the seat.

William Janke rip.
All racers concerned to hear why was he ejected?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1720540009.jpg

I thought getting ejected was impossible.

Five pics in all....arrow across for all of them.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9MBGqNsv30/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Brittany Force (@brittanyforce)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Another positive step forward in the journey to recover .

https://apnews.com/article/john-force-crash-nhra-32f7e13230e4634dbbed31431cbdb12b

More good news. JF is a tough guy for sure.

An excellent explanation of why the chutes didn't open.

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Story keeps getting better .

John Force released from hospital and into outpatient care https://www.nhra.com/news/2024/john-force-released-hospital-and-outpatient-care

He's announced his retirement.

He's set the bar pretty high for those that will try to reach his heights. Glad he made it to retirement age.

Thanks for posting that. Best news so far.

I can't find that story?

Posted to a NHRA facebook page, but apparently not the official one. Might be a scam.

How many times before has he retired? More than one I believe.

Zero. This year he said that Prock will replace him when he quits and thats the first time .

Ok, let me restate, how many times did he say he was going to retire. I remember at least once, but that was many years ago now.