Posted on 09/23/2007 2:11:36 PM PDT by devane617
Drag racing's biggest star, 14-time champion John Force, was alert and conscious after suffering two broken legs and an injured arm in a nasty top-end collision Sunday with fellow straight-line legend Kenny Bernstein in the second round of eliminations at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas. Force has been airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for further treatment. Their Funny Cars got together just as they crossed the finish line after Bernstein clipped the final timing cone. The numbers, although unofficial, showed Force crossing with a 4.863 at 315.34 mph to Bernstein's 4.904 at 312.06 mph.
Bernstein quickly made his way out of his Monster Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T and was shown walking around and talking to medical and safety personnel on the large television screens at the racetrack, which brought a huge cheer from the crowd. But the mood quickly turned quiet as everyone waited for word on Force's condition. Minutes later, track announcers reported that Force was talking to EMTs but would be transported by medical helicopter for further evaluation. Team spokesman Dave Densmore reported Force's injuries to the media. NHRA.com will provide more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.
Team spokesman Dave Densmore reported Force's injuries to the media. "He was asking to talk to Laurie, his wife, and Ashley and Robert Hight, so that was a good sign," Densmore said. "He is in a lot of pain, obviously. They can't take passengers on the helicopter so the family is off to the hospital in a car."
"John has very serious injuries to his hands, his legs, and his feet that will require extensive work-up and treatment," said NHRA doctor Dwight Shewchuk, who was first on the scene with the Safety Safari. "Nothing appears life-threatening at this time but he certainly has significant injuries so he's been taking to Baylor Hospital where he'll be further evaluated.
"Although he was alert and conscious throughout the whole thing he was demonstrating some signs of a concussion as he was asking the same question over and over. But his vital signs were stable and he's on his way."
Daughter Ashley Force, who won her second-round race with Del Worsham, opted not to compete in the semifinals.
Said Bernstein, who was not injured in the incident, "First of all I just pray that John's going to be okay," Bernstein said. "I know he's hurt and the main thing I'm praying for is that he gets 100-percent recovery. That's more important than anything right now for me, Sheryl, and our team. I know he was talking to me there and he was asking if he hurt me. That's typical John right there. He'll be okay. He's a strong-willed man, he'll be fine."
NHRA.com will provide more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.
Great to see the Champ doing so well!!!
Force has been undergoing daily physical therapy in a walker to begin to rehabilitate his broken left ankle and deeply lacerated right knee.
The challenges of getting ambulatory are incredibly difficult because he has a cast on his left foot and his right leg is bandaged from below the knee up his thigh. His left hand and wrist are in a cast, and the fingers on his right hand are heavily swollen.
Well-wishes have been pouring in from sponsors, including Tom McKernan of the Automobile Club of Southern California, Dan Davis of Ford, and Bob Lawrence of Brand Source; fellow NHRA racers from all eras, including former Funny Car racer John Collins, who was involved in a two-car accident at the 1984 Cajun Nationals; and racers from all walks of motorsports, including former Texas Indy car great "Lone Star J.R." Rutherford.
"John's doing great for all that he went through," said Dave Densmore, public relations director of John Force Racing, who noted that Force is especially pleased that all of the work the team has done in padding the roll cage really paid off. "He told me that anytime he'd ever hit the wall before his neck was sore for weeks, and his neck is not sore at all after this accident where he got thrown around quite a bit."
Although Force still insists he would love to compete at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals in Virginia to protect his hard-won spot in the Countdown to Four, it's highly unlikely given his medical condition and approvals that would need to be obtained from his doctors and NHRA officials. "I'm not trying to be no hero," he insists, just trying to keep the dream of a 15th championship alive.
The team is expected to have an official update later today.
Seriously injured Sunday when his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang broke in two at the end of a second-round match with the Monster Energy Drink Dodge Charger of Kenny Bernstein, Force endured another strenuous physical therapy session Wednesday in the hope of speeding his release.
Meanwhile, co-crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly, with input from fellow crew chiefs Jimmy Prock, Dean “Guido” Antonelli, and John Medlen, were examining video of the accident in the hope of providing Force with enough information to determine how many cars he might send to Richmond.
"The crew chiefs are looking for what happened," Force said. "Was it a tire issue? Was it a chassis issue? What happened, first, and then, why did it happen? We have to know those answers before we make any decisions.
"But, bottom line, the things we've done, safety-wise, since Eric's accident (teammate Eric Medlen succumbed last March to injuries suffered in a testing accident in Florida), are working. My neck and head were fine. Bernstein's neck and head were fine. Eric saved some lives out there and now we need to move ahead to address other issues."
Although the 14-time Funny Car champion reluctantly admitted that he might not be able to drive as early as next week, he vowed to be back for the last two events in the NHRA POWERade Series – the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, Oct. 25-28, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the Auto Club Finals, Nov. 1-4, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.)
"I need to get back out there to help Robert (Hight, son-in-law and teammate)," Force said. "He's got a shot at this championship. I did, too, right up until the tire let go."
Fortunately for Force, the tire blew, for reasons as yet unknown, at the end of the run, just as he was deploying the parachutes. When the 'chutes hit, the car pulled apart with the front half accelerating forward into Bernstein's lane and the back half coming to rest, with Force still strapped inside, against the left side guardwall. Force's injuries included a compound fracture of the left ankle but the veteran never lost consciousness.
Force's victory over Bernstein moved him back into the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship, but he'll drop out of the final four if either of the three drivers immediately behind him – Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi or Mike Ashley – is simply able to make a qualifying attempt next week at Virginia Motorsports Park.
As a result, the 125-time tour winner was left to ponder what might have been Wednesday while visiting with sponsors and well-wishers. His visitors included Ford Racing boss Dan Davis, Automobile Club of Southern California president Tom McKernan and Bob Lawrence, CEO of BrandSource.
He took a phone call from NASCAR legend and TV analyst Darrell Waltrip, who was with a group of Nextel Cup drivers visiting wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and welcomed “Lone Star J.R.,” Johnny Rutherford, who stopped by to offer words of encouragement as three-time former NHRA Funny Car Champion Raymond Beadle, owner of the car in which Rusty Wallace won his only NASCAR championship, did on Tuesday.
Drag racing legend John Force continued on the road to recovery Wednesday at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Team publicist Dave Densmore said in a release posted on the NHRA website Wednesday evening that Force spent the day "napping, rehabbing, and taking numerous phone calls from racing stars in all forms of motorsports.” "He's basically trying to be John Force, but his body is telling him no at the moment," Densmore said. "Of course, he's wanting to do more than they're allowing him to do, and the fact he hasn't slept for more than an hour at a time since the accident isn't helping matters much. But they do have to monitor him very closely, take his blood pressure every hour, and keep him medicated to help with the pain. "He's been a real treat to deal with, as you might imagine. He complains and grouses when he's going through the exercises they need him to do, and then he spends about twice as long apologizing to everyone. It's quite an ordeal. The good news is he's progressing nicely."
Force is still hoping he’ll be able to return to action for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals Oct. 5-7 in Richmond, Va. but Densmore doesn’t expect that to happen. Densmore also said thoughts of Force leaving the hospital by Friday may have been premature. "The medical staff is thinking Monday before they'll allow him to fly home," Densmore said. "That's just to fly in a plane. I doubt he'll drive again this year, but every time I tell him that he throws me out of his room."
Former Funny Car driver Raymond Beadle(1) and former open wheel driver Johnny Rutherford visited with Force on Wednesday. Force also got a call from former Nextel Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip. "Waltrip told him the worst thing he did after his big wreck was to rush back to his car," Densmore said. "He told John straight out that if he had to do it again, he would have rehabbed completely before climbing back in a race car. Racing will always be there, but you only have one body. Beadle told him the same thing; so did Rutherford."
(1) Wow, a visit by legendary 3 time NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car champion Raymond "Blue Max" Beadle. He's the perfect individual to go see John and talk some sense into him. Beadle is the toughest "ice water in his veins" guy to ever drive a Top Fuel Funny Car. - FlA ~ http://www.nhra.com/50th/top50/R_Beadle20.html
# # # #
Latest from the K. Bernstein camp. I can't say enough good things about Kenny and I'm very impressed how Brandon is following in his footsteps. - FlA
All The King’s Horses and All The King’s Men Put The Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Funny Car Together Again
KennyBernstein.com
by Christine Thieroff, Bernstein Racing
RICHMOND, Va. -- Kenny Bernstein and the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team are picking up the pieces, literally, and putting together another chassis and Dodge Charger Funny Car body for competition at the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals, Oct. 5-7. Legendary drivers Bernstein and John Force collided in second round competition in Dallas, Texas. News of the accident jammed cyberspace for hours as fans and friends searched for information. The accident happened when Force’s car began to break apart and became unmanageable. Bernstein climbed out of his chassis without injury, while Force was airlifted to a Dallas hospital and underwent a surgical procedure to repair ankle, hand, wrist, and knee injuries.
“John is a good friend and we’re happy to know he is making good progress,” said Bernstein. “We know it’s going to be a painful recuperative process, but John is strong and determined. “When drivers go through an accident like this, the best thing from my point of view is to get back in the saddle and ride the horse. I will be fortunate enough to be able to do that at Richmond. “The saving grace for John is that he doesn’t remember much of the run at all, so the vision won’t keep looping through his brain. I remember everything that happened, but I never want to review video footage or photos from something like this. I leave the review process to Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief). So I’m mentally prepared to get on with qualifying.
“Physically, Jimmy and the entire Monster Energy/Lucas Oil team have a lot of work to do. Tuesday after the accident they took the damaged chassis to Murf McKinney’s shop, who manufactures our chassis, and found out it was beyond repair. That chassis was on only its third race. “We have two more chassis and three more bodies, so we should be good to go for the remaining three races. “I also want to say that the padding around my head which was beefed up as a result of the technological advances that John Force Racing is doing as a result of losing their driver and our friend Eric Medlen earlier this season, certainly helped us weather the impact of the crash(es) much better. By the same token, I’m sure their research played a big part in saving John from more serious injury.
“We want to thank our friends and fans who contacted us through emails, faxes and phone calls after the accident, concerned about our well-being. It means a lot to have everyone reach out and rally around. It gives us momentum to get back out and do the very best we can for them.” Bernstein and Force collectively have 20 NHRA world championships and 194 national event wins to their credit.
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals begins Friday, Oct. 5 at 4 pm with a second session at 6:30 pm. There are two qualifying rounds Saturday, 12:30 pm and 3 pm., with final eliminations scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 am. ESPN2 coverage (ET): Oct 6, Qualifying 7 – 8 pm ; Oct 7, NHRA Race Day 11-11:30 am; Oct 7, Eliminations 7 – 10 pm ET.
Many accidents lately. Perhaps it is time to bring the drivers home and ensure that they are safe...../huge sarc.
Wadaguy~!
........ Nevertheless, with his family around him at the hospital, including oldest daughter Adria Hight, who flew in Thursday night with his youngest daughters, Brittany, 21, and Courtney, 19, Force acknowledged Friday that the rehabilitation process is going to be long and arduous. To underscore that reality, doctors concerned with swelling in his right foot Friday ordered additional X-rays that may identify yet another break. The bigger right leg problem for the 58-year-old drag racing icon is the deep laceration to the right knee, a knee weakened by childhood polio and injured 18 years ago in a fall. Unfortunately, that's the foot with which the 14-time series champion mashes the gas pedal on the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang.
Beginning to recover from the effects of anesthesia and pain medication, the 125-time tour winner acknowledged for the first time Friday that he won't be able to drive next week in the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Richmond, Va. He is withholding judgement on his status for the last two races of the season until he consults next week with Dr. Terry Trammell, a noted orthopedic surgeon who specializes in motor racing injuries. It was Trammell who repaired three-time former NHRA champion Shirley Muldowney's badly mangled legs and got her back into a Top Fuel dragster following her accident at Montreal in 1984. She returned to the winners' circle at Phoenix in 1989.
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