John Force Makes First NHRA Appearance Since Traumatic Brain Injury

NHRA Funny Car legend John Force has made a momentous return to the racing community during the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This appearance marked Force’s first public outing since a devastating crash in June at the Virginia Nationals that left him with a traumatic brain injury.

Force’s recovery included an initial 15-day stay at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, before his transfer to the renowned Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, for specialized care. He was discharged in July 2024 and has since been continuing outpatient therapy in California.

His appearance in Las Vegas comes after the driver broke his silence on October 24 with a video updating his fans. He explained:

“Hi, I’m John Force, 16-time Funny Car champ, and boy am I glad to be here after that crash I had in Richmond, but at the end of the day, I’m going to recover, and I’m getting better already. I was in the hospital for four months.

“I’m still working every day to get my body back in shape, but I got to get my mind back in shape.

I took a pretty big hit in that crash at Richmond, so I’ve been in the hospital there in Richmond. I’ve been in Phoenix, Arizona, going through rehab, and I’m out here now, and I’m working at it every day.

This latest accident on June 23, 2024, was especially challenging, as his car suffered catastrophic engine failure at over 300 mph, resulting in Force colliding with the concrete guard walls. The injuries he sustained – a traumatic brain injury, a fractured sternum, among others – required extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.