John Force has been released from an inpatient neurological unit following the traumatic brain injury he suffered in his June crash at the Virginia Nationals.
The 75-year-old NHRA legend was released from Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona on Tuesday and will continue his outpatient rehabilitation in his home state of California. Force had been hospitalized since the fiery crash. After his funny car’s engine blew, Force’s car struck two exterior retaining walls at high speed before coming to a stop.
“He’ll finally be able to sleep in his own bed,” his daughter and former NHRA driver Ashley Force Hood said in a team statement.
John Force Racing said Force’s next steps would include “outpatient speech therapy and occupational and physical therapy to address lingering short-term memory and cognitive issues” from the crash. The team has repeatedly said Force has a “long road ahead” in his recovery from the brutal impacts.
Force was awake and communicating with NHRA safety workers after the crash, but was immediately placed in an intensive care unit when he was hospitalized. The team has said Force has experienced moments of confusion in the days and weeks following the crash due to his brain injury.
Force is a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and has won 157 races throughout his legendary drag racing career. He was second in the points standings at the time of his crash at the Virginia Nationals while seeking his first Funny Car title since 2013.
