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Post by Elim_Garak #42 on Sept 23, 2007 13:44:21 GMT -6
Drag racing's bigest star, 14-time champion John Force, was alert and conscious after suffering two broken legs and a broken 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 outisde 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 with Bernstein drifting over into Force's lane after clipping 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 LifeFlight 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, 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."
It is reported that daughter Ashley Force, who won her second-round race with Del Worsham, will 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."
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Post by Rowddy #44 on Sept 24, 2007 7:28:47 GMT -6
UPDATE: Monday, 1:30 a.m. Central: Good news from Baylor University Medical Center where doctors operating on 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force were able to set his broken left ankle and determined that his wrist was not broken but just severely dislocated.
According to teamspokesman Elon Werner, doctors inserted three pins into Force's ankle to set it, and also inserted three temporary pins to stabilize his wrist.
Force came through the surgery well. A full update will be issued by the team midday Monday.
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Post by Groper #19 on Sept 24, 2007 11:55:03 GMT -6
Wow, one tough dude. Now it don't seem so bad when MrNorm spins me out before strarting line and suffer whiplash from being so surprised...JK MrNorm..... MRI was negative....lol
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Post by Diamondback on Sept 24, 2007 15:23:41 GMT -6
That's just nasty. At first glance, I thought he was grinding his way down the wall, until it stopped and realized that the motor was the only thing that made it to the sand pit. The driver's compartment was jammed feet first into the wall near the point of impact. It's no wonder he had the injuries he did, and he's damned lucky to be alive. Just nasty. Weird thing is, if one of the blocks cut a tire, you'd think it would be the right rear, but in watching the slow-mo, it looks like the left rear is the one that disintegrated...
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Post by HGW Ninja #85 on Sept 24, 2007 21:09:34 GMT -6
Monday, 6;45p.m. CT: John Force, seriously injured Sunday in the crash of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car during the 22nd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, was undergoing physical therapy Monday at Baylor University Medical Center following six hours of reconstructive surgery Sunday night on his feet, legs and hands.
The 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a deep laceration of the right knee down to the bone, broken fingers and lacerations on the right hand and a dislocated left wrist that originally was diagnosed as a dislocation and break.
The 125-time tour winner's injuries were tended by Alan Jones, M.D., orthopedic traumatologist, Michael Foreman, M.D., chief of trauma services, and David Zehr, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist.
“We don't really know what went wrong,” Force said Monday after viewing video of the crash for the first time. “I don't remember much. I remember thinking that I had to cut a light to beat (rival) Kenny Bernstein. The next thing I remember is them trying to get me out of the car.”
Force's race car broke in half just beyond the finish line at the end of a victorious second round. The front half of the car then shot across the center line, crashing into Bernstein's Dodge, separating the carbon fiber body from the chassis. Meanwhile, the back half of Force's car, with the 58-year-old driver still strapped in the seat, came to rest on its side against the leftside guardwall.
“I was worried about Bernstein,” Force said, “because I knew he was in the other lane. I didn't want to hurt anybody, especially Kenny. He's a good friend and a great competitor – and he did nothing wrong. In fact, he did a great driving job.
“I'm just lucky to have my legs. I gnawed off some fingers and toes, but they had me up trying to stand today. They're great people here at Baylor and I know they'll get me up and around as soon as they can.
“The car pulled in half and I've never seen that, ever. A tire came off the car just as I put the parachutes out and it literally pulled the car apart. I just feel so helpless and vulnerable. I've been on fire from here to Australia. I've had some burns, but I've gotten out of every crash and never had a scratch. I've never had a broken bone (before) so this is all new to me.”
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Monday, 1:00 p.m. CT: John Force is on his feet at Baylor University Medical Center, just one day after his horrifying accident with Kenny Bernstein at the Texas Motorplex. Under the direction of his team of doctors, Force is out of his bed and seeing how much weight he can bear on his repaired left ankle and right knee.
"He isn't happy about standing up, but he is standing up," Force's longtime public relations director Dave Densmore told NHRA.com's Rob Geiger. "I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. It's an incredible recovery.
"He was asking earlier this morning what it would take to race in Richmond (Va.) in two weeks but the doctors are having none of it. He'll be out for the year, I would certainly guess at this point. But you know John; he's very hard to keep down."
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Post by HGW Ninja #85 on Sept 25, 2007 11:32:59 GMT -6
Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. CT: John Force interviews from his hospital bed in Dallas, including an insightful nine-minute interview with CBS 11 News in Dallas. cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_267193435.htmlThat is one tough old man but I'll tell you when he starting talking about Eric it even brought tears in my eyes.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2007 14:36:53 GMT -6
MAN JOHN FORCE IS ONE LUCKY MAN TO SURVIVE THAT CRASH GET WELL SOON JOHN
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Post by 81chaching on Sept 25, 2007 15:06:36 GMT -6
Absolutely UNREAL! This guy is so tough,let alone LUCKY! Godspeed to John in his recovery!
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Mayo #13
Junior Member
Crank it up tonight
Posts: 279
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Post by Mayo #13 on Sept 25, 2007 16:35:59 GMT -6
CBS 11 has always been the station that does those kind of stories. All the other stations just said he was injured, but that was about it.
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Post by HGW Ninja #85 on Sept 25, 2007 17:50:34 GMT -6
Tuesday, 5 p.m. CT: Fourteen-time NHRA POWERade Funny Car world champ John Force, seriously injured in a high-speed accident Sept. 23 in Dallas, hopes to be released from Baylor University Medical Center Friday and return to his Southern California base to continue his recovery.
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.
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Post by Rowddy #44 on Sept 26, 2007 9:41:39 GMT -6
Wouldn't surprize me 1 bit if you see him trying to race at Richmond, VA ..lol hes one tough old bird thats for sure
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rsp #72
Senior Member
Secret squirrel
Posts: 375
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Post by rsp #72 on Sept 26, 2007 20:51:42 GMT -6
That wouldn't surprise me either Rowddy. Plus he is in the #4 spot in the countdown. I bet they just might figure something out so he can drive if NHRA clears him to race.
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Post by bobbythebratt #66 on Sept 30, 2007 10:18:42 GMT -6
wow
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terminator
Boot The Bum, They Don't Contribute!
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Post by terminator on Sept 30, 2007 12:05:02 GMT -6
Get well John Force,he is the Mr. Norm of High Grip a legend in my time,a lot of good memories from John and Kenny,now making them on High Grip,Thanks to Mr. Norm and the whole group of you all.
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