NHRA Legend John Force Conscious After Fiery 302 mph Crash At Virginia Nationals

NHRA drag racer John Force was hospitalized on Sunday after he crashed his Funny Car at more than 300 mph.

The 75-year-old was racing in the first elimination round of at the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park when his engine blew and set his car into the right wall then across the track into the left wall before it came to a rest upright, its body destroyed.

Force was conscious, but appeared to be in pain as he was stretchered away from the vehicle.

A statement issued by his team said he was talking to the NHRA Safety Safari personnel as he was transported to the medical center.

Force crossed the finish line during the incident and was officially scored with a 4.1 second run at 302.62 mph.

Force won his 157th race earlier this month by taking the New England Nationals and also won the Arizona Nationals earlier in the year.

His teammate Austin Prock went on to win the Virginia Nationals.

“(The trophy) is going straight to the hospital to John Force,” Prock said from the winners’ circle, according to the Associated Press.

“It’s just tough to see somebody go through that, especially when it’s somebody you really care about, but I know he’ll be back. We’re race car drivers and we have to flip the switch. I know John wanted us to be out here, going rounds and I’m glad we did our job.”

John Force Racing had not announced the extent of Force’s injuries at the time this story was published.