John Force taken to Dallas hospital after top-end accident with Bernstein

[tugboater]

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.

 

[tugboater]

Update on John

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."

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

 

[tugboater]

Statement from Kenny Bernstein following Dallas incident

Kenny Bernstein came to the media center at the Texas Motorplex to offer his thoughts on his second-round incident with John Force at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals. The driver of the Monster Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T was unhurt in the incident with the 14-time champ and was evaluated and released by track medical officials.

Transcript of Bernstein's comments:

"I'll take you through the run the best I can. It was a good leave. The car was running fine through there. It got towards the centerline; about halfway down it started moving over. I kept turning and correcting as hard as I could and it just kept sticking over there right next to that centerline. Right at the finish line I said, 'Man I think this thing's gonna catch the cone,' and I guess I did with the rear tire. I just couldn't get it to come back.

"At the finish line I basically lifted the throttle and hit the parachutes at the same time, that's my procedure there. As soon as I hit the parachutes, out of the corner of my eye I saw John's black car coming towards me. It was coming over and it just hit me. We were wadded up together for a second or so there and I all I could see was nothing because there were bodies coming apart and coming up in front of you and taking your eyesight away.

"I was a little out of control at that time. It was kind of teeter-tottering on turning over or not turning over. I was just trying to steer it and go as straight as I possibly could. Then it finally settled down and stayed on all fours. Right when I got ready to stop I saw something again out of the corner of my eye and it was the chassis and the engine, the front half of the car, passing me on the right side. I was trying to figure out what I was seeing. I let my car roll to get up there to see if I could help him but he wasn't even there. When I got out I saw all the commotion back up the track and I realized that piece that went by was just the front half of the car.

"At that part of the racetrack you're under control down there in the sense of the word. All the stuff's over with other than the fact you're getting to the finish line. You're going pretty straight at that point in time so I would say something happened to that racecar. To come across and collect me, it definitely had to have something happen.

"I don't think I did [cross into Force's lane]. I sure don't feel like I did. I never have felt that way. I have to look at the film. I know I was close to the center but I don't think I ever went across it with the entire car. Jimmy Walsh [crew chief] went down there and looked at the tracks and the rear tire hit the last cone. But I was totally under control when I reached up to pull the parachutes. I just thought I'd given the race away.

"I actually saw him coming my way. I saw the front of his car pointed towards me. I actually saw that. Now I'm not talking 90 degrees, but certainly a 45. For him to come across to where you can see it, he's got to be pretty far across on you. Otherwise you would never see him.

"I got a ride way back down the course and when he was on the stretcher he was saying, 'Did I hit anybody?' They were telling him 'It's okay, John,' and I went up and said 'John, it's Bernstein, I'm okay.' He was a little delirious because he kept asking if he hit me so I don't know how much he'll remember.

"On my side, physically I'm fine. I did have a little big of a headache right when I stopped and that's from my head going back and forth in the roll cage. Because of John's work in that area, putting those extra pads up in there, it's not as bad and I'm thankful for that. If it had been the old pads, I'd have had a lot worse headache. It was pretty violent when we got together."

 

[tugboater]

Force undergoing surgery following top-end collision in Dallas

Sunday, 9:30 p.m. Central: Fourteen-time NHRA POWERade Funny Car champion John Force is undergoing surgery at Baylor University Medical Center to repair damage to his knee, ankle, and wrist sustained in a high-speed collision with fellow competitor Kenny Bernstein in the second round of eliminations at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex.

Force entered surgery at 8 p.m. Central time for what is expected to be a four-hour surgery, according to team publicist Dave Densmore.

Sunday: 6:20 p.m. Central: Drag racing's biggest star, 14-time NHRA POWERade champion John Force, suffered a left broken ankle and wrist in a nasty top-end collision Sunday with fellow NHRA legend Kenny Bernstein in the second round of eliminations at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas. Force was airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for further treatment.

Their Funny Cars got together just after they crossed the finish line. The numbers, although unofficial, showed Force crossing with a 4.863 at 315.34 mph to Bernstein's 4.904 at 312.06 mph.

Doctors updated John Force's family and team following a thorough evaluation of his multiple injuries and the prognosis for a full recovery is very good.

Force sustained a broken left ankle and severe abrasion on his right knee. Force's left wrist also was dislocated and broken and he sustained some severe abrasions and slight fractures on a number of fingers on his right hand.

Throughout all procedures Force was alert and responsive. CAT scans performed came back negative and showed no damage other than the injuries to his legs and hands. Surgeons will begin cleaning a number of his injuries tonight and possibly setting his fractures if the swelling is at an acceptable level
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

 

[tugboater]

Great Article Hurry back, Superman

It's Sunday night and I'm parked by the computer, cell phone inches away from my hand, trying to stay on top of The John Force Situation. I've done all I can do for now. The website is updated with the latest information we have, at least two John Force representatives have promised to keep me updated, and I've got a two-liter bottle of Diet Coke for "inspiration" throughout the night. I'm going to wait up until I hear from the team, or fall asleep in my chair and wake up with "keyboard face" if they don't get the chance. I owe it to John for all he's done for us, and for all of the friendship an dtrust he's shown me over the years,


My thoughts are a thousand or so miles away, in a waiting room with the family, and with all of the John Force Racing folks with whom my job and life intersects on a regular basis. My heart goes out to Laurie and John's four girls, to Dens and Kelly and Chad, to Austin and Bernie, Robert and John, Jimmy and Guido and to every member of their teams as pain is revisited upon them. It's been such a tough and emotional season already, and now to see the Bossman laid up, well, it has to be harder than hard.


Let's face it, everyone: John Force is Superman. He's tougher than bullets, usually faster than a speeding locomotive, and able to walk away from just about everything. I've seen him catch fire more times than my grilled hamburgers and roll out, coughing and wheezing and flashing that trademark grin, ready to roll through another unforgettable interview. We've see him backwards and on fire in Memphis, sliding on his roof at Pomona, and nosediving into the Parker Avenue sandtrap. I watched with a dropped jaw as he rammed the guardwall three times trying to beat Cruz Pedregon at the Motorplex in 1992. We watched him roll out of his burning ride at Richmond last year, hit the ground with a thump, and lay there collecting his senses. But John Force always walked away.


He's John McClane in Die Hard, John Wayne in every western you ever saw, and John Paul Jones uttering "I have not yet begun to fight." He's our John.


And right how, he's probably really, really pissed. Not that something happened to his racecar –- no one knows what yet and anyone outside the team who openly says they do needs some serious help –- but that he's going to be on the sidelines for a bit. After all he's been through this season –- stressing as Ashley got her feet wet and, yes, struggled at times; losing Eric; having a less-than-competitive race car; and twice battling his way back into Countdown fields -– this is no way for it to end. And it won't. You can bend him, but you can't break him.


John Force is drag racing, and everything that's good about it. Fiercely loyal. Fiercely competitive. Fiercely compassionate. He's not supposed to get hurt; Superman never did, but then again I don't know that the Man of Steel every gad to face kryptonite at 320 mph.


Still, I have no doubts that John Force will be back. He doesn't have to; we all know that. He's proven to us everything anyone should or could ever. He's shown us how a little guy can become king. How a kid who grew up in a trailer park can end up with the big house and the fancy cars, how a kid can stare down polio and earn the right to walk among the giants. How a hapless quarterback can rise to lead a team of champion drag racers. How a kid who only wanted for Christmas a little logging truck now owns more 18 wheelers than most small trucking companies. How a racer who broke his hot rod so often he was asked never to come back to certain tracks can now command huge sums to grace tracks with his presence. How a dream and a line of talk can turn into mega-million-dollar corporate deals. How he can take inexperienced crewmembers and turn them into championship-caliber drivers. How "an old trucker" can rise to be the most famous and successful drag racing is history and yet still remain a man of the people.


But most of all he showed us that you can dream big, and that with enough fire in your belly and enough heart in your chest, you can make them come true.


If I do fall asleep before the update comes, I know what I'll be dreaming of: John Force at the Winternationals, foot on the gas, and fire in his eyes.


Get well fast, my friend

 

[nachomama]

That was one scary wreck. I'm surprised his wife had the composure to stay where she was at. Ashley made the right decision in not racing; I doubt her head would have been in the car, and two Forces may have ended up being life flighted out.

Get well soon; I hope to at least see in Dinwiddie!

 

[tugboater]

Force speaks; champ begins undergoing physical therapy

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.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

I saw it coming...

... I just hope John makes it. He's been racing NHRA since well back farther than I can remember.

 

[tugboater]

Force plans to be in Richmond, not to drive but to support team

Friday, 9:25 p.m. CT: Five days after the spectacular crash that landed him in Baylor University Medical Center, John Force again credited fallen teammate Eric Medlen with saving him from more serious injuries.


Force's crash last Sunday at the Texas Motorplex was eerily similar to the one in which Medlen suffered fatal head injuries in a testing accident last March at Gainesville, Fla. In both instances, for whatever reason, a tire failed, setting up a chain reaction that culminated in a chassis failure.


In last Sunday's incident, which occurred in the second round of the 22nd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals, Force's Ford Mustang broke in two with the front half veering across the center line where it collided with the Dodge of Kenny Bernstein. The other half of the car, with Force still strapped inside, his legs exposed, came to a stop against the left guardwall.


“The work we've already done through The Eric Medlen Project saved my head,” Force said. “I'm all broken up in my arms and legs, but my head's fine, my back and neck are fine. That was what really excited John Medlen (who heads up the John Force Racing, Inc., safety initiative begun after his son's death).”


Nevertheless, with his family around him, 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.


“I couldn't have wound up in a better place than Baylor,” Force said. “The doctors and nurses have been great to me and my family and I'll always be grateful for that, but I'm a race car driver and I need to talk to someone that understands racing. That's why we're going to Indy.”

As originally diagnosed, Force's injuries included a compound fracture of the left ankle, broken and mangled fingers on his right hand, a deep laceration in his right knee and a severely dislocated left wrist.


“As soon as they release me, my game plan is to go to Indy to get updates from all my crew chiefs – Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, Jimmy Prock, Dean Antonelli and John Medlen – on the changes we've made to our race cars,” Force said.


“After that, I'm going to meet with the doctors (Dr. Trammell has offices in Indianapolis) and see about getting me back in my race car.


“I want to thank all the fans,” Force said. “I know a lot of them wanted to come by (the hospital) to see me, but right now I just need to focus on getting my strength back. I'll be in Richmond, but I just won't be racing.


“I want to wish everyone good luck in the Countdown. I'll be rooting for Robert Hight, my son-in-law, but I want everyone just to be safe. I've seen all the footage (from the crash) and I don't want anyone else to go through this. I'm really proud of John Medlen and what he and his team are doing to make these cars better. We've done some good work protecting the head. Now we need to focus on protecting the arms and legs.”

 

[tugboater]

Doc's orders: Force to miss Richmond, stay in Texas for lengthy rehabilitation

John Force got a reality check late Tuesday and the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion found he didn’t have a leg to stand on. Faced with the knowledge that he can’t put weight on a badly broken left ankle for at least 60 days and the realization that his severely damaged right knee and foot simply won’t hold him up, Force finally acquiesced to the wishes of orthopedic surgeons treating him at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

“I’d like to think that I’m Superman, but I’m not,” Force said. “I know I said I was going to drive at Richmond (in this weekend’s second annual Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park) and that I was going to drive at Las Vegas. That’s what I wanted to do, but the truth is I’m beat up pretty bad."

 

[nachomama]

John Force got a reality check late Tuesday and the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion found he didn’t have a leg to stand on. Faced with the knowledge that he can’t put weight on a badly broken left ankle for at least 60 days and the realization that his severely damaged right knee and foot simply won’t hold him up, Force finally acquiesced to the wishes of orthopedic surgeons treating him at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

“I’d like to think that I’m Superman, but I’m not,” Force said. “I know I said I was going to drive at Richmond (in this weekend’s second annual Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park) and that I was going to drive at Las Vegas. That’s what I wanted to do, but the truth is I’m beat up pretty bad."

I was just about to post this! You going to Dinwiddie?

 

[tugboater]

More on Doc's orders

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. CT: John Force got a reality check late Tuesday and the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion found he didn't have a leg to stand on. Faced with the knowledge that he can't put weight on a badly broken left ankle for at least 60 days and the realization that his severely damaged right knee and foot simply won't hold him up, Force finally acquiesced to the wishes of orthopedic surgeons treating him at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.



The upshot is that the injured icon will remain at Baylor for an undetermined amount of time under the supervision of trauma specialist Dr. Michael Foreman, orthopedic traumatologist Dr. Alan Jones, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Zehr and immediately will embark on a more intense physical therapy program.



Although, with assistance, he has been up on his feet since the Sept. 23rd accident at the Texas Motorplex that left him seriously injured for the first time in his 30-year career, reports that the 125-time tour winner has been walking have been greatly exaggerated.



His physical activity to date has consisted primarily of doing pull-ups with his right arm and raising and lowering his legs – all from his hospital bed, which is why, on Tuesday, drag racing's biggest star acknowledged that while he is extremely motivated to get back in his race car as quickly as possible, he finally understands that he cannot accelerate the healing process.



“It is what it is,” Force said. “I know I said I was going to drive at Richmond (in this week's second annual Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park) and that I was going to drive at Las Vegas. That's what I wanted to do, but the truth is I'm beat up pretty bad. I can't do anything for myself right now plus my blood count is down.



“They want me to eat, but nothing tastes right and they want me to walk on my own, which I can't do because my right leg is so bad.”



Force's right leg initially was weakened by childhood polio and then aggravated by an accident in 1989. In the crash, the same knee was deeply lacerated, affecting the tendons and ligaments.



“I've had to rely on my daughter Ashley and my son-in-law, Robert Hight, to do everything for me – and I mean everything,” Force said. “I got two bad hands and two bad legs, so it didn't make any sense to do a couple days of therapy here, a couple more in Indy and a couple more in California.



“My doctors here are right up there with the best in the world for these kinds of injuries. They worked with Kenny Brack and they've handled PBR bull riders when they've been hurt. So, my new game plan is to stay here to do the physical therapy they want.”



That decision countermands Force's earlier plan to travel to Indianapolis this week and then on to Richmond to provide morale support for Hight, who presently is second in POWERade points behind only Tony Pedregon.



Instead, he will remain in Texas under the care of a trauma team that has had considerable experience with injuries like those suffered by the 14-time Auto Racing All-American when his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang literally broke in half after a tire failure.



In fact, Dr. Jones headed the team that put IndyCar driver Kenny Brack back together after he crashed heavily in a 2003 IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway. That was a determining factor in Force's decision to stay put although he still is determined to be in Las Vegas for the Halloween weekend ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals.



“I'd like to think that I'm Superman, but I'm not,” Force said. “I know I have to get stronger. I'm down probably 10 pounds (since the crash), but for years whenever I lost weight I did it the wrong way. Instead of exercising it off, I just quit eating. Well, lying here in the hospital, I realized how weak I am. I know I've got build myself back up if I'm going to continue to race. So that's what I'm going to do.”



Relying on his family for support, Force said his nephew, Brian Force, will fly to Dallas to take over the heavy lifting from Hight, who has done yeoman duty as Force's arms and legs during recovery.



Enhancements to Hight's Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang should be completed Wednesday. That will make it possible for the seven-time tour winner to compete this week – but not to test.



Work still is being done at McKinney Corporation on Ashley's Castrol GTX Ford and on a third Mustang for rookie-to-be Mike Neff. Force's car, which was to be the second to receive the latest upgrade, was pulled out of line when it became apparent that the 1996 Driver of the Year would be unable to compete this week.



Force said Tuesday that Ashley's participation in the Torco Nationals won't even be considered if improvements to her car are not completed by Thursday.



In addition to his leg injuries, Force has broken bones in the fingers on his right hand and a severely dislocated left wrist. He also has skin grafts on his injured fingers. Of some additional concern is the fact that his white blood count is low, a situation that ultimately might necessitate a blood transfusion.

 

[tugboater]

No I'am not going to Dinwiddie.Iam going to the Somd Small Car Nationals this weekend at Potomac Speedway.It's Friday and Saturday.

 

[tugboater]

Both Forces out at Richmond; Hight carries the load for team

Injured drag racing star John Force confirmed Thursday that daughter Ashley, the leading contender for the Auto Club's 2007 Road to the Future Award, won't compete this week in the second annual Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Richmond, Va.

Modifications to the 24-year-old's 320 mile-an-hour Ford Mustang that were mandated by her father after his Sept. 23 crash at the Texas Motorplex simply could not be completed in time to send the Castrol GTX team to Virginia Motorsports Park.

Since Ashley is not part of the NHRA's new Countdown to the Championship, priority for those upgrades was given to teammate Robert Hight's Auto Club Ford, which will be the only John Force Racing entry in the Final 4 and the only one in competition this weekend.

“A lot of different decisions had to be made within a short amount of time,” Ashley said. “The top priority is safety and the second priority was getting Robert and his team into the Richmond race because they're still in the Countdown.

“So, we focused on Robert's Auto Club Mustang. They're still working right now to get it ready and there just wasn't time to do the other cars like dad wanted them. So, I'm staying (in Dallas) with dad and Mike Neff (who'll drive a fourth Force Racing entry next season) is going to be in Richmond with Robert.

“It's a little disappointing, but we'll just stick with our teammates and get ready for Vegas (and the Oct. 26-28 ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway).”

Ashley has remained at Baylor University Medical Center since her father's crash. The elder Force presently is undergoing an accelerated program of physical therapy to address a laundry list of injuries that include a compound fracture of the left ankle, broken toes and fingers, a badly dislocated left wrist and a severely lacerated right knee.

Hight, who was the points leader until he failed to qualify for the race in which his father-in-law was injured, doesn't believe the changes to his car, which included extra bracing throughout the chassis, will adversely effect performance even though they added 30 pounds of weight.

“It's untried,” Hight said of the car in which, earlier this year, he posted the two quickest quarter miles in Funny Car history, “but, trust me, the crew chiefs wouldn't send our car out there if they didn't think it could compete. I'm actually looking for it to be a better car along with being safer. Until we go down the track, we won't really know, but I have a feeling that it might be better.”

As for Force, he'll follow the race by phone and, with the help of staff members and family, on the internet.

“Robert's our lead guy now,” Force said. “He's racin' this week not just for me and Ashley and Eric Medlen but for all the sponsors – Castrol GTX, Auto Club, Ford, Mac Tools, BrandSource, Mach 1 Air Services. I'm in the Countdown (fourth in points) but if any of those other guys show up (three other drivers are within 15 points of him), they knock me out – and they're probably gonna show up.”

Medlen, the lead driver in Force's Next Generation initiative, succumbed last March to injuries suffered in a testing accident at Gainesville, Fla. Modifications made to the cars after that accident probably kept Force from suffering more serious injuries in his crash.

Those changes included widening the top of the roll cage and, with the assistance of Kris VanGilder at ISP (Innovative Safety Products), adding extra padding around the driver's head. Furthermore, the team shucked the five-point seat belts mandated by rule for a more restrictive seven-point system and worked with Trevor Ashline of Safety Solutions, Inc., to create the new “Hybrid X” restraint system that restricts the driver's head movement from side-to-side as well as from front-to-back.

“Eric saved my life,” Force said, “because my crew chief (Austin Coil) told me my accident was worse than his. If we hadn't made the changes, I wouldn't be here.

So I'm just gonna do my therapy this week and pull for Robert and Jimmy Prock and the whole Auto Club team.

“Next week, I'll get with the docs and we'll figure out when I can get back in the car. That's my motivation. I miss racing.”