Video: Brittany Force in hospital overnight following crash
Reigning Top Fuel champion Brittany Force is being kept in hospital overnight after crashing into the walls either side of Pomona’s Auto Club Raceway during NHRA’s Winternationals.
Force escaped serious injury, and was “responsive, speaking with medical personnel,” according to an NHRA press release. However, an evaluation at a local hospital revealed bruising of the lungs, and while a CT Scan was negative, the MRI showed “subtle findings likely from previous injuries. She was admitted overnight for observation simply as a precaution.”
Force’s shunt comes just one day after her legendary father John Force had his Camaro Funny Car blow up in spectacular fashion.
The 16-time FC champion said: “You look at how these cars evolved over 40-50 years. We made a lot of changes after the loss of Eric [Medlen, former JFR driver who lost his life in a 2007 testing accident]. A lot came out of that. Building better chassis, safer.
“Want to thank Simpson safety for building helmets, equipment and everything to keep our drivers safe. The car giving way when it hit the wall head-on allowed it to take the impact and fold up. I want to thank Don Schumacher Racing for creating the canopy. When the car was upside down, you know that protects the driver’s head. Want to personally thank [arch-rival team owner] Don Schumacher for his investment.
“Safety Safari was right on top of it, as always, that’s why they’re the best in the business.
"Finally, John Medlen, was one of the first to come to me, and wanted to know if she was okay. I didn’t have an answer at the time. But he’s lived it. He knows what all of us go through: owners, friends, parents and sponsors.
“End of the day, we keep addressing it to get it better.”
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.