Drag racing legend John Force is returning home, one month after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a high-speed incident at the NHRA Virginia Nationals in late June.
John Force Racing reported that Force “finally gets to sleep in his own bed” after being released from Barrow Neurological Institute, a neurological rehabilitation hospital in Phoenix where he was relocated earlier this month to treat cognitive and behavioral issues related to his TBI.
“Peace out, Phoenix! After 30 days, my father is finally returning home, where we will continue outpatient therapy,” his daughter, fellow NHRA Funny Car driver Brittany Force, wrote in an Instagram update on Tuesday. “These next steps to recovery will definitely be a family effort!”
John Force’s team claimed that The next stage of his recovery includes “outpatient speech and OTPT (Occupational and Physical Therapy) to address lingering short-term memory and cognitive issues.”
Force, a 16-time NHRA champion, sustained injuries in a violent incident at Virginia Motorsports Park on June 23.
He had just won his heat with a 302 mph lap when his engine exploded, causing his Funny Car to collide with a concrete wall at high speeds.
He was able to escape the wreckage, but he sustained injuries. Force had a TBI and a cracked sternum, among other injuries, and was taken to a Virginia hospital, where he stayed for 15 days before being moved to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
The Hall of Famer has made significant improvement in the last month.
His team earlier stated that Force can “converse” with others and has “regained his equilibrium,” allowing him to walk with help.
Despite the encouraging indicators, his daughter Courtney Force stated that her father still has “a long road to recovery.”
“Finally waving goodbye to Phoenix and Barrow Rehab (with dad)! “Thank you to all the wonderful nurses and doctors,” Courtney Force said on Twitter, with numerous photographs of her father in Phoenix, one of which showed him sporting a cast on his right arm.
“It’s been one month since his accident, and he’s officially starting outpatient care at home! This will still be a long road to recovery for him, but we are all really proud of him.
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