By TIM HADDOCK
John Force, a 16-time National Hot Rod Association champion from Yorba Linda, who has been receiving treatment for a traumatic brain injury at Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, was recovering at home on Wednesday in California.
“He finally gets to sleep in his own bed,” his daughter Ashley Force Hood said in a statement released by John Force Racing on Tuesday.
His wife, Laurie, and daughters Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force, Courtney Force and Adria Force, have been with John Force for treatment at hospitals in Virginia and Arizona since he was injured in a crash during a race in Virginia last month.
Funny Car legend John Force greets race fans during driver introductions prior to the start of eliminations Sunday June 23, 2024, during the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwidde, VA. During the first round Force would experience a massive explosion and crash and was taken to a local medical facility for treatment. (Will Lester Photography)
Funny Car legend John Force sits on his scooter as he watches Top Fuel qualifying Saturday June 22, 2024 during the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwidde, VA. (Will Lester Photography)
Funny Car driver John Force sits in his hot rod prior to making his final qualifying run during the final round of pro qualifying at the 58th In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex in Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Eliminations for the final race of the season begin at 11a.m. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car legend John Force, left, speaks with former Top Fuel driver Darrell Gwynn, right, during the opening round of pro qualifying at the 58th In-n-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-n-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force, near lane, heads down the track against J.R. Todd during the opening round of pro qualifying at the 58th In-n-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-n-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car legend John Force walks out of his trailer prior to the opening day of pro qualifying at the 58th In-n-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-n-Out Pomona Dragstrip at Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force hits the throttle during the third round of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force smokes his tires during the third round of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force hits the throttle during the third round of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force does his burnout during the third round of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force sits in his hot rod in the staging lanes prior to the third round of qualifying at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers John Force, left, and Ron Capps, right, drive through the shut down area during the final round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car legend John Force walks towards his hot rod prior to the opening round of qualifying at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Friday, Mar. 31, 2023. Qualifying continues Saturday with eliminations on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Crash Action, first place, National Motorsports Press Association – Funny Car driver John Force explodes the body off his hot rod during the quarterfinal round of eliminations Sunday Nov. 13, 2022 during the 57th annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force explodes the body off his hot rod during the quarterfinal round of eliminations Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, during the 57th annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force explodes the body off his hot rod during the quarterfinal round of eliminations Sunday Nov. 13, 2022 during the 57th annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force explodes the body off his hot rod during the quarterfinal round of eliminations Sunday Nov. 13, 2022 during the 57th annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers John Force, left, and Matt Hagan, right, head down track during the final round of qualifying at the season-ending 57th annual NHRA Finals at AutoClub Raceway at Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the top qualifiers heading into Sunday’s eliminations which start at 11a.m. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence, left, speaks with Funny Car driver John Force in the staging lanes prior to the third round of qualifying at the season-ending 57th annual NHRA Finals at AutoClub Raceway at Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Eliminations begin at 11a.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans greet racing legend John Force along the fence line during the third round of qualifying at the season-ending 57th annual NHRA Finals at AutoClub Raceway at Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Eliminations begin at 11a.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Brittany Force (right) celebrates with her father John after she won her first ever Top Fuel Championship during the second round of eliminations Sunday November 12, 2017 at the 53rd annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Brittany will be pursuing her second Top Fuel championship this weekend at Pomona. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force (right) along with his daughter Brittany Force (center) speak with race fans in the staging lanes prior to the opening round of nitro qualifying at the 56th annual NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Pro qualifying continues Saturday with eliminations beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force heads down track during the opening round of nitro qualifying at the 56th annual NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Pro qualifying continues Saturday with eliminations beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force (left) pulls away from Matt Hagan (right) for the round win during the opening round of eliminations at the rescheduled NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday August 1, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps (near lane) defeats John Force (far lane) during the semi final round of eliminations at the rescheduled NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday August 1, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force (left) pulls away from Matt Hagan (right) for the round win during the opening round of eliminations at the rescheduled NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday August 1, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force does his burnout during the semi final round of nitro eliminations at the 60th NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday Feb. 9, 2020. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) all won event titles at the opening race of the season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force (near lane) pulls away from Matt Hagan for the round win during the semi final round of nitro eliminations at the 60th NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday Feb. 9, 2020. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) all won event titles at the opening race of the season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force (right) congratulates winner Jack Beckman at the 60th NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Sunday Feb. 9, 2020. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) all won event titles at the opening race of the season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force explodes his engine resulting in a high speed crash with Jonnie Lindberg during the quarterfinal round of eliminations Sunday Feb. 25, 2018 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. Force was awake and alert and was transported to a local hospital. Lindberg was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver John Force heads through the shutdown area during the final round of pro qualifying at the 60th NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Saturday Feb. 8, 2020. Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) each captured the top qualifying position in their respective categories. Eliminations for Sunday have been moved up to 10 a.m. Sunday due to weather. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car winner John Force (left) is congratulated by runner-up Ron Capps (right) after winning his 150th career race Sunday August 4, 2019 at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Washington. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. grenades his engine as he qualifies against John Force during the final qualifying session Saturday March 16, 2019 at the 50th annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car teammates Robert High (near lane) and John Force (far lane) head down track during the third round of qualifying at the 55th annual NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway in Pomona Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. The NHRA Finals conclude Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers John Force (left) and points leader Robert Hight (right) ride a scooter back to the pits following the second round of qualifying at the 55th annual NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway in Pomona Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. The NHRA Finals continue Saturday with final qualifying and conclude with Sunday’s eliminations. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Funny Car legend John Force greets race fans during driver introductions prior to the start of eliminations Sunday June 23, 2024, during the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwidde, VA. During the first round Force would experience a massive explosion and crash and was taken to a local medical facility for treatment. (Will Lester Photography)
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John Force was discharged from the Barrow Neurological Institute on Tuesday. He will receive outpatient treatment and speech, occupational and physical therapy to treat lingering short-term memory and cognitive issues while recovering at home.
He was receiving care at a neurological rehab center in Virginia after spending 15 days in intensive care at VCU Medical Center following a catastrophic crash during a race at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Force was being treated for a traumatic brain injury. He was taken to the neurological rehab center in a three-hour helicopter flight from VCU Medical Center on July 9. Family members said the transfer was considered “to be a major step forward in the recovery process,” according to a statement from John Force Racing.
Force was transferred July 5 to a neurological care unit and out of neuro-intensive care, where he was treated for the traumatic brain injury he suffered when he crashed during a race in Virginia.
Force fractured his sternum and injured his right wrist in the crash at the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park on June 23 during the first round of eliminations. He was taken to a trauma center by helicopter in Virginia following the crash and was later transferred to a neurological intensive care unit for brain injury treatment.
The 75-year-old Force, who was born in Bell Gardens and attended Cerritos College, hit the concrete guard wall at the dragstrip just outside of Petersburg, Virginia at 302 mph. He was taken by helicopter to a trauma hospital in Virginia, where he was observed and evaluated for his injuries.
He was moved from an intensive care unit to a neurological care unit, where doctors focused on the immediate concern of injuries to Force’s head.
John Force started his NHRA Funny Car racing career in 1978, and won his first NHRA championship in 1990. He won 10 NHRA Funny Car championships from 1990 to 2000, and 10 in a row from 1993 to 2002.
He survived a violent crash in September 2007 at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He broke his ankle, dislocated his wrist, and his fingers and toes were badly mangled in the crash.
He won his 16th NHRA Funny Car championship in 2013. He won the season-opening event in 2014 at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
Force won the 157th NHRA Funny Car race of his career at New England Dragway in New Hampshire on June 2.
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