UPDATE 7:

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 left 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 left side 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.”

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UPDATE 6:

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 me from the hospital. “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.”

I think it’s safe to say John will attend all of the remaining races this year, even if he’s on crutches or in a wheelchair. Hurry back, man, we need you out there.

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UPDATE 5: Video of the crash

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=gLp1ku2f1qA[/youtube]

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UPDATE 4:

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.

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UPDATE 3:

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.

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UPDATE 2:

Force Team spokesman Dave Densmore: “John has 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.

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UPDATE:

Bernstein is not injured. He said, “I did have a little headache right when I stopped, and I want to say that because of John’s work in that area, of new head pads, I want to give John and his team credit. It was a pretty violent head movement but if not for those new pads it could have been a lot worse.”

John Force is heading to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He has two severely broken legs, some hand damage to one hand, and a possible concussion. The extent of any internal injuries is unknown pending further evaluation. His wife Laurie is with him.

“I know John was talking to me, he was worrying about whether I was hurt….typical John. I told him I was fine, but I’m not sure how much of it he remembers.”

“I kept turning and correcting it, and it kept sticking. I just couldn’t get it to come back….we about wadded up together….I saw my car body and John’s car body coming apart and going past me….I saw John’s car hit the wall really hard,” said Bernstein.”

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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.

[NHRA]