Famous drag racer John Force, who’s 75 years old, is reportedly alert and awake after a scary accident on Sunday during a race in Virginia. His car was going about 300 mph when it crashed and caught fire.
Force was awake and talking to the safety team right after the accident, his team announced.
Doctors checked Force at the track before he was flown by helicopter to a hospital for more tests. The crash happened when Force’s car engine exploded at the finish line. His car then hit both walls of the track.
Just three weeks ago, Force won his 157th race, which is a record. He’s had serious crashes before, including a bad one in 2007 when he was 58.
Tony Stewart, a former NASCAR driver who now races in the same league as Force, said on social media that they’re all thinking of Force and called him “one tough cookie.”
Later that day, Force’s teammate Austin Prock won the race. Prock said he’s going to take the trophy to Force in the hospital. He added that it was hard to see someone you care about crash, but he knew Force would want them to keep racing.
This event shows how dangerous drag racing can be, but also how resilient the drivers are. Even at 75, Force is still competing at the highest level of the sport.