Christian outreach group GodSpeed Ministries has created a special fund to support injured drag racer Marvin Blaney and his wife, April, following a fiery crash last weekend at National Trail Raceway.
Blaney, a Top Sportsman competitor, remains hospitalized in intensive care with burns to his hands, feet and legs after an engine explosion during qualifying at the inaugural IHRA Outlaw Series event.
“Thank you for all of the prayers, as they are desperately needed right now, period,” read a statement posted to Blaney’s social media account Wednesday.
“Marvin is in intensive care from the two horrific explosions that destroyed his race car and almost took his life. His angels were watching over him. Please keep the prayers coming.”
IHRA officials confirmed the incident occurred during the second qualifying session at the Columbus-area dragstrip, when Blaney’s ’63 Corvette suffered an engine explosion following his burnout.
Blaney was removed from the car by safety crews and transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation, the sanctioning body said.
According to God Speed Ministries, Blaney is alert and able to make hand and face gestures to communicate, though burns to his hands are described as the most severe.
He remains on a nasal feeding tube and an oxygen tube as a precaution to protect his lungs during recovery.
God Speed Ministries, led by Renee and Gary Bingham, announced it has opened the “Bridge the Gap Fund” to assist Marvin and April Blaney during his treatment and recovery.
“Every penny you give goes to them weekly — no delays, no extra fees,” the organization said in a statement Thursday.
Supporters can contribute to the fund at www.GodSpeedMinistry.com.
“Please share this so others can help too,” the statement added. “Thanks on behalf of Marvin.”
God Speed Ministries is a nonprofit Christian outreach serving the motorsports community for more than two decades with chaplain services, counseling and financial aid for racers in need.
The inaugural IHRA Outlaw Series event at National Trail Raceway marked the sanctioning body’s first national series race in more than a decade.
Blaney, a veteran Top Sportsman racer from Ohio, was competing in his methanol-fueled 1963 Corvette at the time of the incident.
The IHRA has not announced any further details on the investigation into the cause of the explosion.
God Speed Ministries said it will continue to provide updates on Blaney’s condition as he progresses through treatment.
