NHRA Funny Car icon John Force was taken to a Richmond-area hospital Sunday afternoon following his fiery, wall-smashing, high-speed crash during the first round of the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals.  

Racing in Virginia Motorsports Park’s right lane against Terry Haddock, Force clocked a 302.62-mph elapsed time before his engine let go in a massive fireball and sent him across the track and hard into the left-side wall. The car came completely off the pavement as it shot back across the track back into the right lane and made contact with that wall, as well.    

Force was able to exit his car and was alert and talking with the Safety Safari workers on site before he entered an ambulance.    

His teammate, Austin Prock, had been waiting for him at the top end of the track following his own first-round match-up.    

“He’s one tough son of a bitch, I know that. He’ll be back,” an emotional Prock said. “It’s just tough to see somebody go through that. I hope he’s all right. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I know he’ll be back.”  

Competition Plus will provide more information as it becomes available.

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