NHRA Accident Involving John Force and Kenny Bernstien...

[Hammer]

I am not sure if anyone has seen this yet but I was listening online today when it happened but here is the NHRA press release as it is off their website... ... Andy



John Force taken to Dallas hospital after top-end accident with Bernstein



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By Rob Geiger Sr. , NHRA.com senior editor

9/23/2007





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. .



Team spokesman Dave Densmore reported Force's injuries to the media. "He was asking to talk to Laurie, his wife, and Ashley and Robert Hight, so that was a good sign," Densmore said. "He is in a lot of pain, obviously. They can't take passengers on the helicopter so the family is off to the hospital in a car. "



"John has very, 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.



"Although he was alert and conscious throughout the whole thing he was demonstrating some signs of a concussion as he was asking the same question over and over. But his vital signs were stable and he's on his way. "



It is reported that daughter Ashley Force, who won her second-round race with Del Worsham, will compete in the semifinals.



Said Bernstein, who was not injured in the incident, "First of all I just pray that John's going to be okay," Bernstein said. "I know he's hurt and the main thing I'm praying for is that he gets 100-percent recovery. That's more important than anything right now for me, Sheryl, and our team. I know he was talking to me there and he was asking if he hurt me. That's typical John right there. He'll be okay. He's a strong-willed man, he'll be fine. "



NHRA.com will provide more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.



http://www.nhra.com/content/news.asp?articleid=24436&zoneid=7

 

[Joe G.]

According to his wife in an interview he is talking loud and ordering people around. She says he is pretty beat up, but he should be ok. Busted ankle, bone deep cut on one knee, busted fingers, busted arm, and some other stuff. A cat scan didn't find any problem.

 

[Andy Perreault]

This link should take you to a video clip: NHRA News: Force undergoing surgery following top-end collision in Dallas (9/23/2007)

Take a close look at the right side of the screen (I noticed this during the slow motion replay on the TV broadcast, I was surprised that Mike Dunn and Paul Page didn't comment on it) when the rear half of the chassis goes off the screen to the right (don't focus on the part that hit Kenny's car), you can see his legs and feet flying up in the air, completely unprotected and out in the open. It's very hard to see unless you freeze-frame it. The frame broke right at the front edge of the seat! Seems to me his injuries could have been a LOT worse. This reminded me of Shirley Muldowney's wreck in Quebec back in the early 80's when her legs were shattered. At least I think it was the early 80's ( ).

(** edit ** Shirley Muldowney's crash was in 1984)

Andy

 

[Hammer]

You have to wonder what Force did to the HP Gods that has his teams with the huge monkey on their backs with all the tragedy they have dealt with this year. I am glad to see on TV and the NHRA website that is barking orders like he always does and other than recovery be OK.



One thing here that concerns the racer in me is the way the Goodyears were "chunking apart" on the fuel cars. On TV they will tell you that the cars are "really hooked up" and overusing the tire,but,to those who know how can that be possible?. After seeing that video over and over Force was clearly ahead of KB and the styrofoam block could not cause the blowout,but,tire failure would. Could that be a "chunking failure",time will tell... ... Andy

 

[Hammer]

Andy. .

It was easy to see and hear how upset Mike Dunn was about the incident. Each time Paul Paige would rerun the video you could hear in Dunn's voice that he didn't want any part of comment on it. I also seen the legs deal in the slow mo but knowing the fuel cars are supposed to break apart where it did I gave it little thought. However,where it broke is not as critical as how it broke and I am curious to know if maybe he was trying something chassis wise to help absorb the shock of a front end impact(say like the fuelers well documented slip joint chassis). When that left rear blew apart it immediately tore the chassis and the negative G's from Force dropping the laundry didn't help. The way she was breaking apart from the tire explosion was bad enough to weaken even the best frame,then throw in the negative G's from the laundry filling and it had to break apart like that. It should have kept the mid plate with him but with the distance of the video you can not tell if it was there and left after the failure or if its stuck on the front clip... ... . Andy

 

[Andy Perreault]

Andy, it'll be interesting to find out the final outcome of the investigation. I wouldn't be surprised if the NHRA mandates some reinforcement in the frame ahead of the seat. I noticed on the TV broadcast during the aftermath and the clean-up, when they zoomed in on what was left of the rear half of the car, that there was nothing left in front of the front edge of the seat. However, it is possible that the Safety Safari cut away frame parts with the jaws of life to get John out, so I might be wrong on my comment about the frame breaking off right at the front edge of the seat.

Andy

 

[CWebster]

When you look at the video in slow mo it looks like Bernstein clips the timing light, shoots it over into Johns car and the rear end shreds at that same instant. Really hard to tell with the camera angles, but.....

 

[C. Harlan]

I was suppposed to go work that event for U. S. Smokeless Tobacco, but I had prior obligations to go to a close friend's wedding... Glad to hear he survived, I am sure he will pull through... Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. .



-Chris-