75-Yr-Outdated NHRA Driver John Pressure Alive and ‘Alert’ After Fiery, 300 MPH Crash

Nationwide Scorching Rod Affiliation driver John Pressure is presently “acutely aware and speaking” following a fiery crash in Petersburg, Va. on Sunday, June 23, per a publish from the John Pressure Racing X (previously Twitter) account.

The crash occurred through the first spherical of NHRA Virginia Nationals Humorous Automobile eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park. After the 75-year-old hit the end line in 4,100 seconds with a 302.62-mph victory over Terry Haddock, the engine of his Chevrolet Camaro exploded on the end line. His automotive went throughout the observe’s heart line and struck the left concrete guard wall earlier than it was propelled to the precise guard wall. 

The NHRA medical crew examined him on the observe after which he was transported by way of medical helicopter to a “close by medical heart for additional analysis within the ICU,” per the John Pressure Racing Sunday publish on X.

On Monday night, June 24, the account shared in a follow-up assertion that he remained within the hospital’s ICU on Monday.

“Attending medical doctors purposely have been transferring slowly in assessing the extent of the accidents to the Corridor of Fame proprietor and driver due to the depth of the affect. Medical workers is not going to present a therapy and restoration timetable till a complete analysis is accomplished,” learn the assertion. 

Moreover, “[Force’s] situation can be launched on the discretion of the medical workers.”

His spouse, Laurie, and their daughters, Brittany, Adria, Ashley, and Courtney, are on the hospital.

After the crash, Pressure’s teammate Austin Prock, who gained the Humorous Automobile division, stated whereas talking from the winners’ circle that the trophy “goes straight to the hospital to John Pressure,” per the Related Press.

“It is simply powerful to see any individual undergo that, particularly when it is any individual you actually care about, however I do know he’ll be again. We’re race automotive drivers and now we have to flip the swap. I do know John needed us to be out right here, going rounds, and I am glad we did our job,” Prock, 28, stated. 

“We’re preserving our pal John Pressure in our ideas and prayers. He is one powerful cookie,” stated former NASCAR star Tony Stewart, per the AP.

“My predominant thought is I hope John’s okay. You hate to see him undergo that. Ship prayers up for him. He’s a legend of the game, the GOAT. The automotive seemed fairly burned up,” Humorous Automobile champion Matt Hagan stated, per Autoweek.

“We love what we do, however we’re all enthusiastic about John at this level,” added High Gas No. 1 qualifier Shawn Langdon, per Autoweek.

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Earlier than the Sunday crash, Pressure earned his 157th NHRA victory — and second this season —  on the NHRA New England Nationals in New Hampshire.