Racing doesn’t stop in the face of tragedy, and last weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals was no exception. It was, however, missing John Force Racing.
Force Racing’s 33-year-old Eric Medlen, POWERade Drag Racing Series driver, died March 23 from head injuries and related trauma associated with a March 19 testing crash in Florida.
The team expects to resume racing in mid-April at the SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The Spring Nationals’ Top Fuel winner J.R. Todd and Funny Car racer Ron Capps both dedicated their wins to Medlen. Each plan to give their trophies to the Medlen family.
Medlen died March 23 in the University of Florida Shands Medical Center. A six-time NHRA tour winner, Medlen took part in the ACDelco Gatornationals on March 18, and remained in Gainesville an extra day for testing. It was during a test run he crashed into the guard rail and suffered head injuries.
This begs the question about safety surrounding the track. Would SAFER barriers benefit the NHRA. JFR has already said they will be looking to make the driver cockpit safer following this young driver’s death.
Medlen’s death was the first in the NHRA Funny Car division in nearly 38 years. The last NHRA Funny Car death was reportedly in 1969 when Gerry Schwartz died in the Springnationals in Dallas, Texas.
A website has been set up to post messages to Medlen’s family at goodbyeeric@castrol.com.
1 comment:
Thank you Lee Ann for the report on Medlen.
I prefer fast and straight as opposed to lumbering and in a circle as the COT seems to be providing. But, all racing is good.
I hear they're bringing back the old drag strip in Fort Gay. Extending it to a 1/8-mile. Randle Sartin was the owner back in the day, don't know about now.
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