In the high-stakes world of professional auto racing, the emotional toll on families can often be overshadowed by the sport’s glamour and excitement. American motorsport has its share of legendary family names, including the Rahals in IndyCar and the Forces in drag racing. These two dynasties united when Graham Rahal, a veteran IndyCar racer and son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, married Courtney Force, daughter of NHRA legend John Force.
Recently, the Force family faced a significant upheaval when John Force, a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fiery 300 mph crash at Virginia Motorsports Park on June 23. The 75-year-old sustained a broken sternum and a right wrist injury and spent several days under heavy sedation in intensive care before being moved to an acute neuro care unit.
After 15 days in a Virginia hospital, Force was transferred to a neurological rehab center. Despite being able to converse with staff and family, he continues to experience cognitive and behavioral symptoms and remains prone to periods of confusion. His recovery timeline is uncertain, and he remains in the facility at the time of writing.
Graham Rahal, who understands the dangers of racing all too well, was deeply affected by the loss of his former teammate Justin Wilson, who died in a crash at Pocono in 2015.
