John Pressure was hospitalized after a fiery crash in the course of the NHRA Virginia Nationals on Sunday.
The 75-year-old racing legend was extricated from his automotive after an engine explosion induced his Humorous Automotive to make a number of impacts with the skin retaining partitions. Per a press release from John Pressure Racing, Pressure was hospitalized for “additional analysis” in an intensive care unit at a close-by medical heart.
The assertion mentioned that Pressure was “injured” within the crash, however didn’t specify his accidents apart from saying he was aware and speaking with NHRA security staff members after the crash.
The explosion occurred after Pressure gained his first-round race.
Pressure is probably the most profitable racer in NHRA historical past. He’s gained 16 Humorous Automotive titles and has 157 NHRA race wins all through his illustrious profession. Pressure gained his first NHRA title in 1990 and went on to win 12 extra titles from 1991 via 2004.
His most up-to-date championship got here in 2013, although he’s at the moment second within the factors standings behind fellow JFR racer Austin Prock and has gained two of the primary eight Humorous Automotive races in 2024.
Pressure started his skilled drag racing profession in 1978 and his three daughters have all pushed on the high ranges in NHRA. Ashley Pressure Hood and Courtney Pressure have since retired from driving whereas Brittany Pressure drives a Prime Gasoline dragster for her father’s staff.
Sunday’s crash is not the primary brutal wreck Pressure has been concerned in throughout his profession. In 2007, Pressure suffered a damaged ankle and dislocated wrist, amongst different accidents, in the course of the Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas. Pressure needed to be airlifted to a hospital after that crash and was pressured to sit down out the remainder of the season. Pressure’s crash that yr got here simply months after JFR driver Eric Medlen was killed in a testing crash in March. Medlen died after struggling a head harm when his automotive began violently tire shaking.