Injured Drag Racer Needs Your Prayers

Monday Press Release

Eric Medlen was injured Monday when his Funny Car crashed during a testing accident at Gainesville Raceway. Medlen suffered undetermined injuries when his entry crashed heavily into the right guard wall. He was transported via helicopter to the <st1><st1></st1><st1></st1></st1>medical center

The six-time NHRA tour winner, who participated in Sunday's 38th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, was being treated in the surgical intensive care unit at Shands. He was listed in critical condition while being further evaluated by medical personnel.

Tuesday Update

Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, injured in a testing accident Monday at Gainesville Raceway, remained in critical condition Tuesday in intensive care at Shands <st1><st1></st1><st1></st1></st1>medical center.

According to Medlen's father, John, doctors are continuing to work to reduce pressure and swelling from what has been characterized as a severe closed head injury suffered when the 33-year-olds car crashed heavily into the guard wall.

 

I just sent a huge 1320 prayer for Eric.

 

Man I hate to hear when a drag racer gets hurt ! Eric is a good guy too. John Force is struggling enough worrying about Ashley,now this. He will surely take it personally. But my prayers will be for Eric. N.N.

 

prayers on the way...

 

Updates at http://www.johnforceracing.com/index.html

 

Prayers sent. My brother had the same injury after crashing his iron head harley and prayer pulled him through.

 

My prayers are with him and his family

 

All my paryers are with him. Seems like a hell of a nice guy.I hope Ashley does not get turn off from this She had a tought start ant way.

Acechev55

 

Prayers sent as well.

And you're right, he is a very good guy. I had the pleasure of meeting him 2 years ago at Indy. Smiled, shook my hand and then gave me a tour of the car and trailer including taking me up to the driver lounge and demonstrating his practice tree. And this from someone who didn't know me from Adam.

A truly nice guy indeed and first class all the way. Get well soon Eric.

 

God Bless.......... http://www.angelrays.com/Cards/moon/get/well.html

 

WOW - hate hearin' this. God Bless Eric, family, team mates..

 

Eric is a good guy. I spoken with him on several different occations. He is always up-beat and ready to go. Full of excitment and energy. My prayers go out for his speedy recovery.



monkey

 

There's lot's of long faces in town here, he's a local boy. Although I dont know him personally, I've met his dad a few times.

Ofcourse thoughts and prayers are going his way as well as to his family.

 

http://www.dragracingonline.com/agent1320/2007/1320-ix_3-24.html note circled part in bottom picture of drivers head part of cage ripped off. He took one hell of a shot into the wall. Our prayers are with him

 

prayers sent...

 

mtkawboy,

You'll likely find out that the safety team cut the hoop off to remove the driver. Common practice when there is an unconcious driver and the chance of either head or neck injuries.

Don't read too much into it.

 

Or maybe cut off. My prayers are with him.

 

My guess is that the rescue workers cut the cage off.

 

Pray for Eric. His injury overshadows Ashley's win. New race cars can always be built but you can replace that brave sole behind the wheel. "An old drag racer"

 

prayers sent...

 

3/21/2007



Eric Medlen


Injured NHRA Funny Car driver Eric Medlen survived a delicate, three-hour craniotomy procedure to relieve pressure and hemorrhaging Tuesday evening but remained in critical condition Wednesday at Shands at the University of Florida medical center.

Over the next two weeks, the 33-year-old will remain in a drug-induced coma designed to promote healing.

“We consider ourselves fortunate that Eric is in one of the top hospitals in the world for this type of injury and is getting absolutely the best treatment possible,” said John Medlen, Eric's father and crew chief.

“We want to thank Eric's friends, fans, sponsors, and the entire NHRA drag racing community for their support in this very difficult time for our family,” he said. “We would ask that they continue to remember Eric in their prayers. He's a fighter, but he has a long battle ahead of him.”

The elder Medlen also asked, for Eric's sake and the sake of the family, that fans refrain from speculation, especially on the Internet, where erroneous information already has been a source of considerable anguish.

from NHRA.com

monkey

 

I've got to ask, has the NHRA started using safer barriers yet? It sure has made a difference in Nascar.

 

Safer barriers would certainly help but they've also got to do as much as possible to the cars, especially around the driver's head . Increase the cage size and maximize the padding thicknesses, beef up the driver's cell, etc. 300 mph+ means very big hits when it all starts to go wrong.

 

Having been personally involved in NHRA drag racing,this hits close to home.The racing community is a close knit family just like the hamb,my prayers go out to Eric and his family,and also everyone at John Force Racing.

 

Thats so awful I just saw him a few weeks ago at the Winternats. He will be in my prayers...

 

Never gave that a thought, I hope youre right. Johns going to have some sleepless nights about putting his daughter back in one

 

Concerning the chassis, unless the driver jumps out of the car on his own, they're going to cut the cage apart. SOP. No exceptions anymore.

 

Update.....



While medical personnel at Shan <st1><st1></st1><st1></st1></st1>medical center continue to monitor the progress of injured Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, team sponsor BP/Castrol announced Thursday the creation of a special e-mail address at which well-wishers can leave messages of encouragement for the 33-year-old drag racer.
Medlen, injured last Monday in a testing accident at Gainesville Raceway, still was in critical condition Thursday after enduring a delicate craniotomy procedure on Tuesday. For at least two more weeks, he will remain in a drug-induced coma designed to promote healing.
Castrol Syntec, Medlen's primary sponsor in his first three seasons on the NHRA POWERade tour, has announced that it will print and assemble all messages left at the e-mail address getwelleric@castrol.com and present them later to the driver and his family.

Castrol also will make available at NHRA national events,<st1><st1:city w:st="on"></st1:city><st1:state w:st="on"></st1:state></st1> posters bearing a likeness of the popular driver on which fans can print personal messages. Those posters also will be presented to the Medlen family according to Lori Anne Gola, assistant sponsorship manager for Castrol.
“There are so many people who care about Eric,” Gola said, “and we wanted to find a tangible way to show him all of that love and support. We thought that, through this e-mail address, we could capture the prayers, kind thoughts, and well-wishes of all those who empathize with Eric and his family.”

 

prayers sent on up!!!

 

What a tragedy. Sent get well wishes and prayers. Never met him, but always seemed like a great guy in interviews and stuff.