Sail on NHRA Drag Racer Eric Medlen

jimsig · Post by **jimsig** » March 20, 2007 11:19 am

3-23 Eric has now passed on.

Eric Medlen (Funny Car driver) was seriously injured in a testing crash yesterday (3-20) in Gainesville. He was airlifted to Shands Hospital and was being treated in the surgical intensive care unit.
According to Competitionplus.com he "was making a run in the left lane when the car skated around before making contact with the retaining wall. The car then darted across the track and struck the right lane retaining wall.
According to medical personnel on the scene, Medlen was unconcious when they arrived but breathing on his own.

Eric's father John is also his crew chief. Please pray for Eric, his family, and team mates.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 20, 2007 11:22 am

Update is suppose to be coming this afternoon

((((Eric, Dad, John Force and Families))))

dnw · Post by **dnw** » March 20, 2007 11:59 am

Phin power for Eric.

{{{{{{{{{{Eric}}}}}}}}}}

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 20, 2007 12:13 pm

www.johnforce.com
says
Service Unavailable
Hoping for an update soon.............

jimsig · Post by **jimsig** » March 20, 2007 12:18 pm

Keep hitting refresh the site will eventually come up. At least it did for me.

The press release on the site:

ERIC MEDLEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER TESTING ACCIDENT AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

For Immediate Release
ERIC MEDLEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER TESTING ACCIDENT AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Medlen, 33, one of the bright young stars of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, was injured Monday when his Funny Car crashed during a testing accident at Gainesville Raceway.

Medlen suffered undetermined injuries when the 8,000 horsepower hybrid he was driving crashed heavily into the rightside guardwall. He was transported via ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center.

The six-time NHRA tour winner, who participated in Sunday’s 38th annual ACDelco 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.

Medical staff will provide a condition update at midday on Tuesday according to John Force Racing sources who emphasized that, at the present time, Medlen is not permitted to have visitors, phone calls, cards or flowers.

“Eric’s extended family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” said Kelly Antonelli, spokesperson for JFR. “At the same time, we would ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time and allow the medical staff to do its work.”

A former crewman on boss and teammate John Force’s championship-winning Funny Cars, Medlen began his own driving career in 2004, winning a race his first year. He won three more times in 2005 and two times last season in a Funny Car prepared by his father, John Medlen.

jimsig · Post by **jimsig** » March 20, 2007 12:19 pm

Also from http://competitionplus.com

UPDATED - 3-20 - 12:09 PM - Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, injured in a testing accident Monday at Gainesville Raceway, remained in critical condition Tuesday in intensive care at Shands at the University of Florida 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-old’s car crashed heavily into the guardwall.

“We would ask everyone to keep Eric and his family in their prayers while at the same time respecting their need for privacy in this very difficult time,” said Kelly Antonelli, a spokesperson for John Force Racing, Inc.

“Obviously, our primary concern is for Eric’s health,” Antonelli said, “but we also are aware of erroneous information that has been posted on various internet sites and, unfortunately, that has been a source of additional pain for the family.

“To address that issue, we will continue to provide daily medical updates authorized by the family and the medical staff here at Shands.”

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 20, 2007 12:35 pm

jimsig wrote:Keep hitting refresh the site will eventually come up. At least it did for me.

The press release on the site:

ERIC MEDLEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER TESTING ACCIDENT AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

For Immediate Release
ERIC MEDLEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER TESTING ACCIDENT AT GAINESVILLE RACEWAY

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eric Medlen, 33, one of the bright young stars of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, was injured Monday when his Funny Car crashed during a testing accident at Gainesville Raceway.

Medlen suffered undetermined injuries when the 8,000 horsepower hybrid he was driving crashed heavily into the rightside guardwall. He was transported via ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center.

The six-time NHRA tour winner, who participated in Sunday’s 38th annual ACDelco 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.

Medical staff will provide a condition update at midday on Tuesday according to John Force Racing sources who emphasized that, at the present time, Medlen is not permitted to have visitors, phone calls, cards or flowers.

“Eric’s extended family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers,” said Kelly Antonelli, spokesperson for JFR. “At the same time, we would ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time and allow the medical staff to do its work.”

A former crewman on boss and teammate John Force’s championship-winning Funny Cars, Medlen began his own driving career in 2004, winning a race his first year. He won three more times in 2005 and two times last season in a Funny Car prepared by his father, John Medlen.

that is on NHRA.com and dragracingonline.com too.

Sure wish they would update his progress.

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » March 20, 2007 6:19 pm

((( Eric )))
Palmetto PHin Power

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 20, 2007 9:23 pm

(((( the Whole Go Fast Crew))))))

poohbear1324 · Post by **poohbear1324** » March 20, 2007 9:32 pm

(((((Eric and family)))))
(((((John Force team))))))

fruityparrothead · Post by **fruityparrothead** » March 20, 2007 9:35 pm

WOWZA.........that crash sounds so violent! PHINS UP !!!!

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 21, 2007 10:26 am

just another
(((((ERIC))))))
((((Families and Friends)))))

LaTda! · Post by **LaTda!** » March 21, 2007 10:32 am

some more (((((ERIC)))))

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 21, 2007 11:02 am

UPDATE from NHRA.com

Injured NHRA Funny Car driver Eric Medlen survived a delicate, three-hour craniotomy procedure to relive 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

12 lb. nestle crunch · Post by **12 lb. nestle crunch** » March 21, 2007 12:37 pm

that left lane had been pulling FC's into the wall all weekend. its just a shame this had to happen. prayers for eric

the last i heard he will be in a drug induced coma for two weeks. on top of his head injuries, his leg is broken as well

jimsig · Post by **jimsig** » March 22, 2007 2:52 pm

from NHRA.com:

While medical personnel at Shands at the University of Florida 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 and at the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show (Louisville, Ky.), 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,” Ms. 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.”

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 22, 2007 4:03 pm

From NHRA.com

While medical personnel at Shands at the University of Florida 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 and at the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show (Louisville, Ky.) 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.”

Please send a message

12 lb. nestle crunch · Post by **12 lb. nestle crunch** » March 23, 2007 3:10 pm

spring, do you post on the 'mater?

this medlen situation really puts a bad feeling in my stomach.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 23, 2007 5:58 pm

Eric Medlen succumbs to injuries suffered in recent testing accident

Eric Medlen, 33, who had emerged as one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries suffered when his race car crashed into a guardwall during a Monday test session at Gainesville Raceway. The talented Funny Car driver never regained consciousness. After being treated at the track, he was transported by ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center where medical staff treated him for four days for a severe closed head injury.

"Eric Medlen was the son I never had," said team owner John Force. "He was the leader of my next generation of drivers. Robert Hight, my daughter Ashley and I were with the family throughout this very difficult time. This loss is a huge blow not only to the Medlen family, but to drag racing and to John Force Racing."

Sail on, Eric................

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 23, 2007 6:19 pm

Sail on Eric..