NHRA driver has surgery, is still critical
Medlen, 33, slammed Funny Car into guard rail during test session
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - NHRA driver Eric Medlen remained in critical condition Wednesday, days after a test-session crash at Gainesville Raceway.
Doctors at the University of Florida medical center performed a three-hour brain surgery Tuesday night to relieve pressure and hemorrhaging, and Medlen will be in a drug-induced coma for two weeks, his racing team said on its Web site.
University of Florida medical center spokeswoman Kim Jamerson declined comment and referred calls to the NHRA.
Medlen, a 33-year-old California native, drives for John Force Racing. He was injured Monday when his Funny Car crashed into a guard wall.
“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,” John Medlen, Eric’s father and crew chief, said in the statement.
John Medlen also thanked the driver’s fans, sponsors and family members for their support.
Gainesville Raceway executive general manager Don Robertson said Medlen was driving in the left lane of the track when his car appeared to encounter a kind of problem. Robertson said the car then veered right and hit the right guard wall, but the specifics of the crash have not been determined.
“That’s still up in the air and their team, of course, is going to have to evaluate all of their stuff and see if they can determine what exactly went wrong,” Robertson said.
NHRA spokesman Jerry Archambeault said his organization will work with Medlen’s racing team to figure out why the driver crashed.
“Its important for us all to look at what happens and evaluate the cause,” he said.
Archambeault said NHRA has been in contact with the team, but has been more focused on Medlen, whom Archambeault called one of “rising stars” of racing.
“Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with Eric, like everyone else in the racing community, hoping he has a speedy recovery,” Archambeault said.
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