NHRA drag racing superstar John Force is on the road to recovery after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a high-speed crash last week. The 75-year-old racing legend is currently receiving treatment in a neurological intensive care unit, where his team reports that he is showing daily signs of improvement.

Force's team, John Force Racing, shared an update on Sunday, stating that immediately following the crash, Force was unable to comply with commands to open his eyes, squeeze hands, or move his extremities. However, after five days of heavy sedation, he started to make progress. The drag racer was able to respond to commands, even giving a thumbs-up, recognizing family members, and expressing his love for them by name.

The racing veteran was transferred from a trauma ICU to a neurological ICU last Wednesday, where he will continue to receive care in the foreseeable future. Despite the positive developments, his team emphasized that Force still faces a long and challenging road to recovery.

The statement from John Force Racing highlighted managing Force's extreme agitation and confusion as the biggest challenge. The team noted that these symptoms have been causing him significant distress.

The crash occurred during the first round of Funny Car eliminations on June 23, when Force's car experienced a catastrophic engine failure at the finish line. His vehicle crossed the centerline, crashed into the left concrete guard wall, and rebounded into the right wall. Remarkably, Force remained alert and spoke with safety workers immediately after the accident, showing his resilience.

This is not the first time Force has faced a serious racing accident. In 2007, at the age of 58, he suffered severe injuries in a crash in Ennis, Texas. Despite these setbacks, the racing champion has continued to compete at the highest level of the sport. Just four weeks ago, Force secured his record-breaking 157th NHRA victory and his second win of the season in New Hampshire.

Force's daughter, Brittany Force, a two-time world champion, stood by her father's side at the hospital, along with her mother, Laurie, and three sisters. Brittany, who is also a professional drag racer, made the difficult decision to skip this weekend's race in Norwalk, Ohio, to support her family during this challenging time.

As the drag racing community rallies around John Force and his family, fans and colleagues alike are hopeful for a full recovery for this racing icon.